Assistantships
Many graduate students, especially after their first year,
become teaching or research assistants. Teaching assistants help
professors by leading seminar sections, reading papers, and
meeting with undergraduates.
Research assistants, common in the sciences, oversee
laboratories and assist professors on projects. Both arrangements
allow students to earn money while gaining experience in their
field. Some universities also reduce tuition for students working
as assistants.
Assistantships provide stipends and/or tuition remission in
exchange. In some programs, assistantships are awarded to every
student; in others they are awarded competitively, based on
academic performance.
Employment
Although employment is not a financial aid program in the
traditional sense, many graduate students help finance their
education with income from full- or part-time jobs. Some students
choose part-time grad-school programs, extending the amount of
time it takes to receive a degree, but allowing them to finance
all or part of their education through employment.
Some employers will provide tuition reimbursement for their
employees. In most cases, you'll have to commit to working for
the company for a number of years after you've earned your
degree.
Federal Work Study
Some graduate schools may offer work-study as part of their
financial aid packages. This is a need-based program where
students earn money through employment on campus. Pay is
generally the same as that for other student jobs, with the
exception that a portion of the pay is picked up by the
government. The individual college or university decides who is
offered Federal Work Study and in what amounts. To apply, you
must submit your
FAFSA.