For those that wish to advance their careers, graduate school can be a great investment to help them meet their goals. Meanwhile, this investment might be costly and alot of student rely on financial aid to enable them pursue their dream. Grants are great way of financial aid because like scholarships, they aren’t meant to be paid back. Basically, school grants are free money given out by federal or private institutions like Federal Grants for Master’s Degree that work to help you pay for tuition, supplies, room and board, or living expenses.
Students with enough funding will have a much more fulfilling experience as they pursue their master’s degree program. However, many potential students find themselves stuck in a maze of confusion in regards to where to turn for help.
In this article, we will be talking about federal grants that are available for students who are enrolling for Master’s degree. Firstly, it is important to note that federal grants are grants offered to graduate students that are based on financial need.
While the federal government provides the greatest amount of aid for graduate students, most of it comes in the form of direct student loans. The following are special government-sponsored programs that offer grants to graduate students;
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH): This grant offers up to $4000 yearly to individuals who are pursuing careers in the high-demand teaching field in order to stimulate more enrollment in the coursework that leads to teaching degrees. How to Apply for Medical Billing and Coding Grants
To be eligible for this program, you are to satisfy the following conditions:
- Teach in a high-need field.
- Teach at a school that serves low income students.
- Complete at least four academic years as a teacher, within eight years of graduating.
In a case whereby you received a TEACH grant without meeting the stipulated conditions above, the grant is immediately converted into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid with interest.
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants: This grant is available for students who have a parent that lost his or her life as a result of military service, following the events of 9/11.
The maximum grant awards are usually similar to that of Pell Grants which is presently around $5000 yearly.
The roadmap to federal tuition assistance begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Any student willing to get financial aid from US government must submit a completed FAFSA before the deadline of the application. All information in your FAFSA application will be subject to scrutiny and be used to paint the picture of your financial status, which colleges and financial aid administrators use to measure your eligibility for grants, loans, and scholarships.
- Fulbright Grants: These grants are provided by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The post baccalaureate funding provided by Fullbright grants promote the international exchange of ideas, by supporting individual study/research projects with funds overseas.
If you’re a recent bachelor’s degree recipient or a Master’s candidate, you might qualify for a fulbright grant that enables you to continue your international studies.
The fulbright programs disperse approximately 1800 grants yearly, to students studying in over 150 countries.
The National Science Foundation issues grants, and partners with other programs to promote continuing education and research funding in specific fields. The NSF offers specialized information for graduate students in a comprehensive online listing of available aid.
