The cost of many master’s programs and professional programs falls upon the student. That means you could be responsible for paying your tuition, fees, and living expenses.

Many students offset these costs by applying for scholarships, grants, and loans. Doing well on entrance exams (e.g., MCAT, LSAT, or GRE), earning a high GPA, and having valuable work experience may help you receive more financial aid.

Some people work and pay for a graduate degree through their employer’s tuition reimbursement program. Many US companies offer this to employees who meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having worked at the company for a certain number of years or earning a degree related to their position or career track. This is common with MBAs but applies to other degrees as well.

Don’t have tuition reimbursement? Some people work and pay for school as they go. And some can get a TA, RA, or fellowship in their department—opportunities vary by university and field.

If you’d like to get a master’s degree in physics, astronomy, or a related field, but none of these financial options appeal to you, then a combined master's degree and PhD program may be a better fit. You might spend more time doing research, but as a part of your RA, TA, or fellowship, your tuition will likely be paid in full and you’ll earn a stipend. You can stick around for a PhD if you’d like, or exit the program once you’ve met the requirements for a master’s degree. Caution: Not all PhD programs support this approach or offer master’s degrees, so find out the details before you apply to programs.

Helpful Resources

• The Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator is one of many online tools for estimating the cost of living in a specific location: epi.org/resources/budget.
• The University of Arizona’s national fellowship list for physics graduate students: w3.physics.arizona.edu/graduate-studies/fellowships-and-scholarships.
• A national fellowship list for astronomy graduate students compiled by Astrobites: astrobites.org/2018/04/27/list-of-major-us-fellowships-for-astronomy-students.