45 Superb Scholarships for Graduate School Every Student Needs to Know About

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Graduate Student Scholarships and Grants

group of cheerful graduate students browsing scholarships for graduate school on laptop

Advanced degree programs are demanding enough on their own without added financial stress.

Which is why:

The sooner you figure out how to pay for graduate school, the better. Funding your postgraduate degree with scholarship money is one route you can take. The beauty of scholarships and grants is that you don’t have to pay back a single dollar.

Not to mention, there are plenty of opportunities that would help you go to grad school for free. The main hurdle is finding the time to sort through them all.In this post, you’ll find a list of current scholarships for graduate school.

Some only accept applications from graduate students and others are open to students at all levels. Just know that you can use any of the awards to pay for grad school.

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Graduate School Scholarships 2023


NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship – Fall

  • Award: $10,000
  • Deadline: Jan. 10th

Eligibility: Must be in final season of NCAA athletics eligibility or must have completed athletic eligibility and have performed with distinction as a varsity team member in the sport in which the student-athlete is being nominated. Must also be in final year of undergraduate academic work or received an undergraduate degree and have a minimum GPA of 3.2. Must be enrolled in a graduate degree granting program within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded.

Submit: Online application, official transcripts, and 4 letters of recommendation.

Dr. Meme Heineman Scholarship

  • Award: $6,000
  • Deadline: Jan. 14th

Eligibility: Any high school senior, undergraduate student, or graduate student who is majoring in or planning to major in Psychology or Applied Behavior Analysis is encouraged to apply for this scholarship.

Submit: 400 – 1000 word essay.

Boren Fellowships for Graduate Students

  • Award: $12,500 – $30,000
  • Deadline: Jan. 25th

Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens; a high school graduate, or have earned a GED; at least 18 years old; planning an overseas program in a country of which they are not a citizen and outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Boren Fellowships applicants may be matriculated in or applying to a graduate degree program located within the United States.

Eligible graduate degree programs include master’s (MA, MS, MBA, LLM and others), juris doctor (JD), or doctoral (PhD, MD and others) programs. Boren Fellows must have a serious language component in their overseas study proposals. The Boren Awards give preference to applicants who will be in the fields of study listed here.

Submit: Online application.

Supermom Scholarship

  • Award: $2,000
  • Deadline: Jan. 28th

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate single mothers and those who have been directly impacted by one, on their path to obtaining a college degree.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on your experience as a single mother and/or as the child of a single mother.

Niche Graduate School Survey Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: Jan. 31st

Eligibility: Open to current graduate students and alumni who have graduated within the last 4 years.

Submit: Online application.

ANS Graduate Scholarships

  • Award: $3,000 – $5,000
  • Deadline: Feb. 1st

Eligibility: Open to full-time graduate students in a program leading to an advanced degree in nuclear science, nuclear engineering, or a nuclear-related field.

Submit: Online application, 500 words or less personal statement, 2 references, and current transcripts.

Society of Women Engineers Upperclassmen Scholarships

  • Award: $1,000 – $10,000
  • Deadline: Feb. 1st

Eligibility: The SWE’s Scholarship Program is open to both SWE members and non-members; however, some of the scholarships do require SWE membership. Upperclassmen scholarships are open to sophomore undergraduates through PhD students who identify as a woman, have a 3.0 GPA or higher, and are planning to attend full-time (exceptions are made for reentry and non-traditional applicants).

Undergraduate/community college applicants must be planning to study an ABET-accredited program in engineering, technology, or computing. Masters and PhD candidates must be enrolled or accepted at a school with ABET-accredited programs in engineering, computing, or technology.

Submit: Online application, unofficial transcripts, resume, and 2 references.

Derrick Richardson Law Student Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: Feb. 4th

Eligibility: Must be a second or third-year Black law student who is serious about their studies in civil rights law and becoming a lawyer.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on how you’ll use your law degree to help disadvantaged Black people in the courtroom.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship

  • Award: up to $30,000
  • Deadline: Feb. 7th

Eligibility: Candidates must be US Citizens, US National residents of American Samoa, or expecting their citizenship by the date of the award; currently enrolled; in their junior year of school (for candidates graduating in four years or more) or in their final year of school (for candidates graduating in three years or fewer); and planning to attend grad school in pursuit of a career in public service. Applicants can be pursuing any major likely to lead to a public service career and interesting in any graduate degree other than the MBA.

