graduate scholarships in education

How to Find Scholarships for Graduate School

Like for undergraduates, many scholarships and fellowships are available to students seeking a master's degree.

Finding Scholarships for Grad School

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Scholarships are usually merit-based – such as for a certain GPA, athletic ability or hobby – or based on a student's specific area of study or identity.

While it's well known that financial aid exists for undergraduates, many students are unaware that scholarships also are available for those seeking a graduate degree.

At San Diego State University , for instance, 29% of total scholarships were awarded to graduate students during the 2022-2023 cycle, says Kari Hooker, director of scholarships in the university's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Funding amounts and availability of scholarships for graduate students – who make up about 15% of the higher education student population, according to a 2020 Center for American Progress  report  on graduate school debt – vary by program. But every dollar counts, experts say.

"Not surprisingly, private colleges and universities are able to fund more scholarships due to their hefty endowments," Nellie Gaynor, a graduate school and MBA admissions counselor at Ivywise, an educational consulting firm, wrote in an email. "However, students need to review these scholarship ‘discounts’ in relation to the overall package that is being presented to them including academics, student life, location , fit and cost. Ultimately, scholarships are one piece of a larger puzzle when deciding which admissions offers to accept."

The application process differs depending on the graduate scholarship, but may require filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA , writing an essay and submitting a letter of recommendation .

For prospective professional and graduate students, here are some points to consider when tracking down scholarships to pay for an advanced degree .

The Difference Between Grants and Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are forms of financial aid that don't need to be paid back, also known as "gift aid."

Northern Arizona University 's Louis H. and Betty J. Quayle Scholarship, for instance, provides up to $4,000 per semester to part- and full-time graduate students who are members of a federally recognized Native American tribe or nation.

"Scholarships can come in all kinds of amounts and students can apply for several at a time to help cover the cost of tuition," Suzanne T. Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and advancing graduate education, wrote in an email.

Grants, however, are typically awarded at the college , state or federal level based on financial need, like the federal Pell Grant for low-income students. Pell Grants are generally for undergraduate students, but graduate students may be eligible for other federal grants.

Where to Look for Graduate School Scholarships

As aspiring graduate students start their search process, it's important to "really focus on the scholarships that are most appropriate for them and not put effort into scholarships where they are not truly eligible," Hooker says.

Different types of national graduate school scholarships are listed on database search websites, like Fastweb , Cappex and Unigo . GoGrad is another online resource that lists niche scholarships for prospective and current grad students.

"Often, what is called a scholarship in the undergraduate sphere is frequently called a fellowship in the graduate sphere," Ortega says. "So be sure to look for fellowships as well."

Institutional Scholarships

Students can reach out to the school's financial aid office or talk with a program department head or adviser to learn about degree- or research-specific scholarships, like teaching. As part of the Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program's Humanities Teaching Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania , for example, fellows are awarded a $32,000 scholarship.

"Most students will have to supplement their financial aid package with student loans (both federal and private), graduate assistantships, or work-study programs, Gaynor says. "With that being said, we have seen an increase in graduate and adult programs therefore leading to an increase in applications for graduate school admissions. Given the competitiveness in this space, schools are using school scholarships as a way to attract talent to their school."

Local Scholarships

Graduate students should not look past applying to local scholarships , which are usually less competitive than national scholarships, experts say. A student's employer , parent's employer or even place of worship, like a church or synagogue, may offer scholarships.

Another option is to find and join professional associations in a field of interest. For instance, undergraduate and graduate members of the National Black MBA Association, Inc., can apply for an award of up to $5,000.

The American Bar Association also awards $15,000 of financial aid over three years to underrepresented first-year law school students. About 10 to 20 incoming students receive the Legal Opportunity Scholarship each year.

When to Apply for Scholarships for Grad School

Deadlines for scholarships vary, but Ortega advises students to start their search as soon as they're accepted into a graduate program – if not before.

"You can apply to scholarships year-round, so always be on the lookout for new ones that pop up," she says. "Even if you planned to take out a student loan , you can still apply for scholarships to help reduce the amount of loan you need."

What's the Best Strategy to Win a Scholarship?

If there are short answers or essay questions in the application, Hooker advises students to write about what makes them unique.

"Try to be sincere and share what you are going through and how a scholarship would benefit you," she says. "We have a lot of students that work 20 plus hours a week. They need to let those committees know because those are the students that we want to support."

Before submitting a scholarship application, have a peer or undergraduate adviser review the application for grammar mistakes and other errors, experts say.

"An advantage of applying for scholarships as a graduate student versus an undergraduate is that you have more life and educational experience to draw from when writing a scholarship essay ," Ortega says. "Since graduate school programs are more focused on a specific area, it’s easier to speak to why you are pursuing this degree or area of research, which may be a compelling story for the scholarship application."

