Financing Graduate School

        If you are considering graduate school, you should be commended. An advanced degree can
open up a number of doors to you. However, universities are aware that there is considerable
expense associated with graduate school, and that unfortunate reality is inevitable. You should
realize before you move ahead that money will be tight and college bills will pile up - there is
little that can be done about that.

        As depressing as that sounds, there are some pieces of advice that we can offer. They may
not be worth a semester's tuition, but they may help to assuage some of the fear about money you
may be feeling.

        1. APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. If you are awarded $1,000 or more from a competitive
scholarship program like the AEGS, AND you are a full-time non-Texas resident, you can qualify for
in-state tuition! The deadline for these scholarships is fairly early, but if you plan to complete those
applications by our deadline (FEB 1), you will be ready to go.

        2. APPLY FOR ASSISTANTSHIPS. Visit this page for information on the assistantship application
and award process. You can't get one unless you apply, so don't sell yourself short!

        3. Be willing to work while you are in school. Several of our students have worked part- or full-time
while they completed their degrees. Though it requires considerable self-regulation and some late
nights, students who are "graduate-school capable" are often able to carry the load.

        4. Student loans are the cheapest money you can buy. Student loan bills as high as $50K can usually
be paid back on an extended consolidation schedule (assuming your credit is decent) such that the
monthly payment is less than $325. Try buying a $50K automobile for that! Given that starting salaries
in I-O psychology can reach $50-60K, $325 a month doesn't really sound all that bad.

        5. You can live on $800-1000 per month. It may not be a barrel of laughs all the time, but San
Angelo is a very affordable city and students have completed their education here making not much
more than that.

        So what's the bottom line? Graduate school should be considered an investment in your future,
and all good investments will require some sacrifice. We know a lot of former students who would
consider that sacrifice very worthwhile.

        Please let us know if you have questions about financing your ASU education.