In 2013, approximately 3.5 million full-time elementary and secondary school teachers worked in the United States. Over 75% of public school teachers were women, and over half of all teachers held a master’s degree. The vast majority of these teachers earned their degree in an education field.
Over 75% of public school teachers were women, and over half of all teachers held a master’s degree.
Education is one of the most common majors for both undergraduates and graduate students. There are a number of reasons for the popularity of education programs, one of which is convenience. It’s relatively easy for students to combine a master’s or bachelor’s program with a teaching certificate, allowing them to naturally transition from college to their professional career.
Financial Assistance for Education Majors
Federal Student Aid is the largest student financial aid provider in the nation, providing more than $150 billion to over 13 million students each year. To see if you are eligible for Federal Student Aid, and to help colleges determine your eligibility for financial aid, you must fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Qualifying students can pursue various federal and state loans. The Direct Loan Program offers Subsidized Loans, Unsubsidized Loans, PLUS Loans, and Consolidation Loans, which are tendered by the Department of Education. Alternatively, students with substantial financial need can qualify for the Federal Perkins Loan Program, which is lended by the school.
After graduation, loan forgiveness programs can help teachers mitigate or cancel the repayment of their education loans. The Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program provides up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness for teachers who work in low-income schools for five consecutive years. Similarly, the Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation forgives up to 100% of loans for teachers working in low-income areas. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program will pay the remaining balance on Direct Loans after you make 120 monthly loan payments, as long as you work for a qualifying employer. Graduates can also pursue a number of state and city loan forgiveness opportunities.
Grants for Teachers
- TEACH Grant
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The TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 per year to students who plan on teaching in a low-income school district. The grant requires students to complete specific classes and to maintain a certain level of academic achievement. Once graduated, students with the TEACH Grant must work in a low-income school to keep the grant from turning into a loan.
- Teach for America (AmeriCorp)
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Teachers accepted into Teach for America can apply for a financial package to help launch their career. Packages are granted based on teaching location and financial need.
- Troops to Teachers
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Certain current and former U.S. armed forces members are eligible for Troops to Teachers (TTT), a Department of Defense program that supports prospective teachers who meet specific education and military service requirements.
Education Scholarships
Scholarships, generally awarded on the basis of academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement, can also help finance your education. Students can apply for scholarships based on their background, field of study, and financial need. Requirements and application criteria vary between awards, which narrows who can win specific scholarships.
Many education-based scholarships have specific requirements, based on the teacher’s demographic, education specialization, their teaching experience, or some other factor. Below, you will find our full list of education scholarships, tailored to suit teachers from all backgrounds.
Featured Teaching Scholarships
- Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? This teaching scholarship, available to West Virginia undergraduate students, requires recipients to work within the West Virginia school system for a period of two years for each year the scholarship is received.
Award amount: Up to $5,000, renews annually for up to 4 years
Deadline: March 1 - Prospective Educator Scholarships
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Who’s Eligible? The Phi Delta Kappa International Education Foundation awards 30 scholarships for future teachers. High school seniors and current undergraduates pursuing careers in education must be members of Educators Rising to apply.
Award amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 1 - American Montessori Society Teacher Education Scholarships
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Who’s Eligible? Students planning to become Montessori teachers can apply for teaching scholarships through the American Montessori Society.
Award amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 2 - Hispanic Scholarship Fund
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Who’s Eligible? Hispanic undergraduates with a 2.5 GPA or better are eligible to apply.
Award amount: $500 to $5,000
Deadline: March 30 - STEM Teacher Scholarships
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Who’s Eligible? The AFCEA Educational Foundation awards scholarships to undergraduate dual-degree seniors and graduate students pursuing an education degree in a STEM field.
Award amount: $2,500 to $5,000
Deadline: April 22 - The Applegate-Jackson-Parks Future Teacher Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? This scholarship is for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in education. The award will go to applicants who demonstrate an understanding of voluntary and compulsory unionism in relation to education; an application essay is required.
Award amount: $1,000
Deadline: December 31 - Inspire Our Future Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Education majors in early childhood education, education administration, and special education programs are encouraged to apply.
Award amount: $2,500
Deadline: April 1 - Carroll C. Hall Memorial Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Undergraduate education majors in the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA.
Award amount: $400
Deadline: March 15 - John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? This scholarship supports Ventura County residents pursuing a degree in a public service field, including education. Graduates from high schools in Ventura County who are enrolled in a college in California are eligible apply.
Award amount: $2,500 for community college students and $5,000 for 4-year university students
Deadline: January 29
Teaching Scholarships for Minorities
- The Delta Gamma Foundation's Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? These scholarships are intended for education majors who are blind or visually impaired. The application requires two letters of recommendation, an essay, and proof of legal blindness.
Award amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 1 - Gates Millennium Scholars Program
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Who’s Eligible? Minorities can apply for this large scholarship program, which awards 1,000 students with financial support each year. Applicants must have a 3.3 GPA or better (or have earned a GED), and qualify for the Federal Pell Grant.
Award amount: Varies
Deadline: January 13 - The CSDIW Native American Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Enrolled members of Native American tribes pursuing education degrees can apply for this scholarship. Undergraduates must work with Native American students post-graduation.
Award amount: $5,000
Deadline: June 15 - Ron Brown Scholars Program
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Who’s Eligible? African American students in their senior year of high school are eligible for this scholarship. Prospective education students are encouraged to apply.
Award amount: $40,000
Deadline: November 1 - Minority Teacher Education Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Minority students pursuing an education degree in Florida can apply to this award.
Award amount: $4,000
Deadline: July 1 and November 1 - Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program
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Who’s Eligible? Minority students from Illinois in a college education program are encouraged to apply.