Searching for a grad school? Get our  complete rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

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Graduate School Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide

People may want to go to grad school for different things, especially since graduate studies are an exciting opportunity that can open even more doors down the line. Going to school for a master’s degree or a doctorate can potentially improve careers, increase annual salaries, and provide a deeper understanding and knowledge of a subject matter. Regardless of why someone might want to go to graduate school, one thing’s for certain: some people may struggle with funding their education.

Although graduate studies can provide many opportunities later on, many see grad school as an impossible goal because of its cost. To afford school, some may choose to take out loans to pay for their studies. However, many are deterred from grad school entirely because they don’t want to go into too much debt. Thankfully, other things can help pay for grad studies, too.

If you’re grappling with the idea of going to grad school and worried about its cost, you might be glad to know that there are many scholarships, grants, and fellowships that can help. Scholarships may cover some or all of the cost of grad school without requiring you to pay a single cent back. Knowing how to get scholarships for graduate school is half the battle.

Table of Contents

What are the Requirements for Graduate School Scholarships?

The requirements for grad school scholarships may vary, depending on which school or program you’re in. You may often see requirements including but not limited to:

• Supporting Documents – Most scholarship organizations will require you to provide a few supporting documents with your application. These may include the application itself, your transcripts, various proof (proof of enrollment or acceptance, proof of citizenship or residence, proof of financial need, etc.), essays, letters of recommendation, and more.
• Citizenship – Many scholarships require applicants to be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Sometimes, they will allow exemptions for DACA recipients.
• Proof of Financial Difficulty – Scholarship organizations often seek evidence of financial need to weed out applicants who are only out for a quick buck. They also do this to ensure that any scholarships awarded will go to people who actually need financial assistance.
• Proof of Acceptance or Enrollment – Scholarship organizations will commonly seek proof of acceptance or enrollment from their applicants. You may have to prove that you are currently enrolled or will be enrolled during a certain period specified by the organization.
• Minimum GPA – Most scholarships will require a minimum GPA — some higher than others. Scholarships based on merit or academic performance will almost always require higher GPAs. Others may only require a minimum GPA of 2. It’s best to look into several scholarships that you can apply for instead of putting all your eggs into one basket. It’s also good to know that many scholarships judge applicants not solely on their academic merit but also on other factors such as experience and volunteerism.
• Field of study – Many scholarships are only awarded to students in specific areas of study, such as medical school , law school, and business school. Other scholarships may only be for STEM (science, technology, engineering , and mathematics) students. If you’re in a particular field, you may want to see whether scholarships and grants are available for you.
• Volunteerism – Some organizations want scholarship applicants to have experience in volunteerism and other extra-curricular activities.

Tips on Acquiring a Graduate School Scholarship

If you want to get awarded a grad school scholarship or grant, there are quite a few things that may help.

• Know where to look for scholarships. If you don’t know where to begin searching for a scholarship that might suit you, the first place you can always start is your school itself. Many colleges and universities have scholarships awarded from their funds to help entice students with strong academic performances. You can also look within your local community or religious organization for any grants or scholarships that may be available. Barring that, you can also see whether your professional association (if you have one) has a grant program. You may also look for scholarships on the internet, although it’s a good idea to be careful as there are many scams online.

You can also use other search parameters such as field of study, region, and demographic.

• Go for more than one . As with anything, it’s not a good idea to put all your eggs in one scholarship basket. This is especially true for scholarships and grants for graduate studies since the award amounts tend to be lower on average compared to undergrad scholarships. If the amount is only for $1,000 to $2,000, but you get awarded several grants, that total adds up quickly. You can apply for as many scholarships as you want, provided you have the time to do so.
• Make a budget for your search. It’s free to search for scholarships, but a few costs are involved in applying for them. Most of these costs are for documents, particularly for transcripts. You may also rack up some postage costs.

Myths About Graduate School Scholarships

Many people won’t bother applying for scholarships because of a few misconceptions that are often untrue.

There’s no harm in applying for a scholarship, especially if you meet the minimum academic requirements to do so.

In fact, there are times when organizations and other entities might still award scholarships even when people vying for them just barely qualify — especially when there are extenuating circumstances.

Check out this list of scholarship misconceptions below!

Minorities have a better chance to get a scholarship.

While it is true that there are tons of scholarships made available specifically to students of minority and special populations, that doesn’t mean you need to be a minority to get a scholarship.

There are tons of scholarships available to all, and a majority of them still go to Caucasian students. In fact, minorities only receive 28% of available scholarships. This means Caucasians have a significantly higher chance of receiving a scholarship, especially from private entities.

