Top 10 Graduate School Scholarships in 2024

Are you a US citizen aiming to pursue a Master's, but you're worried about the rising costs of graduate school? This article will cover our picks for the top 10 graduate school scholarships, and all the key information you'll need to know to apply.

#1 Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program

• Amount: $30,000
• Open to: law school students who are members of racial or ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the patent law profession in the US

The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law offers support to students from racial or ethnic groups who are underrepresented in the patent law profession in the US. The applicants must demonstrate commitment to exploring a career in intellectual property law and have a STEM background.

Every year, they award several graduate school scholarships to both domestic and international applicants seeking admission to an ABA-accredited law school. Apart from the tuition grant, the Scholar Program benefits include coaching and mentoring assistance from the admissions process to the day you graduate.

#2 Eckenfelder Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Open to: students with a declared major in civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, or environmental engineering or one of the environmental sciences

To honor Dr. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr.’s dedication to the environmental industry, Brown and Caldwell offer scholarships for graduate students to support those interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession.

The scholarship is open to US citizens or permanent residents studying civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, or environmental engineering or one of the environmental sciences. You must submit a resume, an essay about a personal experience that influenced your decision to focus on environmental studies, 2 recommendations, and an official transcript of your academic record with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

#3 SEG Scholarship

• Amount: up to $10,000
• Open to: graduate applied geophysics students

The Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) is a global non-profit organization, headquartered in Houston, dedicated to enhancing the present and future of applied geophysics. They award many scholarships to encourage the study of geophysics and related geosciences.

This merit-based scholarship requires you to submit current transcripts and 2 reference contacts. The number of scholarships depends on the sponsors' donations, with about a third of the total amount going towards supporting graduate students all over the world.

#4 ASHFoundation Graduate Student Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Open to: undergraduate seniors or those who are currently pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in communication sciences and disorders

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation aims to support promising students, researchers, and clinicians in communication sciences to make the ability to connect possible for everyone.

They award up to 15 general graduate student scholarships and up to 9 for special purposes: 3 for international students, 3 for students who are members of a minority group, and 3 for undergraduate senior students with active National NSSLHA memberships.

To be eligible for the ASHFoundation Graduate Student Scholarship you must be a full-time student accepted, or enrolled in, graduate study in a communication sciences and disorders program in the US, and submit university transcripts of academic coursework, credits, grades, GPA, and 3 letters of recommendation.

#5 AAUW Career Development Grants

• Amount: up to $20,000
• Open to: women pursuing their first advanced degree in education, STEM, or social sciences whose last degree was received before June 30, 2016

American Association of University Women is one of the world's biggest sources of funding for women's education. They fight for fair pay and economic opportunity for women, and to remove the barriers and biases that stand in the way of gender equality.

Career Development Grants support American women who want to advance or change careers or re-enter the workforce, and whose last degree was received before June 30, 2016. You must provide transcripts and a recommendation, and show commitment to education and equity for women and girls.

#6 ISC2 Graduate Scholarship

• Amount: up to $5,000
• Open to: graduate students pursuing a degree with a focus on cybersecurity or information assurance

The Center for Cyber Safety and Education is committed to growing the cybersecurity profession and its positive impact. Their nonprofit membership association ISC2 is known for the acclaimed Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification.

Up to 20 graduate school scholarships are awarded each year to students from any country pursuing a Master’s degree program or doctoral studies in cybersecurity or information assurance. You must send your CV and transcripts with a GPA of at least 3.5, and fill out essay questions. Members of ISC2 will take into consideration your passion, merit, and financial need.

#7 Dr. Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarships

• Amount: $4,000
• Open to: graduate school Arab-American students majoring in Journalism, Television, Radio, or Film

The ADC Research Institute sponsors a wide range of programs, primarily in support of the constitutional and First Amendment rights of Arab Americans. To honor Dr. Jack G. Shaheen, a media critic and internationally recognized author of the award-winning book "Red Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People", they offer an award to Arab-American students who excel in Media Studies.

The scholarship is open to US citizens of Arab heritage studying Journalism, Television, Radio, or Film. Your application must include 2 letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and academic transcripts with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

#8 TEACH Grant

• Amount: up to $4,000 a year
• Open to: students pursuing a career in teaching

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grant funds to students in teaching under the Agreement to Serve or Repay. This agreement requires you to serve as a full-time highly qualified teacher for low-income students or teach in a high-need field. Otherwise, it converts into a loan that you need to repay with interest.

To be eligible for a TEACH Grant, you must be enrolled at a school that participates in the program and meet certain academic requirements (usually, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25).

#9 AIEF Graduate Scholarship

• Amount: up to $2,000
• Open to: American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian students pursuing a Masters or Doctoral degree

American Indian Education Fund, a program of PWNA, offers scholarships to encourage Native American students to pursue higher education. Only about 20% of Native Americans who start college complete their first year, so they aim to help students deal with tremendous culture shock, academic challenges, and financial strain.

Every year, they provide graduate school scholarships for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students. To be eligible, you must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and provide documentation of tribal enrollment and transcripts.

#10 Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship

• Amount: $24,000
• Open to: outstanding student-athletes

The National Collegiate Athletic Association established the Walter Byers Scholarship to recognize the contributions of the former executive director by encouraging outstanding academic achievement and potential for success in graduate study of student-athletes.

One male and one female student-athlete are awarded a yearly scholarship based on their academic performance. To be eligible you must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, have competed in intercollegiate athletics, and demonstrate superior character and leadership.

Bonus

Hertz Fellowship

The Hertz Fellowship is awarded annually to the most promising graduate students in science and technology. It's an opportunity to receive 5 years of funding (up to $250,000) and be invited to special events throughout your career, including scientific symposia, professional development workshops, and social networking opportunities.

Graduate Study in the USA

Graduate Study in the USA is the Master's degree scholarship from Keystone which amounts to $5,000 to help cover your tuition fees and support international students - the next generation of globally-minded adventurers.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

If you're a foreign graduate student looking to study and research in the US, the Fullbright Program is for you. This program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide with approximately 4,000 foreign students receiving full tuition funding and a stipend each year.

You can find even more scholarships for graduate studies in the US in our Master's Scholarship Directory.