How Many Grad Schools Should I Apply To?

Once you’ve completed your bachelor’s degree, you may consider taking your education a step further and attending graduate school. Grad school typically leads to increased employment opportunities, higher salaries, and the chance to continue your educational journey to gain valuable skills related to your profession.

Determine how many grad schools you should apply to, how to narrow down your list, and alternatives to graduate school you may not have considered.

What is graduate school?

Grad school is a form of higher education that typically follows an undergraduate program, allowing you to earn an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree, in various academic disciplines. Many graduate degree programs, specifically master’s degrees, take one to two years to complete, though other graduate degrees, such as doctoral degrees, can take up to seven years to finish.

Some career paths call for you to have a master’s or doctoral degree to qualify for the role. These occupations may include therapists, data scientists, lawyers, or nurse practitioners. If any of these careers interest you, consider exploring your options.

How many grad schools should I apply to?

The amount of grad schools that you apply to is entirely your choice; however, you may consider applying to four to six schools. Depending on your area of study, it may benefit you to apply to more or fewer schools, so your decision depends on your career goals and the competitiveness of the field of study.

Is 10 schools too many to apply to?

If you have 10 graduate programs to apply to and the resources and time to do so, then you can submit applications to 10 schools. However, to reduce your personal workload, you may consider applying to the recommended four to six schools first. If you plan to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), it’s important to note that you may only send your scores to the first four schools you apply to at no additional cost to you, and you’ll have to pay a fee for any extra schools you want to receive your scores.

How to decide which grad schools to apply to

When you’re ready to apply to graduate school, it’s important to consider factors such as which schools offer your program, the cost of the program, and the location of the school. These factors may influence your decision and narrow down or expand your list of potential schools based on your research.

Explore program availability.

The first step you’ll want to take when researching graduate schools is program availability. You only want to apply to schools that offer your area of study. For example, if you plan to study social work but the university you prefer doesn’t have a social work program, you’ll need to look elsewhere. 

You also want to research how many applicants the school receives every semester and how many new students they admit. If it’s a competitive program, you may want to apply to multiple schools in case you get put on a waiting list or deferred from your top choice.

Consider the cost.

On average, a master’s degree in the United States costs between $44,640 and $71,140, as of data reported in 2024 [1]. Costs may vary based on whether the school is public or private or in-state or out-of-state and additional fees. 

When considering cost, it’s essential to factor in both the program itself and the school’s application fee. Graduate school applications may cost anywhere between $50 and $170 [2]. Additionally, explore financial aid, loans, and scholarship opportunities to determine if some of your tuition costs may be covered by the university.

Keep location in mind.

If you plan to commute to graduate school or live on campus, you may want to consider where you’d be living or commuting to. Some schools offer completely online graduate degree programs, which may make location a non-factor in your search. If an online program suits you, seek out grad school opportunities that allow you to complete your degree remotely. 

How to apply to grad school

When you’re ready to apply to grad school, you’ll need to take the following steps:

• Take admission tests if necessary: Depending on your area of interest, you may need to take a graduate admission test prior to applying to schools. Pursuing a career in areas such as dentistry, law, or the medical field requires you to complete a standardized test before the application process.

• Fill out an application: To fill out a grad school application, visit the school’s website for specific instructions. In some cases, you may need to submit an essay and reference letter with your undergraduate transcripts and personal information.

• Apply for financial aid or scholarships: Check out your preferred schools’ websites to research available scholarship opportunities. To qualify for financial aid, grants, and loans, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming school year once you’ve completed your applications. 

Alternatives to grad school

If you want to continue your education but grad school isn’t for you, consider exploring some alternatives. You may find that certificate programs, internships, and specialized career training programs better fit your professional goals.

Certificate programs

Graduate certificate programs may help you enhance your industry-specific skills without enrolling in a full-time graduate program. In addition to taking less time than a graduate degree, certificate programs can go on your resume for employers to see, and the credits you earn can be applied toward a traditional graduate program in the future.

Internships

For those whose career goals include gaining as much experience as possible, consider an internship. Internships allow you to continue learning skills applicable to your career, gain on-the-job experience, and build relationships with professionals in your chosen field.

Specialized career training

Continue learning and advancing in your career at a lower cost with specialized career training programs. A career training program may benefit you and help you achieve your goals if you’re interested in specialized subject matter and more flexibility in terms of when and where you complete programs. If an online environment works better for you, many career training programs exist in this format.

Explore grad school options on Coursera

Once you’ve determined how many grad schools to apply to and your top choices, you can begin your journey toward higher education. If that journey includes getting your master’s degree, explore potential options available on Coursera. Take a look at the Master of Science in Data Science offered by the University of Colorado Boulder or Illinois Tech’s Master of Business Administration program.