You just spent four years of your life as an undergraduate, but why not delay the job search for another two years at your alma mater?The graduate program at TCU has been ranked among “The Best 361 Colleges” by students signed up on the Princeton Review Web site.

According to the TCU Fact Book, there were 1,478 graduate students in fall 2004.

While admission requirements may differ, basic guidelines include a bachelor’s degree, appropriate test scores, certified transcripts and recommendation letters.

The tuition prices for graduate studies are by credit hour, rather than paying a block price as undergraduate students do, said Bonnie Melhart, associate provost for academic affairs.

At the hourly rate, one nine-hour semester will cost a graduate student $6,660.

Melhart said most graduate students are eligible for some sort of assistantship to help alleviate finances.

“Roughly 70 to 75 percent of graduate students receive some sort of stipend and tuition or just tuition award,” she said.

To be eligible for the awards, graduate students are required to participate in discipline-related duties, such as teaching a class or lab, preparing lectures and arranging conference meetings.

The largest graduate program on campus is the Neeley School of Business, and a study by the “Wall Street Journal,” released in September 2004, ranked TCU’s program the “sixth-best regional MBA program in the nation.”

In comparison, “BusinessWeek” and “Forbes” ranked the Master of Business Administration program at Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University among the nation’s top schools.

Nine hours at SMU’s business school would cost $8,460.

In fall 2004, TCU’s business school had 385 graduate students in the MBA and accounting programs.

According to the business school Web site, “Typically, 75 percent of Neeley MBA students receive scholarships and/or graduate assistant awards.”

TCU also offers graduate programs for students interested in ministry.

The Brite Divinity School had 300 master’s and doctorate graduate students last year, second to the school of business.

“This year Brite anticipates an enrollment just over 300 students,” said Stan Hagadone, director of admissions for Brite, said.

Brite offers several degree programs, such as Master of Divinity, Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy.

Brite awards some full tuition scholarships, and there are also grants available from denominations and foundations.

Another major program, the Harris School of Nursing, offers a Master of Science in nursing.

Admission into the master’s program is competitive and is decided not only by GPA and test scores, but also by writing and speaking skills, and prior professional experience. In fall 2004, there were 197 graduate students in the College of Health and Human Sciences; 20 were in the nursing program.