There’s always that one teacher who inspires you to do better, to be better, and to reach your potential. Aside from parents and family members, oftentimes teachers have the most influence on a child’s life. It’s a big job: Teachers are tasked with training the next generation of leaders and innovators. There’s no better time than now to become a teacher, particularly since the U.S. is experiencing a teacher shortage.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, school districts across the country face significant challenges in attracting and retaining teachers. This is especially true within critical areas such as special education, bilingual education, early childhood education, and STEM fields, which include science, technology, engineering, and math. These shortages affect future educational opportunities for students, most notably students of color, those from low-income families, those with disabilities, and those from rural communities.
However, steep tuition costs, student fees, and other life expenses make aspiring teachers hesitate about pursuing their online degrees. Applying for scholarships specifically for teachers can alleviate that financial burden. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of scholarships geared toward helping future educators. Keep reading and learn how to apply.
30 Scholarships and Grants for Education & Teaching Students
Use this list of 30 scholarships for education and teaching majors to find funding to help pay for your degree. Eligibility, amounts and deadlines are all outlined below so you can start compiling your list of applications. Don’t miss out on money that can help you to graduate with less or no debt. Let’s get started.
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General Scholarships for Online Education Students
Alma Exley Scholarship Program
- Amount: $5,000
- Description & eligibility: This program awards one scholarship to a person of color enrolled in a teacher preparation program at a Connecticut college or university. Students apply during their junior or senior year of college or while pursuing a master’s degree.
- Deadline: October 31, 2024
The Applegate-Jackson-Parks Future Teacher Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Description & eligibility: Current college students with a declared major in education and teachers pursuing advanced degrees may apply. Applicants submit 500- to 700-word essays, a copy of their transcript or acceptance letter, and a photo with their application.
- Deadline: January 31, 2024
Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Physics Teachers
- Amount: Up to $12,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is for students pursuing an undergraduate degree as a physics teacher. Those awarded the scholarship can receive a stipend of up to $3,000 for four years. The award also includes a complimentary year-long American Association of Physics Teachers membership.
- Deadline: December 1, 2024
Bill Cormack Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $15,000
- Description & eligibility: The Texas Music Educators Association offers various scholarships, including the Bill Cormack Scholarship, to high school seniors enrolling in an undergraduate music education program at a college or university in Texas. This scholarship awards students $3,000 every year for up to five years.
- Deadline: November 1, 2024
Christopher K. Smith Memorial Future Teacher Scholarship
- Amount: $4,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship offers $1,000 each year for four years to high school graduates in Delaware. Applicants must major in education and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Although it’s not a requirement, recipients are encouraged to teach at public schools in Delaware. Two scholarships are awarded.
- Deadline: January 26, 2024
Des Moines Women’s Club Literature Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors pursuing a degree in literature, language arts, journalism, writing, or language education at a college or university. Applicants must reside in Polk, Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story, or Warren County in Iowa.
- Deadline: January 26, 2024
The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
- Amount: $19,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is open to second-year college students who have already declared a major in oceanic, environmental, or atmospheric sciences or in mathematics, engineering, geography, hydrology, or education—if the major supports National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs and missions. Recipients are awarded up to $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study, along with a 10-week full-time paid internship.
- Deadline: January 31, 2024
Helen McEwan Memorial Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is for female students enrolled full time at an accredited college or university pursuing a degree in elementary education. The award will be sent directly to the winning recipient’s school to be applied to tuition for the 2024-2025 school year.
- Deadline: January 26, 2024
Middle Class Scholarship
- Amount: Full tuition
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship provides undergraduate students, including those pursuing a teaching degree, with financial aid to attend the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges bachelor’s degree programs. California residents with a family income and assets of up to $217,000 may be eligible.
- Deadline: March 2, 2024
Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship
- Amount: $7,500
- Description & eligibility: Applicants must plan to teach at a school in Illinois in which at least 30% of the student body is Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American. Applicants must also be people of color or bilingual minority students.
- Deadline: March 31, 2024
MI Future Educator Fellowship
- Amount: Up to $30,000
- Description & eligibility: This award covers the cost of tuition and other fees for students aspiring to become teachers. Recipients are awarded up to $10,000 for three years and must be Michigan residents. Scholars must commit to teaching at a school in Michigan for at least three years upon graduating. Student teachers can also receive a $9,600 stipend. The scholarship is awarded to up to 2,500 future educators every year.
