When you decide to go to graduate school it’s a big step. You have accomplished your undergraduate degree and you either want to get more degrees or your field basically requires a post-graduate degree in order to make money.
Whatever the case may be, you have to find a way to pay for this extra degree. Although, graduate degrees are not as expensive as undergraduate degrees they still cost money. And if you are coming out of school with student loans you don’t have a lot of extra money to spare.
So in this blog I’m going to give you some extra tips and advice to be able to pay for your post graduate degree. If you know of someone who is pursuing their graduate degree send this article to them.
Become a Teacher’s Assistant or Conduct Research
If you went to school in person you probably experienced a class or two that was taught by a Teacher’s Assistant, or a TA. This is somebody who usually grades papers and conducts help sessions for the class. They often get paid hourly for these tasks and sometimes get their degree paid for while working.
On the flip side, you can also conduct research while you are in your graduate program. Many schools offer research programs for grads and teachers alike. Conducting research can also allow you to gain more experience in your field which in turn allows you to be more marketable.
Scholarships
Scholarships are usually the only source of income that people think about for students. I’ve already covered scholarships extensively in a previous blog so check it out if you want more information.
Schools will give you scholarships to attend the graduate program especially if it’s a program that they are wanting more people to get into. There is also a lot of federal money available for individuals going to get their graduate degree specifically. Becoming friends with everybody in the financial aid office so that you can be the first one to know about more scholarship money that’s available.
Get a Job
I hate when people say “get a job” to students because going to school should be your job. But since we are here, this is also another way that you can pay for your graduate degree. If you are able to work in the department or the school that you are going to, it would be a lot better than working elsewhere.
Also, if you are able to get a job in your field this will allow you to gain experience working, as well as broadening your educational background. Like I mentioned earlier this is not my first choice but it is a choice nonetheless.
Use Your Employer Benefit
Most employers allow their employees to get reimbursed for school up to a certain amount. They offer this to most of the employees but people don’t even know about it. They can either reimburse you every semester for the cost of tuition and books, or they will have something worked out with the school that will get your fees paid beforehand.
If your job offers this benefit please take advantage of it as it’s free money sitting waiting for you. This will also help if you’re getting a degree that’s in your field of work as more degrees correlates to more money.
Free Degrees
The last thing on this list is to select the school or degree program that is in need. If a specific degree is needed, schools will often dish out more money and provide more opportunities for students to get a degree in those fields.
Schools who are trying to build their programs up for graduate students will pay you to come to this school and get a degree. I remember some graduate students a while back that left my university for another because the other university offered them more money to come and get that degree as well as work and conduct research.
Rob’s Opinion
At the company that I am employed at they offer a free Masters while I am working for them in the current program I am in. If I wanted to go back to get my PhD or even another Masters they have a reimbursement program that will basically pay for tuition and books for that degree.
Another tip is that education expenses can be written off on your taxes, especially if you are an older person going back to school. I am a strong advocate for going back to school as this will make you more marketable, and you will gain something that cannot be taken away from you.
If you enjoyed this blog please share it with somebody else who is attempting to pay for their graduate program. And like always if you have any questions please comment them down below.