Submit: Online application, 3 letters of reference, and academic transcripts.

Elvira Alonso Soto Hispanic Women in Architecture Scholarship

  • Award: $9,325
  • Deadline: March 14th

Eligibility: Any female Hispanic student who is a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate studying architecture may apply for this scholarship.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on what being a Latina in architecture means to you and how you plan to make a difference through your career.

Side Hustlin’ Student Scholarship Opportunity

  • Award: $1,000 – $2,500
  • Deadline: March 31st

Eligibility: Applicants must either be enrolled or actively applying for enrollment to an undergraduate or graduate program. Students at technical, community, and four-year colleges are welcome to apply.

Submit: 1,000+ word essay about how you are earning extra income on the side while going to school.

Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

  • Award: $5,000
  • Deadline: March 31st

Eligibility: Open to racially/ethnically diverse students enrolled in a healthcare management graduate program – MHA, MPH, MBA in Healthcare Administration or similar. Must be in your final year of full-time study and expect to graduate between Sept. 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or Canadian citizen.

Submit: Online application, current resume or curriculum vitae, official transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, and essay including information about your reason for pursuing a career in healthcare management, history in the field, financial need, and community engagement.

Foster G. McGaw Scholarship for Grad Students

  • Award: $5,000
  • Deadline: March 31st

Eligibility: Open to students enrolled in a healthcare management graduate program – MHA, MPH, MBA in Healthcare Administration or similar. Must be in your final year of full-time study and expect to graduate between Sept. 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or Canadian citizen.

Submit: Online application, current resume or curriculum vitae, official transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, and essay including information about your reason for pursuing a career in healthcare management, history in the field, financial need, and community engagement.

AMT Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: March 31st

Eligibility: Open to American Medical Technologist members attending undergraduate/graduate programs and to high school graduates pursuing medical technology, medical assisting, dental assisting or phlebotomy studies.

Submit: Online application, 2 letters of reference, and a 500+ word essay describing why you have chosen your career path.

Financial Women of San Francisco Scholarship

  • Award: $10,000 – $15,000
  • Deadline: April 1st

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate-level San Francisco Bay Area women pursuing careers in the fields of accounting, finance and/or the financial services industry.

Submit: Current transcripts and 2 letters of recommendation.

PAC: Diversity Matters Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: April 1st

Eligibility: BIPOC undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply if they are pursuing a career as a physician assistant.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on an aspect of your identity and how it will influence your interactions in the healthcare setting and your goals as a future PA.

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship – Winter

  • Award: $10,000
  • Deadline: April 4th

Eligibility: Must be in final season of NCAA athletics eligibility or must have completed athletic eligibility and have performed with distinction as a varsity team member in the sport in which the student-athlete is being nominated. Must also be in final year of undergraduate academic work or received an undergraduate degree and have a minimum GPA of 3.2. Must be enrolled in a graduate degree granting program within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded.

Submit: Online application, official transcripts, and 4 letters of recommendation.

Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship

  • Award: $25,000
  • Deadline: April 29th

Eligibility: Open to graduate students. Must be currently enrolled in an accredited graduate institution in North America; have strong academic qualifications; and have academic and/or career goals focused on making a significant positive difference in the long-term protection of wilderness in the United States.

Submit: A two-page cover letter, a 3-5 page proposal including the description of the proposed work, a current resume or curriculum vitae, 2 letters of recommendation, and your most recent transcripts.

Richard E. Merwin Student Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000+
  • Deadline: April 30th

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students in electrical or computer engineering, computer science, or a well-defined computer related field of engineering who are active IEEE members of a student branch of chapter are eligible to apply. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and be enrolled in full-time study.

Submit: Online application, most recent transcripts, and one or more letters of recommendation.

EFWA Graduate Scholarships

  • Award: $1,000 – $2,500
  • Deadline: April 30th

Eligibility: Open to female US citizens attending accredited US schools pursuing an accounting degree who demonstrate financial need.

Submit: Online application.

ScholarSHPE Graduate Scholarship

  • Award: $2,000
  • Deadline: April 30th

Eligibility: Must be Hispanic; an active SHPE Member; a full-time graduate student; pursuing a STEM degree; have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; and are currently attending a college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico.

Submit: Online application – common application.

