Financing Higher Education

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Graduate Education

American universities offer three kinds of graduate degrees: master's degrees, Ph.D. degrees, and professional degrees (for example, in medicine, law, or engineering). In most fields, a master’s degree can be earned in 1 or 2 academic years of study beyond the B.S. or B.A. Earning a Ph.D. degree (doctor of philosophy) usually takes at least 3 years beyond the master’s. To receive a Ph.D. in most fields, students must pass oral and written examinations and produce a long and comprehensive research paper that makes an original contribution to their field. In some fields, Ph.D. candidates must also be able to read one or two foreign languages. Requirements are different for professional degrees.

In recent years, the graduate student population has become much more diverse than ever before. It now includes more women, foreign students, minority group members, older students, and part-time students. Also, the variety of degree programs offered has expanded greatly. Today’s graduate students can choose from master’s degrees in at least 1,000 fields and Ph.D.s in about 100 fields.

~ What are four requirements most Ph.D. applicants must fulfill?

College costs vary quite a bit, depending upon the type of school. At expensive private schools, annual costs (including tuition, room, board, books, travel to and from home, etc.) may exceed $30,000. Public universities are much cheaper. At these schools, tuition is significantly higher for out-of-state students than for permanent residents of that state. Tuition at community colleges averages about $ 1,500, approximately half the in-state tuition at public, 4-year schools.

During the 1990s, the cost of higher education rose about 7.5% a year. Difficulties making ends meet create serious problems for many students. Older students with a family to support may try to work full time while carrying a full academic courseload. They forget to leave themselves time to eat, sleep, and relax.

For those who need financial assistance, help is available. There are three main types of financial aid: (1) scholarships (grants), which are gifts that students do not repay; (2) loans to students and / or their parents; and (3) student employment (work/ study), a part-time job that the school gives the student for the academic year. Most financial aid is need-based; that is, only students who need the money receive it. Financial assistance to excellent students who do not need the money (commonly called merit-based aid) is limited.

Funds for all this aid come from three main sources – the federal government, state governments, and private contributors. Every American college and university has a financial aid office to help students find out what kind of aid they might be eligible for and to assist them in completing the complicated application forms. Aliens who are permanent residents in the U.S. are eligible for government assistance, but foreign students are not.

Дата добавления: 2014-10-31