A wide variety of sources, ranging from governmental divisions to independent organizations, offer grants. Often, grants are given out for students of particular fields and focuses. Websites like Grants.gov provide potential master's degree students with ways to find grants applicable to their needs.
Grants are often awarded based on financial need (such as a Perkins or Stafford Loan). The size of a grant also depends on the overall cost of attending a particular school or master's program. Potential master's degree students find that it's often easier to obtain a grant to pursue a master's degree in fields such as engineering and business, versus liberal arts or social sciences.
There are a variety of grant organizations designed to provide funds for minority students, such as the American Indian Graduate Center, National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science and the Black Collegian Organization.
Many fraternities and sororities offer grants to their members in order to pursue a master's degree. The reputation of these types of organizations is largely built on the success of their members after the completion of their education. The size and availability of these sorts of grants vary by organization and depend partially on the financial capabilities of a given fraternity or sorority.
Grants aren't exclusively available to students at brick-and-mortar universities. Grants are frequently awarded to students attending online, distance-learning-focused institutions, such as the University of Phoenix. Many master's-degree students have already started a career and are possibly even raising a family by the time they decide to return to school to pursue a master's degree. Grant providers recognize this fact and make it simple for individuals in all walks of life to find financial aid.