While the cost of education increases, students are left to figure out how to foot the bill. Loans aren’t ideal, and even if you get a great scholarship from your university, many will only cover tuition costs. It’s important to plan for additional costs, like food, textbooks, transportation and emergency funds as well. 
If you’re hoping to use scholarships or grants to offset some education costs, here are five top, prestigious scholarships to consider applying for:

1. The Oxford University Rhodes Scholarship
The Oxford University Rhodes Scholarship program is a massive effort that has special funds delegated to dozens of different countries of origin, so be sure to consult eligibility guidelines for your specific program. For applicants in the United States, anyone between the age of 18 and 24 can apply for the undergraduate scholarship program, and anyone under the age of 27 can apply for the graduate degree scholarship program. For undergraduate U.S. applicants, you must have a GPA at least a 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. The scholarship pays the entirety of tuition at Oxford University. Scholarship recipients also receive a monthly stipend for living expenses.

2. The National Science Foundation NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
If you’re seeking a graduate degree in STEM, check out the The National Science Foundation NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Recipients receive a three-year annual stipend of $34,000, as well as a $12,000 fund for additional education expenses. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have completed no more than one year of a graduate program. Individuals are only allowed to submit one application for the scholarship during their time enrolled in a program.

3. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship at University of Cambridge
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship at University of Cambridge covers graduate degree tuition costs at Cambridge University, as well as funding for additional educational and living expenses. To be eligible, you must be a citizen of a country outside of the United Kingdom. Some graduate degrees are excluded, so be sure to check the eligibility requirements before applying.

4. The Stanford University Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program
If you’ve been accepted to a graduate degree program at Stanford, apply to The Stanford University Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program. The only eligibility requirement is that you must have received your undergraduate degree within the proper time frame, which is typically anywhere between 0-7 years prior. Recipients are granted up to three years of funding for tuition in a graduate program.

5. The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans is open to individuals 30 years of age and younger who have been accepted to a graduate degree program in the United States. The Scholarship is intended to benefit immigrants and the children of immigrants. The scholarship totals to grant $90,000 of educational support over the span of the graduate program.