Award amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 1 - William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? The Indiana Commission For Higher Education awards scholarships to African American and Hispanic students planning to teach in Indiana for at least three years after college.
Award amount: Varies
Deadline: September 4 - Earline S. Rogers Student Teaching Stipend for Minorities
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Who’s Eligible? The Indiana Commission For Higher Education offers funding to African American and Hispanic students who complete student teaching as part of their coursework.
Award amount: Varies
Deadline: October 4 - Minority Teacher Scholarship Program
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Who’s Eligible? This University of Louisville scholarship is offered to full-time minority students earning their teaching certification.
Award amount: $5,000
Deadline: May 1, November 1, and April 1 - Minority Teaching Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Minority students in Missouri can apply for this scholarship, which pays off loans for students earning a Missouri teaching certificate.
Award amount: $3,000 annually
Deadline: June 1
Teaching Scholarships for Men
- The Hubertus W.V. Willems Scholarship for Male Students
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Who’s Eligible? This scholarship is awarded to male students majoring in engineering, chemistry, physics or math. Students studying these subjects who plan to teach after college are eligible to apply.
Award amount: $3,000
Deadline: March 31 - Colored Rocks Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? These scholarships for future teachers are given to 15 male high school seniors who demonstrate a commitment to helping students earn their high school diploma.
Award amount: $3,500
Deadline: January 4 - Freshman Opportunity Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Men starting their education at the University of Washington are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Winners are selected for their commitment to mentorship, learning, leadership, and teaching.
Award amount: $1,000 to $4,000
Deadline: June 1 - Call Me MISTER Scholarship Program
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Who’s Eligible? Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) offers scholarships in the form of loan forgiveness to men planning to use their education degree to teach elementary students in South Carolina.
Award amount: Up to 100% of tuition
Deadline: March 1 - Beta Sigma Psi Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Beta Sigma Psi fraternity members with high academic achievement, community involvement and/or financial need are eligible for the organization’s service-oriented scholarships.
Award amount: $4,000 to $10,000
Deadline: Deadline depends on the district; most applications are due in early spring
Teaching Scholarships for Special Education
- Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program
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Who’s Eligible? Students and teachers from Illinois studying special education can apply for this scholarship. Undergraduate and graduate students are both eligible.
Award amount: Four years of tuition
Deadline: March 1 - AASEA Memorial Scholarships
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Who’s Eligible? These scholarships for education majors who plan to teach special education are awarded each year. The application is open to juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students.
Award amount: $2,000
Deadline: April 30 - Alexis Kate Special Education Teacher Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Each year, this scholarship selects a sophomore or junior college student who demonstrates a commitment to working with children with autism.
Award amount: $500
April 30th deadline - ASL Scholarship Program
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Who’s Eligible? This program is geared toward American Sign Language honor society members studying sign language, special education, or interpreter preparation at a participating college.
Award amount: $1,250
Deadline: May 15 - The Carl J. Megel Special Education Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? The Illinois Federation of Teachers annually awards this scholarship to a high school senior enrolled in a bachelor’s special education program.
Award amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 4
Teaching Scholarships for Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program
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Who’s Eligible? These scholarships support teachers enrolled in an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree program in early childhood education in Massachusetts.
Award amount: $250 per credit to a maximum of $4,500
Deadline: June 1 - Early Childhood Trainer Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? This scholarship is available to professionals studying early childhood education at an eligible college. Applicants must be certified through the Minnesota Center for Professional Development.
Award amount: Varies
Deadline: June 1 - Bright Futures National Scholarships
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Who’s Eligible? Students studying early childhood education at the undergraduate or graduate level are eligible for this scholarship.
Award amount: $250 to $1,000
Deadline: June 11 - Early Childhood Development Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Kentucky students earning an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in early childhood education can apply.
Award amount: $1,800
Deadline: March 15
Scholarships for Master of Education Students
- Donald H. and Verna S. Duncan Endowed Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? This scholarship is intended for students in Phi Delta Kappa. Applicants must be pursuing a graduate degree in education and plan to teach in a public school.
Award amount: Varies
Deadline: June 1 - Jewish Community Centers of North America Scholarship Program
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Who’s Eligible?Graduate students looking to start their career with the Jewish Community Centers of North America after finishing school are encouraged to apply.
Award amount: Up to $10,000 per year for up to two years
Deadline: February 1 - Barbara M. Welch Graduate Fellowship
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Who’s Eligible? All graduate students in The College of William & Mary’s school of education are eligible for this scholarship.
Award amount: $2,000
Deadline: October 7 - The Journalism Education Association's Future Teacher Scholarships
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Who’s Eligible? Education students who intend to teach (or have taught) scholastic journalism are eligible to apply.
Award amount: $1,000
Deadline: July 15 - Tieso Family Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? This scholarship provides funding to part-time students completing their master’s degree in education at The College of William & Mary.
Award amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 7 - Christopher Wren Association Scholarship
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Who’s Eligible? Graduate students enrolled part-time can apply. Recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning.
Award amount: $3,000
Deadline: October 7 - Byron Williams Teaching Scholarships
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Who’s Eligible? At the University of Rochester, graduate students can receive teaching scholarships, provided that they commit to teach in a U.S. school for a minimum of two years after graduation.
Award amount: 50% of tuition
Deadline: May 1 - GRAE Scholarships
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Who’s Eligible? Greater Rochester Area Educator (GRAE) teaching scholarships support part-time master’s students who teach full-time while enrolled.
Award amount: 50% to 100% of tuition
Deadline: May 1 - John & Frances Harmon Scholarship for Women
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Who’s Eligible? The College of William & Mary faculty select a woman in the graduate school of education.
Award amount: $2,500
Deadline: October 7