- Deadline: July 15, 2024
PATCH Scholarship
- Amount: $2,250
- Description & eligibility: Those interested in pursuing a career in early childhood education can apply for this scholarship. Although courses can be taken from colleges outside of the state, applicants must reside in Hawaii. The scholarship is awarded in $750 increments, with three rounds per year.
- Deadline: Annually, January 15, May 31, August 31
The Scott Cooper Miami Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to students pursuing careers in business, communications, film, fitness, and education, among other fields. Applicants must read a Miami New Times article highlighting the impact of this scholarship and share it on social media. They must also submit a 200- to 300-word essay.
- Deadline: November 15, 2023
Shirley and Kenneth Smith Memorial Music Education Scholarship for College Students
- Amount: $2,500
- Description & eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled as full-time students in an accredited college or university and should be pursuing a degree in music education. Upon graduation, they should plan on teaching K-12 in either a public or private school. This scholarship is only open to students who reside in certain counties in Iowa.
- Deadline: January 26, 2024
Thelma Kappelman Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Description & eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue a degree in education at a college or university are eligible. Applicants must reside or be registered as students in Polk, Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story, or Warren County in Iowa. Recipients are required to attend a luncheon in April.
- Deadline: January 26, 2024
The UCT (United Commercial Travelers) Scholarship Program
- Amount: $2,500
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to students and teachers who are pursuing degrees in special education or certification to work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Applications are reviewed monthly.
- Deadline: November 15, 2024
Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program
- Amount: Up to $40,000
- Description & eligibility: Recent high school graduates who have a history of high academic achievement and have a passion for teaching are eligible to apply. Finalists submit a three- to five-minute video. Recipients receive up to $10,000 per year for four years. To receive the award, scholars must agree to teach in a public school in West Virginia for five years after graduating. Up to 25 scholarships are granted each year.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
The William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Applicants must be Black, Hispanic, or Latinx; live in Indiana; and be admitted or attending an eligible school full time. Upon graduation, the recipient must teach at a school in Indiana.
- Deadline: August 31, 2024
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School-Based Scholarships for Education Students
ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $60,000
- Description & eligibility: Students pursuing an undergraduate major in chemistry at any partner institution are eligible to apply. Applicants must be interested in teaching high school chemistry. This scholarship is renewable; students receive $10,000 each school year for up to six years.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Boston University’s Noyce Scholarship Program
- Amount: Full tuition
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship provides a full ride to 33 recipients with backgrounds in mathematics or other STEM-related fields, including a Master of Arts in Teaching degree program. The program should lead to a teaching license in secondary mathematics. Recipients must commit to teach for two years in a high school.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Education Master’s Degree Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $5,950
- Description & eligibility: Students pursuing an undergraduate education degree or a secondary education master’s degree at Grand Canyon University can apply for this scholarship, which covers as much as $5,950 in tuition.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Minority Teacher Education Scholars Program
- Amount: $4,000
- Description & eligibility: Any undergraduate student who is a person of color and is pursuing an education degree in Florida is eligible. Scholars are chosen based on qualities that demonstrate they have the potential to become good teachers. Candidates must have quality writing and communication skills and strong academics and must demonstrate a commitment to teaching through volunteer work.
- Deadline: October 1, 2024
The South Carolina Teaching Fellows
- Amount: Up to $24,000
- Description & eligibility: High school seniors or juniors (graduating early) who are legal residents of South Carolina are eligible to apply to this fellowship. Applicants must submit test scores, transcripts, and reference surveys. This scholarship is available at 11 universities in the state, including Charleston Southern University, Anderson University, and the University of Southern Carolina Columbia. Teaching Fellows receive up to $6,000 per year for four years and agree to teach in a South Carolina public school one year for every year they receive the fellowship.
- Deadline: December 1, 2024
Talbot County Public Schools Teacher Education Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $9,000
- Description & eligibility: Applicants pursuing a teaching career can apply to this scholarship once they’ve begun their second year at Chesapeake College or their third or fourth year at a four-year school. Recipients receive up to $3,000 for a maximum of three years.
- Deadline: Rolling
Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship
- Amount: Up to $30,000
- Description & eligibility: This fellowship is intended to attract STEM educators to in-need secondary schools. Thirty-one universities across Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania offer the chance to apply to this program.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship
- Amount: $4,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship can be applied toward any education degree offered at Western Governors University. The degree must lead to a teaching license.
