Being Creative Allows Graduate School to Become a Reality
By Joe Johnson    

Graduate school is expensive, and the price is rising yearly.  With obvious benefits coming from the procurement of an advanced degree, questions arrise: How do you make it financially through graduate school?   Do you sacrifice academic merit for affordability? 

Affording graduate school is possible because students can use many resources to help fund their education, including fellowships, assistantships, tuition payments from employers, and federal and private student loans.

Jenna Ronnquist, '03, said her decision to attend graduate school at California State University, Fullerton, was based both on cost of tuition and school quality. 

"I could not afford to attend a private university for graduate school.  I worked to find the best public school I could," Ronnquist said. 

Almost 30 percent of those who earned undergraduate degrees between 2000 and 2004 have considered continuing their education in graduate school despite the significant cost, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.  Those with graduate degrees tend to make more money. The median household income for a person who earned a bachelor's degree is $66,000, while those with advanced degrees earn about $78,000.

Fellowships are great financial sources frequently offered by colleges or universities. What's nice is that they do not need to be paid back. Fellowships also can come from local community organizations, such as Kiwanis, or regional and national organizations, such as the National Medical Association.  The amount of the fellowship can range anywhere from $1,000 to the total cost of the graduate school program. 

Meredith A. TeGrotenhuis, '93, is currently attending Northwestern University to earn a doctorate in art history. 

"Northwestern University gives four-year fellowships to all doctoral students," TeGrotenhuis said.  "It covers tuition, plus a stipend for living expenses.  This year I have an external fellowship that covers living expenses."

Unlike fellowships, assistantships require students to work, usually either in research or more often teaching.  In 1999-2000 alone, 32 percent of all full-time graduate students received an assistantship, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Ronnquist is on an assistantship program at CSU-Fullerton as a teaching associate for the human-communication department. 

"The position requires that I teach two introductory communication classes, and I am compensated each semester for each class that I teach," Ronnquist said.

The experience she is gaining through teaching undergraduate classes is essential in determining if she wants to do doctoral work, as well as in her gaining valuable experience to be accepted into doctoral programs. 

Tyler Neely, '05, is working toward his master's in school counseling through Whitworth's School of Education.  As a four-year member of Whitworth's football team, Neely found that a graduate assistant position on the football team was a natural fit.  He recruits students, coaches the offensive line, and does some office work.   "It's a really good deal.  I get my graduate school paid for, as well as gaining collegiate coaching experience," Neely said. 

The average value of assistantships during 2003-04 was $9,800, according to the U.S. Department of Education. 

If students are already at work, tuition payments from employers are another alternative to paying for graduate schooling.  In 2003, 72 percent of all U.S. companies offered a tuition-reimbursement program, while 69 percent offered compensation for graduate studies, according to the Occupation Outlook Handbook.

Dmitry Ischenko, '00, is currently getting his graduate school paid for by his employer, Pitney Bowes.  Pitney Bowes reimburses Ischenko for his tuition and books.  To qualify for his tuition reimbursement, Ischenko must earn a B grade or higher in each class and must work for the company until he has been fully reimbursed.

"It's a great deal," Ischenko said.  "I'm debt-free when I graduate and I already have the skills I need to succeed.  It has opened many doors and possibilities."

Federal and private student loans are another option for graduate students seeking money for their education.  The amount of loan money provided by the federal government for graduate school is significantly higher than the amount provided for undergraduate students.  Graduate students can borrow upwards of $18,500, while students attending medical school can borrow up to $38,500.  Federal student loans are available to help pay tuition costs but can also be used towards living expenses.

"It would have been very difficult to pay for graduate school if student loans were not available," Ronnquist said.  "I have federal student loans that pay for my tuition at CSUF and also help to cover the cost of living." 

Private or alternative loans are borrowed from a private lender rather than from the government.  Under the Graduate Education Gain Loan, a graduate student can borrow up to $30,000 per year, with an overall maximum of $130,000, and all payments on the loan are postponed until six months after graduation.  The Graduate Education Gain Loan can also be used to pay past-due amounts on tuition. 

Creativity and extensive searching for scholarships and fellowships are important to finding the best payment option for each individual student. Students may be able to qualify and receive monies they didn't know were available.

 "Think outside the box when searching for applicable grants and fellowships," TeGrotenhuis said.