Funding Your Graduate Degree

Preparing for graduate school is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. It requires an investment of time, energy, and money and often requires moving to a new city — or even to a new country. Figuring out how to pay for it all can feel almost impossible. But with proper planning and research, paying for a graduate degree is manageable. We’ve compiled a list of funding resources for prospective graduate students to explore below.

Institutional Aid

Many schools offer generous funding opportunities for students in their graduate programs. You may automatically be considered for some of these resources when submitting an application, whereas other opportunities may require a little more research. Both the School of Engineering (SOE) and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) at Tufts offer financial aid, but the schools differ slightly in the types of aid they offer. 

The School of Engineering offers partial tuition scholarships for a select group of engineering master’s and certificate programs. When you apply for admission, you’ll automatically be considered for these merit-based scholarships; there’s no separate scholarship application or additional information required. The SOE also offers additional perks and funding resources to certain populations of applicants, such as Tufts alumni or alumni and undergraduate students at certain partner institutions. You can learn more about these additional funding options on the SOE website. 

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers generous merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for qualified applicants. These scholarships are awarded at the time of admissions and take the form of a percentage off of the per-credit cost of attendance. These are partial tuition scholarships, and while it is rare for students to be awarded full scholarships, all who indicate their interest in aid are awarded some sort of assistance. You can indicate your interest within the application itself; there is not a separate application for financial aid. GSAS also offers a number of fellowships that applicants can apply for. Some programs and departments may offer additional funding opportunities as well. You can learn more about fellowships and departmental funding opportunities on the GSAS website.

Currently serving City Year AmeriCorps members, alumni who completed a term of service, and staff members employed for at least two years are eligible to receive a minimum scholarship award of 25% for Graduate School of Arts and Sciences programs. The 25% represents the minimum amount awarded to eligible students; applicants will be considered for additional need and merit-based aid when applicable.

Federal loans

U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program may be eligible to take out federal student loans. Incoming students can apply for federal loans by filling out the FAFSA application. Our Financial Services Office has numerous resources for students who are considering borrowing federal loans. 

Private loans

Private education loans are non-federal loans offered by private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and state agencies. International students may also be eligible for private education loans through lenders that offer international loan programs. Tufts’ Financial Services Office offers ELM SELECT, an independent tool for prospective students to explore our list of preferred independent lenders and compare their options. 

On-Campus Work

Many graduate students work part-time on or off campus to help fund their personal expenses while in graduate school. Lots of offices on Tufts’ campus hire graduate students for part-time work, with hours varying from five hours per week to twenty. Examples of graduate student positions include academic coaches and writing consultants in our StAAR Center, student assistants in the dean’s office or other offices on campus, and Graduate Student Representatives in the Office of Graduate Admissions! Many departments also hire graduate students to work as part-time course graders and assistants for faculty members. On-campus positions are posted on Tufts’ internal Handshake platform, which students gain access to shortly after being admitted. 

Most international students are eligible to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week while on a student visa. You can work 20 hours at one job, or work shorter hours at multiple jobs. Keep in mind that your OPT requirements only allow you to work on campus, not for an employer outside Tufts. The International Center at Tufts has many additional resources about the requirements and restrictions for student employment while on an F-1 or J-1 visa. 

Full-time master’s students within the School of Engineering, including both domestic and international students, may also participate in our Cooperative Education (C-Op) Program. The Co-Op program allows you to gain up to six months of full-time work experience, build your resume, and prepare for post-graduation employment. While employed, you will be enrolled in a zero credit SOE Graduate Co-Op Course, which maintains your full-time enrollment status, and preserves your student loan repayment plan, financial aid, visa status, and healthcare coverage. You can indicate your interest in the Co-Op program directly on the application. 

Employer Subsidies

Some employers offer tuition assistance or reimbursement programs for long-term employees who are pursuing graduate education. Through these programs, your employer may help pay for all or part of your advanced degree. We encourage you to talk to your employer’s Human Resources department to determine if you may be eligible for these benefits. Because many of Tufts’ graduate programs can be completed part-time, it may even be possible for you to continue working for your employer full-time while pursuing your graduate degree!

Additional External Funding and Scholarships

We encourage you to exhaust all potential funding options when considering graduate school. Many online platforms, like Fastweb and BigFuture, have scholarship directories you can utilize to search for additional funding. Some governments also offer sponsorship for graduate study through the form of grants and fellowships. It may take some research to find them, but you’ll be surprised how many additional funding resources are out there!

Build a Funding Strategy

The best approach to paying for graduate school is often to combine several sources. Start by identifying institutional aid and scholarships, then investigate employer benefits, external scholarships, and federal loans before considering private borrowing. Comparing the total cost of attendance with the funding available can help you make informed decisions and reduce the amount you need to finance yourself.

Graduate school is a significant investment, but with careful planning and a broad search for funding, there are multiple ways to make that investment more affordable.