<p>Is it basically fellowships (merit scholarships), loans, and teaching assistantships or are need-based grants available, just like they are for undergrads? (also posted in Financial Aid area)</p>
<p>See my response on Financial Aid post ...</p>
<p>There are no government grants like the Pell. There may be university grants at some schools. Usually professional school like MD/JD/MBA requires both parent and student financial info and there is still not a lot of grant money. Other grad school (PhD) usually only asks for the student info.</p>
<p>There are many loans available, but for a masters of PhD, if you can do it, aim for TAships or RAships, this may give you pay for your time plus potential tuition remission plus possibly health benefits.</p>
<p>It depends on the type of graduate school.</p>
<p>My son is in a Ph.D. program in a well-funded field (computer science). Everyone (at least everyone who is a U.S. citizen) gets financial support -- just enough to allow them to live in a classic state of student poverty. Some people are research assistants; others are teaching assistants. Need is not a factor. Every one of the graduate schools that accepted him offered him a teaching or research assistantship. It's expected.</p>
<p>My daughter, on the other hand, aspires to an M.B.A. after working for a few years. She will have to pay for it -- partly from her savings, partly by taking out loans. But given what she's likely to earn after getting that M.B.A., I don't think she will have any huge difficulty paying off the loans.</p>
<p>MBA schools offer only merit scholarships. However, you can qualify for Perkins loans, federal subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans depending on the student's financial situation. Students who have worked submit their own FAFSAs. Many take out Grad Plus and private loans in addition.</p>
<p>Actually Pell grants are not usually available beyond undergrad.
Student</a> Aid on the Web
[quote]
Pell Grants are awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Pell Grant.)
[/quote]
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<p>If you are a highly desirable candidate in a field they have funding for, you can be awarded LOTS of $. I have a friend whose D was courted by many schools to do graduate study in microbiology (or other science), I believe. The top 2 schools were vying for her & offered her LOTS of money on top of paying for all of her expenses including tuition, room & board. She ultimately chose the top school, Cornell & turned down the 2nd school, UCDavis. I believe she's very happy there & her folks & grandparents are thrilled that she's in such a stimulating environment & earning a lot of monely while learning a great deal! Her award is all merit & she is doing research; I don't believe she's teaching.</p>
<p>I cross post with scm when I edited my post. No, there's no Pell grant, just Perkins loans.</p>