Graduate student scholarships: Find free money for grad school

Where can I find graduate scholarships?

You can find graduate scholarships through your school, academic department, professional associations, foundations, community organizations, and scholarship search tools. Start with your graduate program and financial aid office, where you can ask about awards for incoming and current students.

Then widen your search. Professional associations may offer funding connected to your field, while community organizations and scholarships by state can point you toward location-based opportunities. If you work, ask your employer about scholarships or tuition assistance.

With Scholly^® Scholarships, you can select “Graduate Student” under the year-in-school filter and narrow your search by major, state, award amount, and application requirements. Review the provider’s full rules before deciding whether an award fits.

How do I apply for graduate school scholarships?

Find scholarships that fit your plans, confirm the requirements, prepare your materials, and submit before the deadline. A simple tracking system can help you manage several applications without losing sight of what each one needs.

1. Find awards that fit. Search by degree, field, background, and enrollment plans. Save promising opportunities so you can compare their requirements.
2. Check eligibility and deadlines. Confirm whether you need to be admitted or enrolled, whether part-time study qualifies, and which academic year the award covers.
3. Gather your materials. Depending on the award, you may need transcripts, a résumé, recommendations, financial information, an essay, or a research proposal. Give anyone writing a recommendation enough time to help.
4. Tailor and review your application. Answer the questions asked and connect your experience and goals to the scholarship’s purpose. If writing is required, these scholarship essay tips can help you get started.
5. Submit and track next steps. Save your confirmation and record decision dates, acceptance requirements, and renewal terms. If you win, ask your school how the scholarship fits with your other funding.

Easy ways to get started

Sallie’s $5,000 Grad School No Essay Scholarship^†: Apply without writing an essay. Review the eligibility rules and current entry period, then enter the grad school scholarship.

Scholly® Easy Apply Scholarships^†: Use one application to enter multiple eligible scholarships. Check the current Scholly Easy Apply scholarships and their rules before submitting.

What eligibility requirements do I need to meet for graduate scholarships?

Each scholarship sets its own eligibility rules. Common criteria include your degree level, field of study, admission or enrollment status, GPA, financial need, and location. Some awards also consider your work experience, community involvement, or background.

If you study part-time or online, are returning to school, or haven’t enrolled yet, check those details before applying. Don’t rule yourself out because you don’t have a perfect GPA—some scholarships don’t set a minimum.

Application materials are a separate part of the process. Meeting the eligibility rules tells you whether you can apply; transcripts, recommendations, essays, and other documents help the provider review your application.

When should I apply for graduate school scholarships?

Start searching while you research graduate programs, then keep checking throughout your degree. Deadlines vary by provider, and a school’s funding deadline may come before its final admissions deadline.

• Before you apply to programs: Research scholarships and ask each school about funding deadlines and separate applications.
• During admissions: Prepare your materials and confirm whether your admission application also puts you in consideration for school awards.
• After admission and while enrolled: Look for new opportunities, check renewal requirements, and plan for the next funding cycle.

Keep scholarship deadlines alongside your program deadlines in one calendar. Include time for recommendations and transcripts so you can submit a complete application.

How do scholarships compare with fellowships, grants, and assistantships?

Scholarships are one way to lower graduate school costs. Other funding may support your studies, pay you for work, or reimburse eligible tuition expenses. The names and conditions vary, so compare what each offer provides and what it asks of you.

Fellowships and assistantships can both help you pay for grad school, but they come with different expectations. For example, the University of Washington explains that fellowships generally support study or research without requiring work in return, while assistantships involve paid academic work. Ask your program what each offer covers and what responsibilities come with it

Not all undergraduate aid options carry over to graduate school. Graduate students generally aren’t eligible for Federal Pell Grants, so focus on funding that specifically accepts your degree level.

How can I improve my chances of winning graduate scholarships?

• Give yourself more than one opportunity. You don’t have to cover your costs with one big scholarship—several awards can add up. Sallie’s "The scholarship winner playbook" found that 34% of scholarship winners earned 3 or more awards, receiving a median total of $12,750, compared with $4,250 for winners of one or two awards. While the study wasn't specific to grad school, it shows how it's smart to consider a mix of awards rather than focusing all your effort on one.

• Make your goals specific. Explain what you want to study, how your experience has prepared you, and how the funding would support your next step. Use examples that answer the provider’s questions rather than trying to fit every accomplishment into one application.

• Ask someone to review your work. A professor, mentor, advisor, or writing center can help you spot unclear answers and missing details. Share the scholarship criteria so they understand what the application needs to show.

• Keep useful materials and revisit opportunities. Save your résumé, application details, and writing samples in one place. Adapt them to each award, and check whether you can apply again in a later cycle if you aren’t selected.