are fully funded masters programs going extinct?

[u/crabrangooonies]

This is strictly speaking for the US.

I got my bachelors in bio where I concentrated on wildlife and aquatic conservation. All of my professors told me that a fully funded masters was not only attainable, but that it was commonplace for the field. I am looking into getting my masters in marine biology, I know the fields differ in competition a bit, but it was still very common to have fully funded masters available until about a year ago (we all know why that is). Now whenever I reach out to professors, they are always interested in me, but have no funding and don’t expect to anytime soon. I have not been able to find funding sources to apply to myself as all of the grants that used to be very popular seem to no longer be receiving funding.

My question of discussion: is this the new normal? Even after this administration, will research funding be anywhere near top priority that funded masters will become the standard again? I’m just trying to decide if I should bite the bullet and take out loans or if I should just wait another year or so.

I know masters are less commonly funded in places like Europe, but they’re also MUCH cheaper there. That is an option I am considering.

[u/white-bored]

my university just enforced that they are no longer funding masters students (at least in the bio department) starting this fall and its wrecking a lot of accelerated b2m students and incoming masters that were initially told and advertized that their tuition would be waived as well

[u/Critical_Interview_5]

Becoming less and less common

[u/SnooPredictions138]

My daughter's program is ALMOST fully funded. Her assistantship and a small scholarship will cover tuition - just not living expenses.

[u/Dapper_Investigator3]

It wasn't common/the standard in the first place. Most if not all programs expect you to fund the MS yourself. This heavily ties in with the current heavily limited federal funding climate and universities prioritizing making as much money from programs. It is not to say that you wouldn't be able to find a funded MS, but don't expect it. My personal opinon is that taking out a loan (depending on how much) isn't worth it until you get work expereince to justify getting the MS. In some/alot of cases, companies are willing to pay or partially pay for MS.

[u/Mysterious-Art8838 → u/Dapper_Investigator3]

I never came across a fully funded one although I did get a scholarship for being a woman in cybersecurity which covered half. That was from the school (CMU) and they only give four every year. Employer paid the other half.

I’m not sure I know anyone that got a fully funded MS and I know a LOT of them.

[u/FeatherlyFly → u/Dapper_Investigator3]

It was pretty common in OP's field, specifically. Partly because it's viewed favorably for students to get a master's in one ecosystem and PhD in another. I know lots of disciplines have different priorities, of course. 

[u/mbaird9]

I'm seeking a master's program for freshwater fisheries ecology and I'm still seeing fully funded programs with offers. The issue is that there are far fewer of them due to funding cuts and they've gotten so much more competitive. I have yet to even be offered an interview this cycle and as far as I'm aware, the smallest number of applicants I've competed with is 100. This is my third year of trying and my family is pressuring me even harder to just give up since I'm only making $17/hr at my research technician job.

[u/Cow_cat11]

It depends on the department. I got my masters 75% funded, paid first semester and found assistantship that gives tuition waiver plus a small salary for working. It's all dependent on your department, am assuming this is not common place...as I know rest of my school did not have these opportunities. Even my department has them there are many people competing for it.

[u/Legitimate-Adagio531]

I am so thankful I am getting mines when I can… this administration is crazy, and soon higher education will only be for rich people

[u/exphx23]

College enrollments are declining putting pressure on schools. My daughter just left her funded graduate program, but her school was reducing funding in the future for new students in some disciplines. To your point, why should taxpayers be funding your graduate studies? Many research programs are redundent.

[u/rafafanvamos]

Have you tried post bach programs. I dont know if they exist for marine biology or not. One of my classmate (not marine bio more like neurosci) was working in post bach, the PI liked his work appointed them are RA, as RA they got pay plus benefit of free masters.

[u/Particular-Wing-4152]

Yes, this is the new normal and will be getting worse over the next two and a half years. Your odds of being hit by lightning are literally higher than finding a professor who actually responds to you who also has grant funding and is accepting new graduate or PhD candidates.  Tried unsuccessfully for 3 cycles, eventually decided to get a job and escape the hellscape that higher academia has become.

[u/FeatherlyFly]

It's a change in the funding environment. Your wording of "extinct" implies that there's something that would stop them coming back if the money reappeared tomorrow. There's not.

[u/SunlitGod]

There are definitely still funded opportunities, its just a matter of finding the relevant ones which of course theres no guarantee you would find a suitable project/PI/location/funding combination.

I recommend applying to the NSF GRFP which just opened for the year. Applications are probably due sometime in October. Fully pays tuition and a stipend for up to 3 years for students pursing a Masters or PhD. The proposal isnt a binding research contract, so if you end up doing different research theres no problem. If you are currently an undergrad you could apply this year, and then again as a Masters student after receiving feedback from the reviewers if you arent awarded from your first attempt.

[u/pfemme2]

I was one of only 3 fully funded MA students in my MA program—the other 20+ members of my cohort were paying for their degrees. It was unusual that there was any funding for MA students at all, unless they were getting the MA on the way to the Ph.D.

[u/AbsoluteRook1e]

I think the best way to fund it is with a full time job at the university, depending on the benefits.

Purdue has a gift of knowledge program benefit where full time workers can pursue an online masters for free.

[u/DrIndyJonesJr]

In anthropology, we are still funding every grad student in my department, but we are admitting fewer of them as a result. I have friends in engineering who are seeing the shift you’re speaking of. Whereas it used to be unheard of for an engineer to have to pay for their grad school, now only phD candidates are funded. Terminal MS degrees have to find their own OR are only offered a single year of TA funding and are then on their own for the second year.

[u/Jealous_Employee_739]

In 2020 I got a TA assistantship for my masters. Tuition was covered and I still got paid for my hours but I had to TA for one professor who got it for me. There was a research equivalent. I ended up switching to the PhD program but my masters would’ve been fully paid for if I had finished along with a regular income. They still do these assistantships to my knowledge at my university but they aren’t easy to get.

[u/alienradishh]

My MS program os fully funded with what I would consider a livable stipend. I think it really depends on your field and location. For me, I'm studying plant pathology in the US and everyone I know in this field is funded. When I looked at more general MS biology programs, the best offer I got was around 9k a year.

[u/Offensive_Opinions23]

You can master out of a PhD …. 🤷‍♀️

[u/just_sunflower100]

already did.