Complete the Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA) by clicking the link within this article's Resource section. Realize that you cannot receive any form of financial aid through grants, scholarships, or federal student loans without completing the online forms. Submit your applications as early as possible, specifically before getting accepted to a graduate program.
Fund your graduate education as a resident or teaching assistant. As a resident assistant, you will implement social gatherings and serve as a mediator of residential life. As a teaching assistant, receive an annual stipend in addition to free tuition by working closely with a professor. Prepare to sacrifice time in either of these positions, specifically during midterms and finals.
Apply for a highly coveted graduate research fellowship if you possess excellent academic honors, a desire to support research development, and measurable scholarly attainments. Submit a competitive application in order to receive a full-tuition scholarship, travel reimbursements, health insurance, and even free housing.
Contact the director of graduate programs of your university and see if there are five-year programs in which students obtain both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in an effort to save money and maintain social networks. Note that one-year Master's programs are intensive and often serve as the culminating experience of undergraduate work.
Find out if your employer assists in funding Master's degrees by obtaining a copy of tuition reimbursement options or education assistance programs. Learn if you're eligible to apply prior to contacting your employer's office of human resources. Structure your proposal as a win-win agreement in which you will gain valuable knowledge and additional competence in your field.