Comprehensive Guide to Scholarships for Education Majors

An education degree is an excellent choice for aspiring teachers. However, the cost of college can be a significant barrier. Fortunately, numerous scholarships are available to help finance a bachelor's or master's degree in education. This article provides a comprehensive overview of scholarships for education majors, including eligibility requirements, award amounts, and application processes.

Understanding Scholarships for Education Majors

Scholarships for education majors are financial aid opportunities specifically designed for students pursuing a career in teaching. These scholarships can significantly reduce the financial burden of higher education, making it more accessible for aspiring educators. They are essentially free money for your education.

Why Apply for Education Scholarships?

Scholarships can help students access higher education opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach due to financial constraints. Securing education scholarships is about finding the ones you qualify for and applying to as many as possible.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying for education scholarships, carefully review the eligibility requirements to determine if you qualify. Scholarship requirements vary, so don't assume you won't be eligible.

Types of Scholarships

Scholarships for education majors come in various forms, each with its own criteria and focus.

Read also: Camp Scholarships Guide

Need-Based Scholarships

These scholarships are designed for students who have demonstrated financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid-highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself.

Career-Specific Scholarships

These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry, such as teaching.

Where to Find Scholarships

High School Guidance Office: A great place to start when looking for local scholarships.
College Financial Aid Office: Contact the financial aid office at your school to inquire about eligible programs, including the TEACH Grant.
Online Scholarship Platforms: Websites like Scholarships360 and Niche can help you find scholarships and provide personalized matching services.

Featured Teaching Scholarships

Here are some featured teaching scholarships with specific eligibility criteria and award amounts:

PAGE Foundation Scholarships

PAGE Foundation scholarships are a one-time award payable to the winner’s college or university. All applicants must meet the following requirements:

Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships

Be a current PAGE member.
Have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Agree to teach in Georgia for three years.
Submit two recommendations.
Submit most recent cumulative transcript.
Meet any additional criteria for specific scholarships as applicable.

The PAGE Foundation offers various scholarships, including:

PAGE Professional Scholarship: \$1500. Must be pursuing a graduate degree in education or content area, working to add a new certification area or endorsement, or taking required coursework to be highly qualified.
PAGE Charles "Coach" Cooper Scholarship: \$1000. Must be pursuing an advanced degree in science education.
PAGE DeKalb Scholarship: \$1000. Must be employed by the DeKalb County School System and planning to remain for the following school year.
PAGE Jack Christmas Scholarship: \$1000. Must be pursuing an advanced degree in elementary education or reading.
PAGE H. M. & Norma Fulbright Scholarship: \$1500. Must be serving as an advisor of a current, state-affiliated FGE chapter, as a PAGE Academic Bowl team coach, or as a PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon team coach.
PAGE Dr. Allene Magill Scholarship: \$1500. Must be employed as a paraprofessional within a Georgia school system and pursuing initial certification.
PAGE Support Personnel Scholarship: \$1500. Must be employed as support personnel within a Georgia school system and pursuing initial certification.
PAGE Undergraduate Scholarship: \$1500 and PAGE S. Marvin Griffin Scholarship: \$1000. Must be a rising college junior or senior and majoring in education.
PAGE DeKalb Scholarship: \$1000. Must be a rising college junior, senior, or graduate student majoring in education, and a graduate of a high school in the DeKalb County School System.
PAGE John Robert & Barbara Moore Lindsey Scholarship: \$1000. Must be a rising college junior or senior, enrolled in or committed to enrolling in the education program at Georgia Southern University.
PAGE Betty J. Phillips Scholarship: \$1000. Must be a rising college junior, senior, or graduate student, enrolled or committed to enrolling in the education program of a Macon, Georgia, college or university.
PAGE Future Educator Scholarships: \$500. Must be a high school senior and accepted into college, have a 3.0 or higher GPA, plan to pursue a career in teaching, and submit two recommendations.
PAGE Dr. Alton Crews Future Georgia Educators Scholarship: Must be a member in good standing of a state affiliated Future Georgia Educators (FGE) chapter.

Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Physics Teachers

Who’s Eligible? US citizens enrolled in 2-4 year college programs or high school seniors accepted into an eligible program pursuing or planning to pursue a degree leading to a career as a high school physics teacher.
Award amount: Up to \$2,000
Deadline: December

Middle Class Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? California residents pursuing a teaching credential at a University of California or a California State school whose family income and assets are below \$184,000 and qualify for financial aid.
Award amount: Up to 40% of tuition and fees
Deadline: Varies

Mrs. Prindables Future Educator Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? Future educators planning to major in education.
Award amount: \$1,000
Deadline: August

Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? West Virginia undergraduate students who agree to work within the West Virginia school system for two years for each year the scholarship is received.
Award Amount: Up to \$10,000, renews annually for up to 4 years
Deadline: December

Teaching Scholarships for Racial Minorities

Several scholarships are specifically designed to support racial minority students pursuing careers in education.