I shouldn’t bother to apply because there’s too much competition.

Many people might think they shouldn’t bother applying for any scholarships because there’s way too much competition. They feel like their chances are low because many others are vying for the same scholarships they are. If you think this way, you might be glad to know that this isn’t entirely true.

Yes, there certainly is a lot of competition, at least when it comes to scholarships that don’t have many requirements. Many will apply for scholarships that don’t need a ton of supporting documents, difficult applications, recommendations, personal statements, or intense essays. If you’re willing to put in the extra work and go through the rigorous application requirements, you might find that there may be far less competition than you originally thought. Stringent requirements weed out applicants who are just looking for a quick buck.

My grades need to be perfect.

It’s easy to assume that to get a scholarship, you need to have perfect grades. And yes, that might be the case when you’re applying for academic or merit scholarships. However, many scholarships focus on other things aside from grades like extracurricular activities, your intended major, experience, and any volunteerism you’ve done. The number of scholarships given by private entities based solely on academic performance is in the minority.

My scholarship will pay for everything, and I won’t have to pay out of pocket.

Graduate school scholarships and grants can help to reduce the cost of your graduate studies significantly, but unless you have a full-ride scholarship, they won’t pay for everything. It’s likely that you’ll still need to pay for a smaller percentage out of your pocket or with a small loan.

Sadly, the number of students able to pay for all their costs only with their grants and scholarships is very small: less than 1% .

That said, it’s a good idea to seek your funding from multiple sources. You can apply for as many scholarships and grants as you think you can qualify for to help cover costs.

Applying for scholarships takes too much time.

We’ve talked about how much work it might take to complete the rigorous applications for some scholarships, but don’t let that scare you from applying to multiple. Yes, applications can take a lot of work and time, but many scholarships have similar requirements. Similar requirements mean that once you’ve done the work for one application, you can simply use the same information and adapt it to another scholarship application. If you keep your work thoroughly documented, it makes it easier to look at your previous answers and work so you can adjust them as needed.

The scholarship money comes from the government.

The government does provide some funding for scholarships. However, these government grants only count for a small portion. Most funding comes from institutions and private entities . In 2020 alone, 140.9 billion dollars was awarded in scholarships and grants. 12% of that came from private sources, and 49% came from institutions.

I have to pay to get a scholarship.

It’s good to practice vigilance when you’re looking into various scholarships to apply for. There are many scholarship scams, especially online. Shady operations eagerly look to take advantage of students desperate for extra funding. Often, they’ll help you look for “untapped funds” — but only for a fee.

It’s best to save yourself the money and the trouble by searching for and submitting your own applications to scholarship providers. You shouldn’t need to pay for any processing fees, and you don’t need to have somebody else submit your applications for you.

The University of New Mexico details what you need to look out for regarding potential scholarship scams .

What Kind of Special Scholarships are There?

Aside from general scholarships, grants, and fellowships, “special” scholarships are awarded to people who qualify. Here is just a taste of some special scholarships out there.

MBA Scholarships

Related:  Top 15 Best MBA Scholarships to Apply For 

MBAs are notoriously some of the most expensive graduate studies programs around. The costs of a program may vary, depending on whether you’re doing an executive program or a full-time course. It only makes sense that there are scholarships and grants specifically for those who want an MBA. Poets and Quants says the value of scholarships in the three years leading up to 2020 has grown significantly, to the tune of 33% to 50%.

It’s true — some of the top business schools are also rather generous when offering grants and scholarships. If a candidate’s application is desirable enough, many schools may jump at the chance to get them to come to their institution.

Schools may compete against each other to entice the candidate to come, offering varying levels of endowments. A candidate may receive anything from several thousand dollars to a full-ride scholarship.

If you’re looking for an MBA scholarship, your first stop would often be the school you’re looking to study at. But, if you find that their offer isn’t quite enough to cover costs reasonably, you can also seek funding from foundations, organizations, and professional associations.

Here are some MBA scholarships you may want to look into:

Scholarships for Women

Related:  Top 30 Scholarships for Women

The women of today have far more opportunities than those of only a century ago. Nowadays, women are earning advanced degrees, but there’s no denying that paying for their education may be a challenge in some cases. This difficulty is especially true since oftentimes, women’s salaries still lag behind men’s.

Luckily, many organizations offer graduate scholarships to help women fund their graduate studies. If you’re seeking help, you can approach your local community, professional association, religious organization, or school to see whether they have any scholarships available.

You can also seek help from outside organizations, such as the scholarships below:

Military and Military Family Member Scholarships

Advanced education isn’t only available to civilians. Graduate studies are also available to military veterans looking to transition into a civilian career. The government enacted the G.I. Bill to help military members accomplish the goal of pursuing higher education. However, G.I. Bill benefits expire, and not everyone can qualify for them anyway.

