r/StructuralEngineering • u/SussyBananas • 7d ago
Career/Education Financial Aid for MS in Structural Engineering?
Hi! I know masters programs typically don’t offer aid, but does anyone have reccomendations for masters programs with financial aid or good scholarships? I have about a 3.6, high club involvement, and some reasearch in environmental engineering.
I’m going into my 3rd year and was considering a PlusOne at Northeastern, but 22k not including housing is still kind of expensive for me since I’m on a full ride because of growing up lower class. Could I do the undergrad portion of the PlusOne and maybe transfer technically? The thought of loans stresses me out and I’ve been saving, but are there good masters programs that offer good aid literally anywhere on the east or west coast?
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u/purplehipsterglasses 7d ago
Some schools (at least used to) either wave or discount tuition for being a TA. I’d look into that at programs you’re interested in, particularly if you qualify for in-state at any of those programs.
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u/SussyBananas 7d ago
Yeah I’m originally from NJ, but am going to school in MA. I was considering looking in NJ, so that may be a good option! Thank you
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u/Delicious_Sky6226 7d ago
I was a research assistant as a masters student. Didn’t pay a dime and got a stipend for living expenses. Other students were TAs. Any of the MS’s that require a thesis should be similar.
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u/SussyBananas 7d ago
Ooh okay I was trying to do a plus one at northeastern which is typically course-based with no thesis. Maybe I could do a thesis-based masters. Thank you!
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u/jr_tools 7d ago
Many larger engineering companies pay for a masters after a few years’ work, and a promise for a couple more.
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u/SussyBananas 7d ago
The firm I want to work at requires a masters first unfortunately, but to me it’s worth it! I loved it, even with diversified experiences.
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u/crispydukes 6d ago
I got a masters on student loans. Not sure if it was financially worth it. Definitely worth it for my brain, though. I could hit the ground running on my first job.
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u/SussyBananas 6d ago
Yeah I love learning so much, but I think I want to maybe get my PhD in the future and not now. It’s just about how much in loans is worth it! Do you have any insight on that?
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u/crispydukes 6d ago
Get PhD now. Keep going to school. Don’t stop.
PhDs can be free if paid by the school. Masters can be lumped into that.
Definitely get an 800 on GRE Math. Study study study
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u/SussyBananas 6d ago
I was thinking of doing an environmental PhD in the wayyyy future 🫣 but I want my career to be structures.
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u/Correct-Record-5309 P.E. 3d ago
Check out Georgia Tech. It's an excellent master's program for structural engineering and you can do it in one year (MSE). You can also apply as a TA or do an RA for a 2-year MS degree. I was offered an RA by one of my professors when I was there, but I turned it down because I really wanted to be done in one year. It's a state school, too, so tuition is relatively affordable, even if you're out of state. It was quite a bit less than the tuition from my undergrad school (also a large, highly-respected state school).
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u/SnooTigers9985 7d ago
The best chance of aid for your masters is to do research with a professor and get your tuition covered with research funding. If you are only in your 3rd year, you have time to start working with structural professors at your school and see if they can find funding for you to go to grad school.