Teacher Scholarships to Fund Your Education
Education Scholarships 101
Education scholarships are a type of gift aid that is intended to help college students pay for tuition and other costs associated with receiving a degree in education. Students who have been accepted into or currently enrolled at an accredited college with an education degree major (commonly in elementary education, secondary education, or special education) may be eligible for education scholarships. Most education scholarships are highly competitive, and require the student to apply by filling out a form or personal statement.
A number of education scholarships are funded by donors with an interest in or past history with education, including former teachers. In addition to funding, these awards are intended to motivate students to work toward a career in teaching and rewarding them for doing so by making it more affordable to attend college and receive an education.
Types of Scholarships
Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
A number of different education scholarships are offered to both high school seniors and college students who plan to receive an undergraduate degree in the education field. Education scholarships for undergraduate students are often general scholarships that help pay for college tuition, fees, and other costs associated with completing a bachelor’s degree.
Other education scholarships for undergrads are for a particular field within the education field, such as elementary education scholarships, secondary education scholarships, or special education scholarships.
Undergraduate students can apply for scholarships through their college financial aid office, but many education scholarships are offered by outside organizations, including professional organizations focused on the education industry.
Some examples of education scholarships for undergraduate students include the Tomorrow Scholarship and Latino Students Scholarship, both of which are awarded to education majors that have a record of academic achievement and a demonstrated financial need.
Graduate Students
Graduate students can also find a number of education scholarships to help them pay for a graduate degree in education. Education scholarships for graduate students often focus on graduate students that are working toward a teaching degree, or are enrolled in a teacher preparation program.
Examples of education scholarships for graduate students include:
Edwyna Wheadon Postgraduate Training Scholarship
This graduate student education scholarship provides funding to students pursuing a postgraduate training degree in the education field.
Donald and Verna Duncan Special Education Scholarship
This graduate education scholarship provides money to a special education graduate student.
NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship
This education scholarship for graduate students is awarded by the National Academy of Education (NAEd) in partnership with the Spencer Foundation. The fellowship is for doctoral students who have a dissertation nearly finished or recently completed.
Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Physics Teachers
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) offers this education scholarship to a graduate student that plans to teach physics in a secondary school setting.
Federal Student Aid and Other Financial Assistance
There are several federal student aid programs available to education majors and students enrolled in an education degree program. Federal student aid is a collection of different financial assistance programs from the federal government, including grants, federal student loans, and a work-study program.
Students interested in federal financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine which programs they are eligible for. The FAFSA form is available online, and can be completed by both current and prospective college students.
Examples of federal student aid programs for education scholarships include the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program.
Federal student aid is available for both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a degree program in education or similar fields. Federal student aid offers a combination of gift aid and low-interest student loans to help a student pay for the cost of their education while keeping their debt as low as possible.
Elementary Education Scholarships
Elementary education scholarships are typically awarded to a student that has a goal of teaching in a primary education setting. Elementary education scholarships often consider both the academic achievement and financial need of the student, and award financial aid to students that plan on using their degree to provide quality teacher education to primary school students.
A few examples of elementary education scholarships include the Nancy Larson Foundation College Scholarship and the Edward G. and Helen A. Borgens Elementary Teacher Scholarship.
Education Scholarships for Future Teachers
Teacher scholarships are scholarships that are awarded to students planning to go into the education field as teachers and work in an elementary or secondary school. Teacher scholarships are often tied to a contract that states the student will teach full-time for a certain number of consecutive years after graduation.
Teacher scholarships help to support the education and employment of teachers in important areas or subject matters, as well as for low-income and minority families and students in need. Students can find teacher scholarships from both public and private resources, such as the TEACH Grant program.
Edu4Less.org Scholarship Program
Edu4Less.org is a free service provided by Education For Less LLC. It was created to help mid-career adult students get more money and save money while attending college and finishing their education degree. Edu4Less.org provides a searchable database of fully online programs from accredited colleges and universities and is committed to ensuring all future teachers who use the service can save money.
The Edu4Less.org scholarship program was specifically created to assist students over the age of 24 who are looking for adult scholarships and financial aid. That is to say, adult learners who have returned to complete a program they dropped out of, new first-time undergraduates or students that are just starting graduate programs.
In addition to the scholarship awards for those 25 and over, Edu4Less.org also offers no-cost services, including free transcript ordering waivers and application fee waivers. Edu4Less.org provides highly trained and experienced enrollment support specialists to offer support, advice, and counseling to all students at no extra cost, through every step of the application and registration process.
Edu4Less.org’s mission is to provide 10–20% tuition scholarships for adults using Perdia Education’s 100% free tracking technology. Education For Less LLC is able to offer scholarships to adults, as they are in partnership with a select number of online schools that offer postgraduate scholarships that meet the budget and future career goals of each recipient. The scholarships from Edu4Less.org can be used by students aged 25 and over.
Tips for Winning Scholarships
Students can have better luck applying for scholarships when they take the time to research each scholarship and see if they are eligible to apply and meet all requirements. Students can also make a greater impact on their applications by providing a complete application with no missing documents or information.
In addition to that, well-written personal statements that can help set a student apart from the rest. As always, it never hurts to ask for a strong letter of recommendation from either an instructor, employer, or mentor. Apply for as many scholarships as possible and follow up with each scholarship to let them know that the application was received and inquire as to the status of the decision-making process.
Final Thoughts
Education scholarships help college students that have been accepted into or are enrolled in a postsecondary education program that offers an education degree major or program. Students that are accepted into or are currently enrolled in an education degree program can apply for these scholarships by filling out the proper forms and providing supplemental documents, including a personal statement.
Education scholarships are commonly awarded by a college or university’s financial aid office, or they can be applied for directly through private scholarship programs or external scholarship sources. There are a number of different types of education scholarships, including undergraduate and graduate student education scholarships.
Education scholarships can help students pay for both the tuition and other necessary costs associated with attending an education degree program at a college or university. By searching for multiple scholarships, students can apply to several to better their chances and make their education much more affordable.