4 Ways To Get a Free Master's Degree

Sometimes, a master's degree is required to enter a career field. In other cases, a master's degree can help you secure a job, negotiate a raise, or earn a promotion.

Though master's degrees only take about two years, they can be expensive. However, they don't have to be. Keep reading to learn how to get a free master's degree.

Ways to Get a Free Master's Degree

There are a few different financial aid options students can take advantage of to help them pay for their master's degrees.

Some students may be fully covered with one option, while other students may need to combine different financial aid options to cover their tuition.

We've listed four ways to get a free master's degree below.

1. Scholarships

Scholarships are a common way for both undergraduate and graduate students to pay for their degrees.

Scholarships are a type of financial aid awarded to students that students don't have to pay back. They are typically awarded for a specific purpose, like academic merit or athletics.

The amount awarded from a scholarship can vary significantly from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. You can use multiple scholarships to pay for your studies.

Colleges and universities may offer scholarships to their students, but you can also find scholarships through a variety of institutions like companies, charities, and religious organizations.

You can use several online databases to find national scholarships. These include:

• Cappex.com
• CareerOneStop.org
• GoGrad.org
• Fastweb.com
• Unigo.com

Scholarships may also be offered by your state or at a local level. Some scholarship databases will include these scholarships, but you can also do an internet search for scholarships near you.

When applying for scholarships, you may be asked to submit an essay or answer specific questions. Scholarships are generally only given to a small percentage of students who apply.

2. Grants

Grants are similar to scholarships, in that they are a type of financial aid that you typically will not need to pay back.

However, if you do not meet certain conditions of the grant you may be responsible for paying the grant back. For example, you may have to repay a grant if:

• You withdrew from the program for which you received the grant
• Your enrollment status changed, like if you switched from full-time to part-time study
• You no longer met the financial requirements for the grant

Grants can be given for a variety of reasons, but most commonly they are given to students with the greatest financial need. For example, the Pell Grant is a common financially-based grant for undergraduate students.

Like scholarships, grants may be offered by the federal government, state government, local government, colleges, and private organizations. These are called state and federal grants.

Many of the same databases that provide information on scholarships, such as those listed above, also provide information on available grants.

3. Work for Your College

Many colleges and universities offer tuition benefits to students who work for the college or employees of the college. This may be in the form of work-study programs or tuition remission.

Work-Study Programs

Work-study programs allow students to pay for their college by working part-time either for the school they attend or for non-profit organizations or public agencies.

In some cases, schools have agreements with local businesses, and you can enroll in a work-study program for those businesses so long as it is relevant to your program of study.

The amount you can earn toward your tuition in a work-study program depends on the type of work you do, your level of financial need, and your school's funding level, among other factors.

Tuition Remission

Employees of a college or university may qualify for discounted or completely covered tuition at the school they work at. This is called tuition remission.

This tuition remission may extend only to the college or university you work for, or it may extend to colleges and universities that you partner with.

The amount of tuition remission you receive may depend on your role within the institution, how long you've been employed by the institution, and the level of program you're pursuing.

4. Employer Tuition Programs

Some employers will offer to cover a portion of tuition expenses as part of their benefits package. This is usually only offered to full-time employees.

In some cases, the employer will directly pay the school, in what is called a tuition assistance program.

However, most of the time employers offer a tuition reimbursement program, where students pay the school and the employer pays them back.

The companies that offer these tuition programs are usually large. For example, Target and Chipotle both offer programs that cover up to 100% of tuition costs.

The amount of tuition assistance or reimbursement you receive may depend on your position, whether you are a full-time or part-time employee, and how long you've been with the company.

How to Get a Free Master's Degree

If you're looking to fully fund your master's degree through financial aid, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you access all the financial aid you qualify for.

Start by filling out your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This will tell you what federal financial aid you qualify for.

If you're working, check to see if your employer offers any type of tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement programs.

If you've already chosen the college or university for your master's program, check to see what financial aid they offer.

Many institutions list this on their website, or you can call the financial aid office for more information.

Finally, look through financial aid databases to see what scholarships and grants you may qualify for. Make sure you send in your application before the due date!

Get Your Master's Degree For Free

Taking advantage of financial aid and tuition assistance programs can help students get a free master's degree. Check out the options above to get your master's degree for free today.