Ways to pay · Graduate students
Paying for a master's or PhD
By the Scholastic Leaders team · Last reviewed · How we research
Graduate funding works differently from college aid. In many research PhD programs, the department funds students through assistantships and fellowships. Master's and professional programs are more often self-funded or loan-funded. Ask each department what it offers.
1. Assistantships (TA, RA, GA)
- Teaching assistantship (TA): you teach or grade courses.
- Research assistantship (RA): you work on a faculty member's funded research, often on your thesis topic.
- Graduate assistantship (GA): work in a university office or program.
Assistantships usually pay a stipend and often include a full or partial tuition waiver and health insurance. Terms vary by university and department; the graduate school and department pages state them. International students can generally hold on-campus assistantships within F-1 work rules; check with the international student office.
2. Tuition waivers and remission
Many universities waive some or all tuition for students with assistantships or fellowships. Ask whether the waiver covers fees, whether it applies in summer, and whether it continues each year.
3. Fellowships
- University and departmental fellowships: offered with your admission, usually without a separate application. Ask the department.
- External fellowships: e.g. the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) for U.S. citizens, nationals and permanent residents in STEM; the Fulbright Foreign Student Program for international students, through your country's Fulbright commission or U.S. embassy.
We only show fellowships verified on the official page as open.
4. Loans (U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens)
Graduate students can borrow federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans; rules change, so check current limits. Direct Loans · Grad PLUS. International students aren't eligible for federal loans. EducationUSA: funding graduate study
Related
We link only to official government, school and program pages and don't publish award amounts we haven't confirmed. Rules change every year, so check each official page before you rely on it.