Your One Stop Shop for Scholarships

There’s no doubt that obtaining a college education can open a world of possibilities and new opportunities, but what about going on to graduate school and getting an advanced degree? On average, around 69.7% of high school graduates enroll in a higher education program. Of that amount, 37% continue to obtain an advanced degree (such as a Master’s or a Doctorate degree).

But is it worth it?

Having an advanced degree can make career goals more attainable and provide the skills needed to reach the next level. However, high tuition prices can make students wonder if continuing their education is worth the cost. The truth is that it isn’t always. Students should reflect on their career goals and what they hope to get from a graduate program to determine if it’s worth it or not.

Firstly,  you should be clear on exactly why you are considering a graduate degree. Does it help you get closer to your career goals? Will it help you earn more money? Take the time to reflect on your goals and what you need to reach them.

Another point to consider is how long you plan to work in your field. Do you see it as a long-term option? In that case, a graduate-level degree might be worth it. Do you hate it and hope to leave as soon as possible? If so, it’s likely not worth pursuing an advanced degree, at least not in that field.

A third factor is how your salary will likely change as a result of your graduate degree. This information should be available on the websites of the colleges you are considering and is also usually easy to find with a quick Google search. In general, graduate-level degrees in the STEM fields tend to pay off the most in the end.

Lastly, consider whether your career goals involve field-related research. Many graduate students choose to continue their education for the chance of doing research and working with renowned professionals in their field.

Once you’ve decided to continue your education, you’ll need to decide how to pay for it. The price tag can be scary, but scholarships for graduate students can help.

Benefits of Scholarships & How to Apply

If you were offered free money, you would take it, right? That’s what makes scholarships such a great option for paying for grad school…they never need to be paid back! Plus, there are tons of different scholarships out there for all sorts of people.

The best place to start is Going Merry! We match you with the scholarships you qualify for and then allow you to apply directly through our site to save you time and effort. The next step is to speak with your high school guidance office or college financial aid office. They’ll have plenty of info on local scholarships and awards that you qualify for.

For more information on paying for school, check out our comprehensive guide to financial aid and our step-by-step guide on applying for scholarships. If you want more tips on making your application stand out, we provided 12 for you here.

Going Merry is in the process of adding these scholarships for graduate students and more to our website. Feel free to let us know which ones you’d like to see first and if there are any others we should add in the meantime.

Here are 15 scholarships for graduate students:

1. Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship

Amount: $35,000 + Summer Internship Salary + $40,000 upon program completion

Goldman Sachs offers one of the most competitive scholarships for graduate students who are in their first year of pursuing an MBA. In order to qualify, students must complete a summer internship with the company and be either a woman or a woman or man of Black, Hispanic/Latino, or Native American ethnicity. Students in Atlanta, Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Greenwich, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, West Palm Beach, and Washington D.C. can apply.

For more info, check out the company’s scholarship page.

2. “Inspire our Future” Teaching Scholarship

Amount: $500

Teacher.org aims to inspire the next generation of teachers. This $500 award is available to both aspiring teachers and current teachers who hope to continue their education. Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to apply.

For more info, check out the scholarship page.

3. (ISC)² Graduate Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

This flexible scholarship for grad students was created to support students pursuing graduate degrees related to cyber security or information assurance. Students can be full-time or part-time students and attend school either online or on campus. U.S. citizenship is not required. Candidates should have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

For more information, please visit the scholarship website.

4. AACC International Fellowship Program

Amount: $3,000

For graduate students interested in grain-based food science and technology, this $3,000 scholarship provides money for graduate-level research. Candidates must be full-time students enrolled in a university conducting relevant research as well as current AACCI members.

Check out the scholarship website for more info.

5. AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability

Amount: Up to $1,000

This $1,000 scholarship aids students who have a disability as defined by the American with Disabilities Act. Candidates can be part-time or full-time graduate students or full-time undergraduate students with at least sophomore status. Preference is given to students majoring in public health, disability studies, health promotion, or other disability/health-related fields.

Check out the scholarship page for more information.

6. Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

This scholarship for minority graduate students aims to help those enrolled in a healthcare management graduate program. Financial need is a primary factor in the decision-making process and preference is given to Student Associates of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Please visit the scholarship website for more information.

7. Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Another scholarship offered by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), this $5,000 award is for graduate students enrolled in a healthcare management program. Financial need is a major factor in the decision-making process and preference is given to Student Associates of the ACHE (American College of Healthcare Executives).

For more information, please visit the scholarship website.

8. AHLEF Graduate Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Both full-time and part-time students are eligible for this $5,000 scholarship. Candidates should either be studying for a graduate degree in hospitality OR enrolled in any graduate program after completing a hospitality-related undergraduate degree or having four years of experience in the hospitality industry after undergraduate graduation. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

Check out the scholarship page for more info.

9. Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship

Amount: $7,500

Students who are pursuing an MLS degree and are interested in working in children’s librarianship are eligible for these scholarships for graduate students. After graduation, recipients must commit to working with children for one year and become members of both the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association for Library Service to Children.

Please visit the company website for more information.

10. Eckenfelder Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

College juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students who are pursuing an environment-related career, can apply to this $5,000 scholarship. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a declared major in civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, or environmental engineering or one of the environmental sciences.

Please visit the scholarship website for more information.

11. Edward C. Bryant Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

This grad school scholarship was created to support graduate students who excel in survey statistics. Students must have experience with survey statistics and demonstrate academic excellence during grad school.

For more information, check out the scholarship website.

12. Gertrude M. Fox Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

The Gertrude M. Fox scholarship is offered by the ASA Committee on Women in Statistics and the Caucus for Women in Statistics. It was established in 1989 in order to encourage women to pursue statistics-related professions.

To find out more, please visit the scholarship website.

13. Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship

Amount: Full tuition equivalent + $32,000 9-month personal stipend

The Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship aims to provide students with the necessary funding to conduct Ph.D. research. Students also receive the lifelong counseling and network of Hertz Community members. In order to be eligible, students must be studying for a Ph.D. The university must be a participating school or students may petition for a different school to be permitted by the foundation. This award is renewable on an annual basis.

For more information, please visit the scholarship website.

14. Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Arab-American students who are juniors, seniors, or graduate students can apply to this scholarship. Students must be majoring in journalism, television, radio, and/or film to be eligible.

Visit the scholarship website for more information.

15. Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship

Amount: $7,000

Graduate students pursuing a graduate degree in Water Law & Policy or Public Administration can apply for this generous scholarship. Students should have relevant career goals, be attending school full time, and demonstrate academic achievement.

Please visit this scholarship page for more information.

Soon you’ll be able to apply to all of these scholarships for graduate students on Going Merry (let us know in the comments section if there are others we should include). In the meantime, we already have thousands of scholarships which you can apply for directly.

Just fill out your profile, see what we match you with, and click apply! It’s that easy.