<p>Hello, My dad has recently heard about a masters program that is being established at a good private school near us. Right now, he is a leader in this field and is very interested in this program. However, the cost is somewhere around 27,000 for the whole thing, after a 25% tuition decrease as part of the establishing class. I have not put much research into the subject yet, but please let me know about any stipends, financial aid, scholarships, and such that are available for a non-traditional, navy veteran who is currently working in the field he will be studying in.
Thank very much!</p>
<p>What field might that be? You never mentioned it.</p>
<p>Stipends are usually part of an assistantship package, which it doesn’t sound like this program offers.</p>
<p>There are very, very few “free money” opportunities (fellowships) for students who aren’t in a traditional research-based graduate program.</p>
<p>He can borrow Stafford Loans for most of the cost, probably.</p>
<p>Polarscribe, I believe it will be a traditional research-based graduate program. Does that change anything?</p>
<p>Possibly. But it’s going to be dependent on the school. Virtually all graduate financial aid (other than Fulbrights, etc.) is administered by each individual graduate school. He needs to check with them to see what may be available. Most fellowships are reserved for Ph.D students, though.</p>
<p>Be advised that such opportunities are extremely limited and highly competitive. It’s not like undergrad merit aid, where lots and lots of people get grants. The majority of graduate students who are funded are in assistantship programs.</p>
<p>If your dad is going to be working full-time while getting his degree, then getting a funded grad program will be difficult…unless his company pays.</p>
<p>Well, He will have two dependents also attending college, I do not know if that will help. Are there loans available for that sort of thing other than private? It appears he will be able to get Stafford loans, but can he get a PLUS loan? (None of his dependents are getting this loan.) </p>
<p>He is in the IT field if that helps.</p>
<p>Dependents, veteran, etc. likely won’t make a difference. Graduate aid is entirely merit-based. Even programs aimed at URMs are competitive and are awarded based on qualifications rather than financial need.</p>
<p>Stafford and GradPLUS loans are available.</p>
<p>Thank you, polarscribe, that is very helpful. How can one show merit? And how can one apply for merit scholarships particularly, would that be just listed on the institutions website? Are there outside scholarships available for grads?</p>
<p>There are a limited number of outside scholarships for graduate studies in some fields. The department where your father would like to enroll would be the best source of information on that. He really needs to make an appointment with them so that he can find out what kind of teaching/research assistantships are available, and whether or not there are any departmental scholarships.</p>
<p>I agree…</p>
<p>But if the dad plans on keeping his present job, then getting a research assistantship isn’t likely because of time conflicts. There’s no way my son could do his assistantship demands, go to class, and have an outside job. </p>
<p>The dad needs to ask his work if THEY"LL pay. Many companies will pay if the degree will benefit them.</p>