ScholarSHPE PhD Scholarship

  • Award: $5,000
  • Deadline: April 30th

Eligibility: Must be Hispanic; an active SHPE Member; a full-time PhD student; pursuing a STEM degree; have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; and are currently attending a college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico.

Submit: Online application – common application.

ScholarSHPE Helen Cuesta Scholarship

  • Award: $2,000
  • Deadline: April 30th

Eligibility: Must be Hispanic; female; an active SHPE Member; a full-time graduate student; pursuing a STEM degree; have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; and are currently attending a college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico. This scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student who has demonstrated the ability to overcome life’s obstacles and who doesn’t give up.

Submit: Online application – common application.

ScholarSHPE PRIDE Scholarship

  • Award: $2,000
  • Deadline: April 30th

Eligibility: Must be Hispanic; be part of the LGBTQ community; an active SHPE Member; a full-time Graduate student; pursuing a STEM degree; have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; and are currently attending a college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico.

Submit: Online application – common application.

Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: May 19th

Eligibility: Applicants must be graduate students; have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; be pursuing a degree in the social sciences (economics preferred); be a US citizen, resident, or foreign national; and demonstrate financial need. Preference for Asian heritage, though not required.

Submit: Online application, most recent transcripts, resume, and 2 letters of recommendation.

Charles Cheesman’s Student Debt Reduction Scholarship

  • Award: $4,000 – $7,500
  • Deadline: May 30th

Eligibility: Open to African American and Hispanic/Latino first-generation students who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree studies or have already graduated. Must have student loan debt.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay about yourself, your educational pursuits, career/life aspirations, community involvement, and major accomplishments.

The CIRI Foundation General Scholarship

  • Award: up to $6,000
  • Deadline: June 1st

Eligibility: Applicant must be a CIRI original enrollee or direct lineal descendant; have a high school diploma or GED; enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited college or university; and have a 2.5 GPA or higher.

Submit: Completed online application, letter of reference, proof of acceptance at your college, official transcripts, proof of eligibility for Lineal Descendants, Statement of purpose, and current or upcoming class schedule.

Cap Lanthrop Scholarship

  • Award: up to $4,000
  • Deadline: June 1st

Eligibility: Applicant must be an Alaska Native original enrollee of a regional or village corporation or a direct lineal descendant of an original enrollee. Must also be enrolled or accepted at a college or university as a full-time student; be a declared major in a 2-year, 4-year, or graduate degree program with a major in broadcast, telecommunications, business, engineering, journalism, and other media-related fields; and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Must intend to work in Alaska in the broadcast/telecommunications industry.

Submit: Completed online application, letter of reference, proof of acceptance at your college, official transcripts, proof of eligibility for Lineal Descendants, Statement of purpose, and current or upcoming class schedule.

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship – Spring

  • Award: $10,000
  • Deadline: June 5th

Eligibility: Must be in final season of NCAA athletics eligibility or must have completed athletic eligibility and have performed with distinction as a varsity team member in the sport in which the student-athlete is being nominated. Must also be in the final year of undergraduate academic work or received an undergraduate degree and have a minimum GPA of 3.2. Must be enrolled in a graduate degree granting program within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded.

Submit: Online application, official transcripts, and 4 letters of recommendation.

Stop-Painting Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: June 15th

Eligibility: Any graduate student, graduate certificate or executive education student currently enrolled at an accredited college, university, or related technical program may apply.

Submit: Online application and an essay of at least 750 words.

Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship

  • Award: $2,000 – $3,000
  • Deadline: July 1st

Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, national, or eligible non-citizens, and must be registered with Selective service if required; Louisiana residents for at least 1 year prior to July 1st of the award year; enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a Louisiana Public College or University majoring in forestry, wildlife, or marine science. Graduate students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Submit: FAFSA and completed application form.

Chang Heaton Scholarship for Music Excellence

  • Award: $500
  • Deadline: July 28th

Eligibility: Any first-generation, BIPOC undergraduate or graduate student who is pursuing a degree in theater or music may apply for this scholarship.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on why having a career in the arts is important to you.

@ESPDaniella Debt Grant

  • Award: $1,500
  • Deadline: July 31st

Eligibility: Any current undergraduate senior, graduate school student, college graduate, or previous student who dropped out of college and has student loan debt may apply for this scholarship.

Submit: Quick online application. (If selected as a finalist, students must show proof of student loan debt.)

