Colleges

Top Scholarships for Graduate Students

Find a list of current scholarships for grad students. Discover the other methods students use to pay for graduate school and learn the difference between assistantships and fellowships.

Shawna Newman

November 14, 2023

Top Scholarships for Graduate Students
Even after securing a fellowship or assistantship, graduate students can still find a financial gap exists.
Many college graduate students secure fellowships or assistantships as a method of paying for their advanced degree. Grad students apply for an assistantship or fellowship at the program department level, or college level (for instance the College of Science and Technology at XYZ University). Both opportunities help students fund a graduate-level degree while providing practical field experience. Jump to Top Scholarships for Graduate Students

What is a graduate assistantship?

Like work-study programs, an assistantship provides money and/or tuition reimbursement to help grad students pay for college. However, a graduate assistantship program includes work tied directly to your graduate degree or area of interest. A graduate student working an assistantship will, in most cases, be working for the college or university they're attending. Assistantships are considered part-time paid work.

What is a graduate fellowship?

A graduate student fellowship earns a stipend, or payment, and/or a tuition waiver as they work on a grad-level research project related to their field of study. Many grad students select a faculty member to work alongside on the assigned research project; this is often called their faculty adviser. Fellowship funding could be provided by private organizations or through universities. Even after securing a fellowship or assistantship, graduate students still find a financial gap exists as they plan to pay for their master's degree.

I'm a Graduate Student. Is it too late to apply for scholarships?

There are many scholarship opportunities for graduate students. A first-, second-, third- and even, fourth-year grad student has access to scholarships to help them pay for an advanced degree. Some colleges offer graduate school scholarships specific to graduate programs, too.

What's the easiest scholarships grad students can apply for?

Between research, thesis proposals, lectures, and reading, students pursuing a master or doctorate degree are busy! Grad students are in survival mode. Yet these advanced-level college students are searching for ways to pay for graduate school so that funding their degree doesn't feel like a full-time job. Fastweb's Featured Scholarships are some of the easiest scholarships grad students can apply for.
In addition to graduate fellowships and assistantships and/or student loans, there are other forms of financial aid available for grad students. Scholarships are a form of financial aid you're not required to pay back!

Top scholarships for graduate students with upcoming deadlines

Fastweb's $1,000 National Scholarship Month Sweepstakes

National Scholarship Month is a great time to set yourself new application goals. Use November to explore scholarship opportunities and to get serious about applying for them. Let us know how many scholarships you’ll be applying for by picking the answer that fits you. Every answer's correct! To enter you must be a Fastweb member. Answer a multiple-choice question—there’s no wrong answer—and submit your entries daily through November 30, 2023. Deadline: 11/30/23
Award Amount: $1,000

Creative Excellence Scholarship

The Creative Excellence Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students. You must be majoring in graphic arts and design, fashion, or a related field and have minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must submit a 1000 - word essay describing how design impacts branding along with a sample of your own design. Deadline: 11/30/23
Award Amount: $500

SMART Scholarship

The SMART Scholarship is available to currently enrolled college and graduate students. You must be pursuing a technical degree in one of the 21 STEM disciplines, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be able to participate in summer internships and willing to accept post-graduate employment at the DoD in order to be considered for this award. Applicants must also be at least 18 years of age and be a resident of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom. Deadline: 12/1/23
Award Amount: $25,000 - $38,000

Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholarship

The Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in a career as a foreign correspondent. You must submit a cover letter, a resume, and a 500 - word writing sample to be considered for this award. Deadline: 12/1/23
Award Amount: $3,000

David M. Dolan Scholarship

The David M. Dolan Scholarship is available to graduate students who are conducting graduate research in statistics, mathematical modeling, data analysis, and/or quantitative decision support that advances understanding and management of Great Lakes ecosystems. Deadline: 12/1/23
Award Amount: $3,000

AECOM Scholarship

The AECOM Scholarship is available to graduate students who are pursuing an engineering degree in innovative solutions to improve drinking water in urban communities. Deadline: 12/19/23
Award Amount: $5,000

El Pomar Fellowship

The El Pomar Fellowship is available to graduates of four - year institutions who have a Colorado connection. You must demonstrate strong leadership potential and capabilities, a strong work ethic, the ability to work as a member of a team, and an interest in community development to be considered for this award. Deadline: 1/7/24
Award Amount: Varies

Union Plus Scholarship

The Union Plus Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students. You must be a current or retired member of a participating union, or the spouse or dependent child of a member to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 1/31/24
Award Amount: $500 - $4,000

NAJA Graduate Scholarship Program

The NAJA Graduate Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing studies in a field which addresses the special needs of children and youth. You must be a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, or Tennessee to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 2/1/24
Award Amount: Varies

The Christophers Video Contest for College Students

The Christophers Video Contest for College Students is open to students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. To be considered, you must create a five - minute film or video on the following theme: "One Person Can Make a Difference." Deadline: 2/14/24
Award Amount: $2,000

William L. Wilson and Diane C. Wilson Scholarship in Karst Science

The William L. Wilson and Diane C. Wilson Scholarship in Karst Science is available to students pursuing a master's degree at an institution of higher education in the United States. To be considered, you must submit a 1,000 - word proposal narrative on a research topic focused on karst science, broadly defined, including subfields of geochemistry, geology, geophysics, or hydrology. Deadline: 2/15/24
Award Amount: $2,500

Grace LeGendre Fellowship for Graduate Study

The Grace LeGendre Fellowship for Graduate Study is available to female graduate students. You must reside and attend school in New York State to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 2/28/24
Award Amount: $1,500 - $2,000

Richard A. Freund International Scholarship

The Richard A. Freund International Scholarship is available to graduate students who are studying the theory and application of quality control, quality assurance, quality improvement, and total quality management within engineering, statistics, management, or behavioral foundations. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 to be considered for this award. Deadline: 4/1/24
Award Amount: $5,000

Siebel Scholars Program

The Siebel Scholars Program is open to the most talented students at the world's leading graduate schools of business, computer science, bioengineering, and energy science. Deadline: Varies
Award Amount: $35,000 Find more scholarship matches specific to your field of study, grad-school year, and more by creating a free Fastweb profile.

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