The CSDIW Native American Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? Enrolled Native American tribal members pursuing education degrees. Undergraduates must work with Native American students post-graduation.
Award Amount: \$2,500 and \$5,000
Deadline: June

Florida Fund for Minority Teachers Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? Minority students pursuing an education degree in Florida.
Award Amount: \$4,000
Deadline: August and November

Gates Millennium Scholars Program

Who’s Eligible? Students looking to complete an undergraduate degree in any field or a postgraduate degree in one of seven specific disciplines, including education.
Award amount: Varies
Deadline: January

Tennessee Minority Teaching Fellows Program

Who’s Eligible? Citizens and Tennessee residents enrolled as juniors or seniors at an accredited four-year college and pursuing teaching certification. Recipients must commit to teaching in Tennessee for one year for each year they receive the award.
Award amount: \$4,000
Deadline: April

William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship

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: August

Teaching Scholarships for Special Education

These scholarships support students pursuing careers in special education.

Epsilon Sigma Alpha Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? Any applicants currently enrolled in an accredited college or university studying special education.
Award amount: \$500-\$2,500
Deadline: Varies

James F. Reville Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? Those with intellectual and developmental disabilities studying special education or a related field.
Award amount: \$3,000
Deadline: January

Mary A. McDowell Fellowship

Who’s Eligible? Any student enrolled in an accredited college or university majoring in Special Education.
Award amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

Teaching Scholarships for Early Childhood Education

These scholarships are for professionals studying early childhood education.

Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program

Who’s Eligible? 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 per semester
Deadline: August

Early Childhood Trainer Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? Professionals studying early childhood education at an eligible college in Minnesota. Applicants must be certified through the Minnesota Center for Professional Development.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: December, May, and August

Scholarships for Master of Education Students

Licensed teachers pursuing a master's degree in education can apply for these scholarships.

Read also: Scholarship Guide

BHD Endowed Scholarships For Teachers

Who’s Eligible? Maryland residents (within 200 miles of Baltimore City) looking to switch careers to teaching. Applicants must be pursuing a master’s in education after earning a bachelor’s degree in a non-teaching field and have a combined family income under \$90,000.
Award amount: Up to \$2,500
Deadline: April

Donald L. Landry Graduate Scholarship

Who’s Eligible? Certified teachers applying for a master’s in education to obtain reading specialist qualifications.
Award amount: \$1,000
Deadline: February

William & Mary School of Education Scholarships

Who’s Eligible? Graduate students in the William & Mary School of Education.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

The Journalism Education Association’s Future Teacher Scholarships

Who’s Eligible? Education students who intend to teach (or have taught) scholastic journalism.
Award Amount: \$1,000
Deadline: July

Rochester Urban Fellows/Rochester Youth Year Fellowship Scholarships

Who’s Eligible? Students applying to the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester who are members of the Rochester Urban Fellows Program or the Rochester Youth Year Fellowship.
Award Amount: One-third of tuition
Deadline: Varies

Additional Financial Aid Resources

Financial Aid for Online Students
Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities
Scholarships for Single Parents
Financial Aid for Veterans and Active Military

Tips for Applying

Start Early: Begin your scholarship search early to maximize your options.
Meet the Requirements: Ensure you meet all eligibility criteria before applying.
Craft a Compelling Essay: If required, write a thoughtful and well-written essay that addresses the prompt and showcases your passion for teaching.
Obtain Recommendations: Request recommendation letters from teachers, counselors, or mentors who can speak to your abilities and character.
Keep Track of Deadlines: Stay organized and adhere to all application deadlines.
Apply for as Many as Possible: Increase your chances of winning by applying for multiple scholarships.

Additional Financial Aid Options

Besides scholarships, explore other financial aid options such as grants, loans, and work-study programs.

Grants

Colleges and agencies award grants to students who demonstrate financial need. Unlike loans, grants do not require repayment.

TEACH Grant: Provides up to \$4,000 per year to students who plan on teaching in a low-income school district. Requires students to complete specific classes and maintain a certain level of academic achievement.
NEA Foundation Student Success Grant: Offers grants of \$1,500 or \$5,000 to NEA members to implement projects that will help students develop critical skills or master subject-specific concepts.
NEA Envision Equity Grants: Offers grants ranging from \$1,500-\$5,000 to educators to help them implement more equitable education at their institution.

Loans

You can secure college loans from the federal government or a private financial institution. Federal loans tend to charge lower interest rates than private loans. You can also apply for a subsidized loan, decreasing the interest you need to pay back.

Work-Study Programs

Students who qualify for a work-study program are matched with a part-time job at their school, allowing them to earn money to help pay for their studies.

Teacher Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Programs

These programs forgive some or all of your debt over time if you teach in high-risk or high-need areas.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: Pays off all remaining loans after an individual has made 120 monthly payments while working full-time at an approved site.
Perkins Loan Cancellation for Teachers: Incrementally forgives up to 100% of a student’s loan debt, usually over a period of 5-10 years, for teachers who work at low-income public schools or private schools registered as nonprofits.

Professional Organizations

Joining professional organizations can provide aspiring educators with valuable resources and networking opportunities.

National Education Association (NEA): With over 3 million members, NEA is one of the largest organizations in the educational field.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD): This global organization is composed of educators from around the world.
Association of American Educators (AAE): AAE prides itself on high-quality professional development and advocacy for teachers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an education degree worth it? Whether or not an education degree is “worth it” is a personal decision depending on a variety of factors.
How can I make money with an education degree? Once you have an education degree, you can begin looking for teaching positions in either a public or private school.
What education degree pays the most? The BLS reports that postsecondary teachers make more than elementary or high school teachers.
What type of teacher is in highest demand? The demand for teachers varies significantly depending on your location. Special Education teachers are also frequently in demand.

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