“$$$ Isn’t Everything” Scholarship

  • Award: $500
  • Deadline: Aug. 31st

Eligibility: All students at any education level are eligible to apply.

Submit: Quick online application.

Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: Sept. 30th

Eligibility: You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or grad school student of any level. Must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.

Submit: Online application and short personal statement.

Richard E. Merwin Student Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000+
  • Deadline: Sept. 30th

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students in electrical or computer engineering, computer science, or a well-defined computer related field of engineering who are active IEEE members of a student branch of chapter are eligible to apply. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and be enrolled in full-time study.

Submit: Online application, most recent transcripts, and one or more letters of recommendation.

Dr. Ifeoma Ezebuiro Ezeobele Africans in Nursing Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: Oct. 16th

Eligibility: Any Black undergraduate or graduate student who is pursuing nursing may apply for this scholarship.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on why you chose to pursue nursing and why it’s important to you.

Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000 – $2,500
  • Deadline: Oct. 27th (application opens July 28th)

Eligibility: Applicant must be employed as a Chick-fil-A Team Member at the time of application and award; have minimum GPA of 2.5; and will enroll in undergraduate or graduate study for the upcoming academic year.

Submit: Online application, transcript, and Operator recommendation.

Chick-fil-A True Inspiration™ Scholarship

  • Award: $25,0000
  • Deadline: Oct. 27th (application opens July 28th)

Eligibility: Applicant must be employed as a Chick-fil-A Team Member at the time of application and award; have minimum GPA of 3.0; demonstrate financial need; and will enroll in undergraduate or graduate study for the upcoming academic year.

Submit: Online application, transcript, and Operator recommendation.

Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society Award

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: Oct. 31st

Eligibility: Open to graduate and undergraduate students who are IEEE Computer Society members and full-time students at an academic institution.

Submit: Online application, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.

Lance Stafford Larson Student Award

  • Award: $500
  • Deadline: Oct. 31st

Eligibility: Open to all IEEE student members. There will be one award for undergraduates and a second for graduate students.

Submit: Online application, and a paper of 20 pages or less concerning computer-related subjects that have been presented at a computer-related conference or publication.

Keep Going Forward No Essay Scholarship

  • Award: $1,500
  • Deadline: Oct. 31st

Eligibility: Open to all students and non-students in any stage of life or field of study, the only requirement is that you are moving forward toward something new.

Submit: Easy online application.

Stop-Painting Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: Nov. 15th

Eligibility: Any graduate student, graduate certificate or executive education student currently enrolled at an accredited college, university, or related technical program may apply.

Submit: Online application and an essay of at least 750 words.

ACES Scholarships

  • Award: $1,500 – $3,500
  • Deadline: Nov. 15th

Eligibility: Applicants must be seeking degrees as enrolled college or university juniors, seniors, or graduate students during the fall term, and demonstrate an interest in editing as a career.

Submit: Online application.

Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship

  • Award: $2,000 – $3,000
  • Deadline: Dec. 1st

Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, national, or eligible non-citizens, and must be registered with Selective service if required; Louisiana residents for at least 1 year prior to July 1st of the award year; enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a Louisiana Public College or University majoring in forestry, wildlife, or marine science. Graduate students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Submit: FAFSA and completed application form.

Car Covers Scholarship

  • Award: $1,000
  • Deadline: Dec. 15th

Eligibility: Open to any student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 at any accredited American college, university or trade school.

Submit: Online application and an essay of 1,000+ words.

AWWA Scholarships

  • Award: $3,000 – $30,000
  • Deadline: Dec. 20th

Eligibility: Students must be enrolled at colleges or universities in the U.S., Canada, Guam, Mexico or Puerto Rico. Scholarships are offered for undergraduate and graduate studies in water research, engineering, finance, IT, legal, communications and policy. Multiple awards available, different requirements for each scholarship.

Submit: Online application and 3 letters of recommendation,

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

  • Award: up to $42,000
  • Deadline: Dec. 22nd

Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are pursuing or intend to pursue a masters or doctoral level degree in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology—this can include, but is not limited to, ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, and resource management disciplines. Must maintain full-time status and have a 3.3 GPA or higher.

Submit: Online application, statement of intent, letters of recommendation, and statement of financial need.

Unigo $10k Scholarship

  • Award: $10,000
  • Deadline: Dec. 31st

Eligibility: Must be a legal U.S. resident living in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. Open to applicants who are 14 years of age or older.

