26 Graduate School Scholarships for All Types of Students
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
There’s no doubt that obtaining a college education can open a world of possibilities and new opportunities, but what about graduate school?
On average, around 61.8% of high school graduates enroll in college. About a third of those students go on to pursue an advanced degree (such as a master’s or a doctorate degree). Those who do usually see a tidy return on their investment.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker with a postgraduate degree earns 18 to 44% more than someone with just an undergraduate degree. Of course, grad school isn’t cheap, and student loans can put a serious ding in a post-grad-school pay raise. That means that for most graduate students, scholarships can be a critical piece of the funding puzzle — and the key to unlocking higher earning potential and a more rewarding career.
Here are 26 of the top scholarships for graduate students
This list contains scholarships specifically for graduate students. Keep in mind, however, that many generic college scholarships are also open to graduate students. So it’s always worth checking out scholarship search engines in addition to curated lists like this to make sure you have access to all the available options.
1. The Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship
Amount: Full tuition equivalent + $250,000 personal stipend
Provider: The Hertz Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- College senior, first-year graduate student, or taking a gap year while preparing to apply to graduate school
- Declared study in the field of applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering
Application Requirements: Transcript, 4 letters of recommendation, essay
Funded by a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing science education, the Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship supports students conducting doctoral research in STEM-related fields. It’s merit-based, but the essay plays a big role in the selection process. In it, applicants should discuss their passion for creative problem solving, especially as it relates to urgent issues in our world today. In addition to a financial award, winners will also receive lifelong access to a valuable network of Hertz Community members.
2. National GEM Consortium Fellowships
Amount: $16,000 minimum stipend + full tuition and fees
Provider: The National GEM Consortium
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
- Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American
- Declared study in the field of engineering or computer science
- Availability to intern with the sponsoring company for two summers
Application Requirements: Transcript, resume
Founded almost 50 years ago, the National GEM Consortium strives to support burgeoning scientists and engineers. To that end, GEM’s Fellowships provide multi-year assistance to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
To apply, you must be pursuing a graduate degree in a STEM-related field. Awardees get a significant stipend and full tuition and fees to a participating GEM university, but that’s not all. They’re also presented with an internship with a GEM employer. Pro tip: This fellowship has multiple application deadlines with different requirements, so be sure to mark them all on your calendar.
3. Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship
Amount: $25,000 stipend and 50% of tuition
Provider: The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Eligibility Requirements:
- Have two parents who were born outside the U.S. and were not eligible to become U.S. citizens at the time of their births
- Currently hold a bachelor’s degree.
- Be no older than 30
Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, standardized test scores (if they were required for your graduate program), 2 essays
Sponsored by Hungarian Americans Paul and Daisy Soros, the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship focuses on supporting immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing graduate school in the United States. There is no required major, university, or GPA to be eligible for this merit-based scholarship. Instead, the selection committee wants to know what makes you unique.
Since the award is targeted toward new Americans, candidates should also highlight their commitment to American values, specifically those in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. (Note: You do have to be either a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident—like a green-card holder or someone with refugee status—to apply.)
4. The Beinecke Scholarship Program
Amount: $34,000
Provider: The Sperry and Hutchinson Company
Eligibility Requirements:
- Plan to enter a research-focused master’s, doctoral program, or MFA
- Declared study in the field of arts, humanities, and/or social sciences
Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume/CV, work sample/portfolio, letter from dean
Endowed in memory of the philanthropic Beinecke family, the Beinecke Scholarship Program is both merit-based and designed to support college students with demonstrated financial need. There’s also some preference for those who are Pell Grant-eligible, so if that sounds like you, consider applying. Fine print: Applicants must attend an affiliated university and be nominated by their university. That shouldn’t stop you, though—the list contains over 130 schools.
5. Sidney B. Williams Jr. Scholarship
Amount: Up to $30,000
Provider: The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law
Eligibility Requirements:
- Black/African-American
- Enrolled as an law school (1L) student at an ABA-accredited law school
- Declared study in the field of patent law
Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, proof of acceptance/enrollment, LSAT scores, personal statement, resume
If you’re a Black law student looking for scholarship opportunities, this one’s worth considering. The Sidney B. Williams Jr. Scholarship provides a $10,000 stipend each academic year for up to three years. Prime candidates will be those with a history of strong academic achievement and an interest in patent law. The scholarship award does take financial need into account, and applicants can submit a copy of their completed FAFSA® to apply.
6. Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship
Amount: $35,000 + Summer Associate salary + $40,000 upon completion of program
Provider: Goldman Sachs
Eligibility Requirements:
- Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and/or female
- First-year MBA student
Application Requirements: Online application, potential interview
The Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship is one of the most competitive scholarships for graduate students in their first year of business school. Because it involves both a scholarship and a paid internship opportunity, this fellowship is a great way to kickstart a business career.
