Graduate school funding works very differently from undergraduate funding. The Pell Grant does not apply to graduate study. Instead, the typical funding path is some combination of:
- University funding — teaching assistantships (TA), research assistantships (RA), and university fellowships. In PhD programs in the sciences, engineering, and many humanities and social-science fields, fully funded admission (tuition + stipend + health insurance) is the norm; you should not pay tuition out of pocket.
- External federal fellowships — NSF GRFP, NIH F-series, Department of Defense NDSEG, etc.
- External foundation fellowships — Ford, Soros, Truman, Fulbright, Hertz, etc.
- Federal student loans — Direct Unsubsidized Loans (up to $20,500/year) and Graduate PLUS Loans (up to cost of attendance), available to U.S. citizens through the FAFSA.
- Employer tuition reimbursement for part-time and professional-degree students.
This page lists the major sources. Before paying for grad school, make sure you've exhausted every option below.
University-administered funding (your first source)
For PhD programs in the sciences and engineering, fully funded admission is standard. A typical funded PhD package includes:
- Tuition and required fee waiver.
- Stipend — typically $25,000 to $45,000 per year at U.S. research universities (higher at top programs and in high-cost areas).
- Health insurance.
- A combination of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships across the 4–6 years of the program.
For master's degree programs and most professional degrees (MBA, JD, MD, MPH), funding is typically partial or self-pay. Even so, ask each program about:
- Teaching assistantships (TA) — usually paid plus tuition remission.
- Research assistantships (RA) — paid out of faculty grants.
- Internal fellowships and scholarships.
- Summer funding.
Major federal fellowships for U.S. graduate students
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
The single most prestigious federal fellowship for early-career STEM and social-science graduate students. For 2026, GRFP provides:
- A three-year stipend of $37,000 per year (subject to annual NSF adjustment)
- A cost-of-education allowance of $16,000 per year paid to your institution toward tuition and fees
- Access to GRFP-only professional development, conference, and international research opportunities
Open to U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents in NSF-supported fields. Apply in your senior undergraduate year or first/second year of graduate study. See nsfgrfp.org.
NIH F-series Fellowships (F30, F31, F32, F99/K00)
Individual predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. Pay tuition, fees, a stipend (NIH stipend scale; $31,068 at predoctoral entry level for FY2025, adjusted upward in FY2026), and limited research and travel costs. Highly competitive but a strong CV builder for any biomedical career. See researchtraining.nih.gov.
Department of Defense NDSEG Fellowship
The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship funds U.S. citizens in DOD-relevant STEM fields for three years, paying tuition, fees, a generous stipend, and health insurance. See ndseg.org.
Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF)
Four years of tuition, fees, and a stipend (over $40,000/year) for PhD students working in computational science. See krellinst.org/csgf.
Hertz Foundation Fellowship
Funds U.S. citizens and permanent residents in applied physical, biological, and engineering sciences. Five-year fellowships with a generous stipend, full tuition, and an honorific stipend supplement. See hertzfoundation.org.
Foundation fellowships open to broader fields
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
For graduating seniors and graduate students to study, research, or teach English abroad in over 140 countries for a year. See our Fulbright Foundation grants page and us.fulbrightonline.org.
Ford Foundation Predoctoral, Dissertation, and Postdoctoral Fellowships
Administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Ford Fellowships support diverse graduate students and scholars in academic disciplines from the humanities to STEM, with the goal of increasing the diversity of the U.S. professoriate. Predoctoral awards provide a $27,000/year stipend for three years; dissertation awards provide one year of support; postdoctoral awards provide one year of support. See sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships.
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
For immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing any graduate degree (PhD, MD, JD, MBA, MFA, MA, etc.) at a U.S. institution. Up to $90,000 in tuition support and stipend over two years. See pdsoros.org.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship
For college juniors planning a career in public service. Provides up to $30,000 toward graduate study in public service–oriented fields (public policy, public health, law, government, education leadership, nonprofit management). See truman.gov.
Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Mitchell Scholarship, Schwarzman Scholars, Knight-Hennessy Scholars, Gates Cambridge, Churchill
Highly selective programs funding graduate study abroad or at specific institutions. Most fund full tuition, fees, and living costs. See your campus office of nationally competitive fellowships.
Diversity- and identity-focused programs
- GEM Consortium Fellowship — for underrepresented minorities in master's and PhD STEM programs, with paid summer internships and tuition support.
- National Black Graduate Student Association, Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers, AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) — discipline-specific scholarships.
- American Association of University Women (AAUW) — fellowships and grants for women graduate students. See our women grants page.
- Point Foundation Scholarship — for LGBTQ+ graduate and undergraduate students.
Service-conditional federal awards
TEACH Grant
Up to $4,000/year for graduate students pursuing teaching credentials in high-need fields, with a four-year teaching service obligation at a low-income school within eight years of graduation. Failure to complete service converts the grant to an unsubsidized loan. See our TEACH Grant guide.
NHSC Scholarship and NURSE Corps
Pay full tuition, fees, and a monthly living stipend for graduate students pursuing nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, primary-care physician, physician assistant, behavioral-health, dental, and registered nursing degrees, in exchange for service at a federal Health Professional Shortage Area site. See our nursing grants page.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Not a grant, but a critical post-graduate tool: federal student loans are forgiven after 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full time for a qualifying public-service employer. See our law grants page for the legal-career version, and studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.
Federal student loans (the last resort)
Graduate students filing the FAFSA can borrow:
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans — up to $20,500/year, $138,500 aggregate limit (including undergrad).
- Graduate PLUS Loans — up to the school's cost of attendance minus other aid. Requires a credit check.
These are loans, not grants — but federal loans offer income-driven repayment plans and PSLF eligibility that private loans don't.
How to apply (recommended order)
- Apply only to programs with strong funding records for your degree type.
- In your fall application year, also apply to external fellowships (NSF GRFP, Ford, Soros, Truman as applicable) — getting one of these dramatically strengthens your admissions packet.
- File the FAFSA for federal-loan eligibility, even if you expect to be fully funded.
- In year 1 or 2 of graduate study, apply to in-program fellowships (NIH F31/F30, NSF GRFP if not won earlier, DOE CSGF, etc.).
- Negotiate — if you're admitted to multiple programs with different offers, most programs will match a stronger competing offer.
- Look at employer tuition reimbursement for part-time master's or professional programs.
Common questions
Should I pay for a PhD program out of pocket? In nearly all STEM, social-science, and humanities PhD programs at U.S. research universities, no. If you're admitted to an unfunded PhD program, treat that as a strong negative signal about either the program or the fit.
Is a master's degree usually funded? Less often. Some "feeder" master's programs, research master's programs, and select disciplines fund students; most professional master's and MBA programs do not. Plan to combine federal loans, employer reimbursement, and any internal scholarships.
Are international students eligible for federal fellowships? NSF GRFP, NIH F-series, and most DOD/DOE programs require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Foundation programs (Fulbright Foreign Student, Knight-Hennessy, Schwarzman) explicitly fund international students.
Can I do a service-conditional program (TEACH, NHSC) and a research fellowship at the same time? Generally yes, but disclose all current and pending support to each funder and read the rules carefully.
Are there scams targeting grad students? Yes — "guaranteed grad school grants" and "thesis funding services" charging upfront fees are scams. Federal fellowships and major foundation programs are always free to apply for. Report scams to the FTC.
The graduate funding pool is rich but front-loaded: the time to apply is before and during your first or second year, not when you're trying to make up tuition shortfalls midway through your program.