Submit: 250 word or less statement.

Niche Graduate School Scholarship

  • Award: $5,000
  • Deadline: Dec. 31st

Eligibility: Open to current graduate school students, college students, and adults planning to enroll in graduate school.

Submit: Online application.

 

Grad School Scholarships Recap

ScholarshipDeadlineAward
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship - FallJan. 10th$10,000
Dr. Meme Heineman ScholarshipJan. 14th$6,000
Boren Fellowships For Graduate StudentsJan. 25th$12,500 - $30,000
Supermom ScholarshipJan. 28th$2,000
Niche Graduate School Survey ScholarshipJan. 31st$1,000
ANS Graduate ScholarshipFeb. 1st$3,000 - $5,000
Society Of Women Engineers Upperclassmen ScholarshipsFeb. 1st$1,000 - $10,000
Derrick Richardson Law Student ScholarshipFeb. 4th$1,000
The Harry S. Truman ScholarshipFeb. 7thUp to $30,000
Elvira Alonso Soto Hispanic Women In Architecture ScholarshipMarch 14th$9,325
Side Hustlin' Student Scholarship OpportunityMarch 31st$1,000 - $2,500
Albert W. Dent Graduate Student ScholarshipMarch 31st$5,000
Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student ScholarshipMarch 31st$5,000
AMT ScholarshipMarch 31st$1,000
Financial Women of San Francisco ScholarshipApril 1st$10,000 - $15,000
PAC: Diversity Matters ScholarshipApril 1st$1,000
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship - WinterApril 4th$10,000
Gloria Barron Wilderness Society ScholarshipApril 29th$25,000
Richard E. Merwin Student ScholarshipApril 30th$1,000+
EFWA Graduate ScholarshipsApril 30th$1,000 - $2,500
ScholarSHPE Graduate ScholarshipApril 30th$2,000
ScholarSHPE PhD ScholarshipApril 30th$5,000
ScholarSHPE Helen Cuesta ScholarshipApril 30th$2,000
ScholarSHPE PRIDE ScholarshipApril 30th$2,000
Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences ScholarshipMay 19th$1,000
Charles Cheesman’s Student Debt Reduction ScholarshipMay 30th$4,000 - $7,500
The CIRI Foundation General ScholarshipJune 1stUp to $6,000
Cap Lanthrop ScholarshipJune 1stUp to $4,000
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship - SpringJune 5th$10,000
Stop-Painting ScholarshipJune 15th$1,000
Rockefeller State Wildlife ScholarshipJuly 1st$2,000 - $3,000
Chang Heaton Scholarship for Music ExcellenceJuly 28th$500
@ESPDaniella Debt GrantJuly 31st$1,500
"$$$ Isn't Everything" ScholarshipAug. 31st$500
Don't Text and Drive ScholarshipSept. 30th$1,000
Richard E. Merwin Student ScholarshipSept. 30th$1,000+
Dr. Ifeoma Ezebuiro Ezeobele Africans in Nursing ScholarshipOct. 16th$1,000
Chick-Fil-A Leadership ScholarshipOct. 27th$1,000 - $2,500
Chick-Fil-A True Inspiration™ ScholarshipOct. 27th$25,000
Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society AwardOct. 31st$1,000
Lance Stafford Larson Student AwardOct. 31st$500
Keep Going Forward No Essay ScholarshipOct. 31st$1,500
Stop-Painting ScholarshipNov. 15th$1,000
ACES ScholarshipsNov. 15th$1,500 - $3,500
Rockefeller State Wildlife ScholarshipDecember 1st$2,000 - $3,000
Car Covers ScholarshipDecember 15th$1,000
AWWA ScholarshipsDecember 20th$3,000 - $30,000
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship ProgramDecember 22ndUp to $42,000
Unigo $10k ScholarshipDecember 31st$10,000
Niche $5,000 Graduate School ScholarshipDecember 31st$5,000

 


trio of grad students discussing scholarships for graduate school with notebook

Final thoughts on scholarships for grad school

So that concludes this post on scholarships for graduate school.

Do you know of any other graduate student scholarships? Drop a comment below and I’ll add to this list of scholarships for grad school!

 

Related grants for graduate students:

 


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scholarships for graduate students, infographic list of scholarship names and award amounts

Scholarships for Graduate School

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