To apply, you have to be a woman, a person of color, or both. In addition to the financial stipend, awardees will win a paid summer internship with Goldman Sachs at one of the following offices: Atlanta, Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Greenwich, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, West Palm Beach, or Washington D.C
7. Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship
Amount: $24,000 Provider: NCAA
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled in a graduate program at an NCAA member institution
- Competed on a varsity athletic team at an NCAA member institution
Application Requirements: Transcript, 4 letters of recommendation, essay, list of academic and athletic honors and awards, list of community activities
If you’re a student-athlete considering grad school, the Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship should top your list. Given to one male and one female student-athlete each year, this renewable grad school scholarship is one of the NCAA’s bigger awards, and a fairly prestigious one at that. Applicants must be nominated by their school to be considered, so be sure to talk to your coach or athletic director to get your name in the running.
8. Davis-Putter Scholarship
Amount: $15,000
Provider: Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in a graduate program or trade program
- Active in a social or economic justice movement
Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, completed FAFSA® or SAR, personal statement
Determined to support a generation fighting for social justice, the Davis-Putter Scholarship was designed for current students who are active advocates. It’s needs-based, and it’s applicable to a wide variety of activism, from economic justice to trans rights to anti-imperialism. It’s also applicable to folks from a range of backgrounds, including incarcerated student activists and both undergraduate and graduate students.
9. AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students
Amount: $12,000
Provider: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Eligibility Requirements:
- Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and/or Pacific Islander
- Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a PhD program
- Declared study in the field of accounting
- CPA or plan to pursue CPA licensure
Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation
Calling all aspiring accountants and doctoral students of color: This fellowship program sponsors students from underrepresented groups who currently have a master’s degree, or have completed three years of work in the field of accounting. Because this one’s geared toward full-time students, applicants can’t be working full-time or teaching more than one course in a graduate assistantship to be eligible.
10. Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Provider: Association of California Water Agencies
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled full-time in a graduate program
- Declared study in the field of water law and policy or public administration
Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, essay
As the statewide leader in water policy, the Association of California Water Agencies created this award to support the next generation of students passionate about solving the climate crisis. To that end, the ACWA chooses one graduate student each year to receive the Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship. While there is no GPA requirement, applicants will be selected based on their academic achievement, their passion for water-related issues, and their commitment to a future career in the industry.
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11. Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Provider: Government Finance Officer Association
Eligibility Requirements:
- Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and/or Pacific Islander
- Declared study in the field of public administration, accounting, finance, political science, economics, or business administration
Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation
The Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship was designed to recognize and support outstanding students from underserved communities. (It’s one of 11 scholarships from the GFOA, so be sure to check out the others if this is your chosen field.) To be competitive, you should highlight the connection between your coursework and your future career goals in the field of government finance.
12. SEG Scholarship
Amount: Up to $10,000
Provider: The Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Eligibility Requirements:
- Declared field of study in Geophysics
Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 academic references
While there’s no exact GPA requirement for the SEG Scholarship, it’s still merit-based. That means that to be competitive, you’ll need to demonstrate above-average academic performance. The good news? That’s pretty much it. The only other hard-and-fast requirement is that you’re pursuing a degree program related to geophysics.
13. United Health Foundation Louis Stokes Scholarship
Amount:$8,000
Provider: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Black/African American
- Enrolled full time in a graduate program
- Declared study in the field of healthcare or medicine
Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, video essay, resume, headshot
If you’re a Black American, a current graduate student, and pursuing a career in healthcare, then this multi-year scholarship was created with you in mind. The United Health Foundation Louis Stokes Scholarship is awarded to four students each year to assist them with their graduate studies. While GPA is considered, applicants with a strong background in community service or demonstrated leadership skills will get top priority.
14. ASH Foundation’s Graduate Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled full-time in a graduate program
- Declared study in the field of communication sciences and disorders
Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, letter of acceptance or good standing, essay, relevant coursework, letter of application
The American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASH) Foundation is passionate about communication. With this in mind, use your essay to explain how your experiences have shaped your passion for breaking through barriers of communication-related disorders. Aside from the essay, applying for the ASH Foundation’s Graduate Scholarship is a pretty involved process. But because they award 15 scholarships each year, at least you’re guaranteed a good shot.
15. Oncology Nursing Foundation Master’s Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: Oncology Nursing Foundation and Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in or applying to a master’s program
- Be a registered nurse
- Declared study in the field of oncology nursing
Application Requirements: 1 letter of recommendation, essay
According to Precedence Research, the field of oncology is predicted to reach over $530 billion by 2029. As research and treatment continue to advance, so does the nation’s need for oncology nurses. If you’re a registered nurse and interested in pursuing a graduate program, the Oncology Nursing Foundation Master’s Scholarship could be a great supplement to your financial aid package, and a path to a fulfilling career in a growing field.
16. (ISC)² Graduate Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: Center for Cyber Safety and Education
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Pursuing a master’s degree or a PhD
- Declared study in the field of cybersecurity or information assurance
Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, essay, resume/CV
The (ISC)² Graduate Scholarship was created for students pursuing graduate degrees related to cybersecurity or information assurance. Grad students can be full-time or part-time, and can attend school either online or on campus. This award is merit-based but it also takes financial need into consideration. The best way to stand out, however, is to convey your passion for cybersecurity and commitment to a future career in the field.
17. Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: American College of Healthcare Executives
Eligibility Requirements:
- Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, Asian American, and/or Pacific Islander or a member of the LGBTQ+ community
- Enrolled full-time in a graduate program
- Entering your final year of study
- Declared study in the field of healthcare
- Not previously a recipient of this award or the Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship
Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, essay, resume
The Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship seeks to support ethnically diverse or LGBTQ+ graduate students enrolled in a healthcare management graduate program. Though preference is given to Student Associates of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), it’s not a requirement.
18. Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: American College of Healthcare Executives
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled full-time in a graduate program
- Declared study in the field of healthcare
- Not previously a recipient of this award or the Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, essay, resume
Sponsored by the American College of Healthcare Executives, The Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship aims to reduce the burden of paying for graduate studies — and to make it easier for outstanding students to achieve their healthcare career goals. The award grants $5,000 to graduate students enrolled in relevant programs. That includes MHA, MPH, and healthcare administration MBA programs, among others.
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19. Banks Brown Graduate Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled in a graduate program
- Declared study in the field of hospitality
Application Requirements: Transcript, essay
Both full-time and part-time students are eligible for the Banks Brown Graduate Scholarship. Backed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation, this industry-specific scholarship was created with a simple goal: to strengthen the lodging industry and equip the next generation to succeed. Candidates can either be studying for a graduate degree in hospitality now, or enrolled in any graduate program after completing a hospitality-related undergraduate degree.
20. Eckenfelder Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: Brown and Caldwell
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled full time
- Declared study in the field of engineering or environmental science
Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, essay, resume
The Eckenfelder Scholarship program was created to honor Dr. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr. and his commitment to the environmental industry. To carry on his legacy, the award helps fund college juniors, seniors, and graduate students as they pursue environment-related careers. Applicants should highlight their academic performance, their passion for environmental studies, and their future career goals in the industry.
21. Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholarship
Amount: $3,000-$4,000
Provider: Overseas Press Club Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Declared study in the field of journalism
Application Requirements: Resume, writing sample, cover letter
In support of future foreign correspondents, the Overseas Press Club Foundation selects 17 scholars to sponsor each year. The Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholarship can help fund students’ academic endeavors or pay for a trip abroad to pursue experience in the field of journalism. Travel-ready graduates and undergraduates in both traditional journalism and photojournalism are welcome to apply.
22. Edward C. Bryant Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Provider: American Statistical Association
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled full time in a graduate program
- Declared study in the field of statistics
Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume/CV, list of extracurricular activities, list of honors and awards
The best way to honor someone obsessed with statistics is to empower someone with a similar obsession. To that end, the Edward C. Bryant Scholarship — established in the name of the founder of the American Statistical Association — supports one student each year in their pursuit of an advanced degree in statistics. To apply, you must have experience with survey statistics and a record of academic excellence in graduate school.
23. Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Provider: American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Arab-American
- Enrolled full-time in a graduate program
- Declared study in the field of mass communications
Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, essay, work sample/portfolio
Given in honor of the groundbreaking writer Dr. Jack Shaheen, the Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship is available to Arab-American students who are college juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Hopefuls must share Dr. Shaheen’s affinity for compelling storytelling — only journalism, television, radio, and/or film majors are invited to apply. Pro tip: If you don’t already know Dr. Shaheen’s work well, it’s time to start reading, since describing his influence on your life and career goals is a key component of the essay.
24. Rick Guggolz Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Provider: Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Declared study in the field of insurance, economics, finance, or business
Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, relevant coursework, list of extracurricular activities, list of honors and awards, list of leadership roles, summary of steps taken to pursue a career in insurance
Here’s some simple addition for all you math and econ majors out there: What’s your tuition bill minus $2000? Correct — $2000 less in student loans that you’ll have to repay after graduation. Presented by a professional organization of insurance executives, the Rick Guggolz Memorial Scholarship was designed to help subsidize higher education for graduate students in math-adjacent fields. (Note that those interested in pursuing an insurance career will have a leg up on other applicants.)
25. Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Provider: American Psychological Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Current graduate student
- Declared study in the field of psychology
Application Requirements: 1 letter of recommendation, resume and CV, description of project, project budget proposal
The Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship was created to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Sponsored by the American Psychological Foundation, this award funds graduate-level scholarly projects that use a psychological perspective to help raise awareness and change perspectives around mental health. You’ll need a specific, well-thought-out project proposal to have the best shot at winning this award.
26. Gertrude M. Fox Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Provider: American Statistical Association
Eligibility Requirements:
- Female
- Enrolled full time in a graduate program
- Declared study in the field of statistics
Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, essay, resume/CV, headshot
The Gertrude M. Fox Scholarship is sponsored by the American Statistical Association. Its goal: to support outstanding women as they pursue statistics-related professions. The committee gives out two different awards — one for a female statistician in the beginning of her graduate studies and the other to a woman nearing the end of her program.
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