Determining how to pay for graduate school is as important as selecting a school to attend. There are different options such a loans, graduate/teaching assistantships, scholarships, and grants. One main question for you to answer is whether you should work while attending graduate or professional school. For some, this is not an option; for others, it is a decision that should be made carefully. In either case, this may determine whether you attend graduate school full- or part-time.

If you work for an organization or a university/college that offers full or partial tuition remission, you may want to continue working in order to avoid the high costs of graduate school. Another option is to work part time to cover some expenses while in school. It is important to remember that some programs require externships, internships, or field placements, any of which may conflict with the time constraints of having a job. Also, for some programs, like law school or medical school, it is not recommended to work due to the time-consuming course-load. What is most important is figuring out what will work best for you by researching and knowing the different options available to you for financing your program.

Some Financial Aid Resources for Graduate School

Access Group
Provides educational loans for graduate and professional students.

Fin Aid
Provides detailed information on loans, scholarship, saving for college and more.

Graduate Fellowships Database
Guide to graduate fellowships (compiled by the University of Notre Dame)

CollegeNET's MACH 25 Scholarship Database
This resource offers a keyword search, as well as a profile search.

Grants

The following websites provide information and access to Grants for Individuals:

Michigan State University Libraries - Grants for Individuals

FastWeb

Foundation Center