- Deadline: December 31, 2024
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Grants for Education Students
Beta Gamma Recruitment Grant
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This grant provides financial aid to women who are graduating seniors from Boone or Winnebago counties in Illinois. Applicants must plan on entering a teaching profession.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant
- Amount: Up to $7,500
- Description & eligibility: This grant is for individuals employed as paraprofessionals in public schools in Massachusetts who want to become certified as full-time teachers. Applicants must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in the state.
- Deadline: August 1, 2024
TEACH Grant
- Amount: $4,000
- Description & eligibility: This grant program provides up to $4,000 a year to students pursuing a teaching career. Applicants must agree to work as full-time teachers at an elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students for four years.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
The Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program
- Amount: Up to $4,000
- Description & eligibility: This grant program offers financial aid to students pursuing certain career programs including teaching, childcare, and social work. Applicants must reside in Maryland and be enrolled in a college or university in the state.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Key Ways to Increase Your Chances of Earning an Education Scholarship
Earning scholarship money isn’t a guarantee, but there are several ways to increase your chances. According to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, about 30% of college-educated adults have incurred at least some debt. However, scholarships are the easiest and most convenient way to help you fund your postsecondary education and lessen the burden of debt.
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Highlight Community Involvement & Extracurriculars
Scholarship committees want to ensure they’re investing in someone who is taking their college education seriously. The activities you’re involved in—both in school and in your community—say a lot about you. For example, if you want to become a high school educator, then volunteering as a tutor demonstrates your commitment to your community.
Consider volunteering early on with organizations related to the field you’re interested in. Keep in mind that the longer you volunteer with a particular organization or extracurricular activity, the better it looks on an application. A long-term commitment demonstrates that you are passionate about the topic.
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Write an Impactful Essay or Personal Statement
According to the Education Data Initiative, more than 1.7 million scholarships are awarded each year, but these awards go to only seven percent of college students. Writing an impactful essay or personal statement is one way to make sure your application stands out from the pile.
You’ll need to craft a well-written piece that gives the reader a strong sense of who you are and why you should be awarded a scholarship. Don’t be afraid to illustrate your personality by giving your essay character, either through a little humor or by writing about a personal topic. Writing a personal statement or essay with charisma takes time, so start early.
Be sure to pay attention to the topic of the essay. Some applications have a specific question they want you to answer or a theme they want you to address. Staying focused on the topic or theme prevents unrelated tangents. Construct an outline to keep your thoughts on track and be sure to proofread your work. Ask others to read your work as well before submitting it.
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Showcase What Makes You Unique
Many scholarship applicants make the mistake of writing an essay or personal statement that is either too rigid or not serious enough. You’ll need to find a balance between professionalism and authenticity.
Think of your scholarship application as an opportunity to showcase your individuality, your passions, your colorful background, and everything else that makes you uniquely you. Keep your essay or statement genuine and personal.
Don’t be afraid to provide examples of inspirational life moments. For example, if you have a family member with special needs who inspired you to become a teacher, then be sure to add that information in your writing.
Hook your reader within the first few paragraphs through a personal anecdote. Include detailed descriptions and explain how you felt during that turning point in your life. This will keep readers engaged and will help your writing stand out.
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Source Solid Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation provide scholarship committee members with more insight into your character, interests, abilities, and accomplishments. Consider asking someone outside your inner circle to write your letter of recommendation. This could be a coworker, supervisor, volunteer manager, or a school counselor.
Provide them with information about the scholarship and your goals to help them write a strong letter. Be sure to give them plenty of time to write and don’t forget to provide them with a deadline.
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Follow Directions and Submit Early
The most common mistake with scholarships is submitting an application without fully reading the directions. Turning in an incomplete application could disqualify you from receiving an award.
It’s important to gather all the necessary documents first before submitting the application. That includes your essay or personal statement, your resume, and your letters of recommendation. Organize this information based on the scholarship. Keep digital copies on your computer, portable hard drive, email, or iCloud. Print copies, as well.
It’s never too early to apply for scholarships. Turning in an application before the deadline demonstrates your determination and can help you stand out from the crowd. Find scholarships with deadlines throughout the year so you can spread out the time and effort it takes to craft a standout scholarship application.
You can never apply for too many scholarships. Check out our scholarship hub at OnlineColleges.me for a list of 50 more scholarships that could be right for you.