Thankfully, there are military scholarships to help veterans (and their spouses or children) with the cost of their graduate studies.

Scholarships for Minorities

The high costs of graduate and post-graduate studies can deter many minorities from pursuing their dreams of higher education. While it is true that the percentage of minorities earning their master’s degrees has grown over time, the growth is quite small, only 1-6% .

Minorities may feel deterred from going for advanced degrees because they might think they can’t afford the costs and various trade-offs involved. Thankfully, many organizations, government or otherwise, offer scholarships to those part of a minority group.

Here are some examples of scholarships for minorities:

Other Resources for Minorities

• UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is an organization that advocates for and provides scholarships to college students coming from low/moderate-income families. This minority education organization has members that include 37 colleges and universities that are historically black.
• NMF (National Medical Fellowships) offers minority students many scholarships for their studies in medicine.
• As the largest organization providing scholarships for American Indians, AICF (American Indian College Fund) also offers other resources such as internships, fellowships, and college/career readiness programs.
• NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) helps African American students with resources and a list of scholarship opportunities.
• APIASF (Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund) provides scholarships for Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans.

Scholarships for Hispanics

Many Hispanic students from low- to moderate-income families may find it difficult to pay for graduate studies. It may even be impossible for some who might be undocumented and thus ineligible to apply for student aid from the federal government. It’s because of this that there are many graduate scholarships specifically for Hispanic and Latinx students.

If you’re Hispanic and looking for additional funding for your graduate degree, you can start with asking your local community, professional association, religious organization, or school for any scholarship opportunities.

You may also seek additional funding from outside organizations such as:

Other Resources for Latinx/Hispanic Students

• As a nonprofit charitable organization, LULF (La Unidad Latina Foundation) funds education within the Latinx community.
• HSF (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) supports Hispanic Americans in their pursuit of higher education. They have awarded more than 500 million dollars in scholarships to date.

Key Takeaways

Many might struggle when they wrestle with the idea of going to graduate school because they don’t quite know how to fund their studies. If you find yourself in the same boat, we hope that this comprehensive guide on graduate school scholarships may help you figure out how to find scholarships for grad school and the steps that follow.

Remember, there’s no reason not to try your hand even if you think there is too much competition — the strength of your application plays a big part in your chances of consideration.

If you want to know more about how to pay for grad school, check out this article for more tips. 

Chriselle Sy

Chriselle has been a passionate professional content writer for over 10 years. She writes educational content for The Grad Cafe, Productivity Spot, The College Monk, and other digital publications.  When she isn't busy writing, she spends her time streaming video games and learning new skills.

• Chriselle Sy https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/chriselle-sy/ Graduate Certificate vs Degree: What’s the Difference? [2024 Guide]
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Fellowships & Grants

HGSE offers a wide range of fellowship, scholarship, and grant opportunities to help make our programs more accessible to students from a variety of backgrounds. In addition to providing tuition support many also include co-curricular programming that allows for additional community building, experiential learning, and collaboration grounded in HGSE’s mission to make the broadest impact possible by putting powerful ideas and evidence-based research into practice.

*Unless otherwise specified all funding below is applied to billed tuition.

Fellowships

Barakett family fellowship.

For exceptional Ed.M. students.

The James Bryant Conant Fellowship

For teachers and administrators in Boston and Cambridge public schools.

Harvard Fellowship for Teaching

For qualified students in the Teaching and Teacher Leadership Program.

Leadership in Education Fellowship

For top Ed.M. students with strong leadership experience and potential.

Pforzheimer Fellowship

For graduates of Harvard/Radcliffe College who demonstrate significant commitment to public service.

The Urban Scholars Fellowship

For exceptional Ed.M. students with a demonstrated commitment to improving urban education.

The Saul Zaentz Fellowship Program

For talented Ed.M. students invested in early childhood education.

Zuckerman Fellowship

For outstanding students with a background in business, law, or medicine.

Grants, Scholarships, and Funding

Hgse need-based grant.

For qualified Ed.M. financial aid applicants.

Ed.L.D. Funding Program

For admitted Ed.L.D. students.

Harvard University Restricted Scholarships

For full-time residential Ed.M. students that meet various preference criteria.

Scholarships for graduate school

Grants for graduate school, fellowships for graduate school, grad school scholarships and grants faqs, scholarships, grants, and fellowships that can help pay for your post-graduate education.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate student loans to write unbiased product reviews.

• Grad school scholarships provide funds to cover your educational costs. 
• In general, you don't have to repay scholarships or grants after graduation. 
• Start your search for grad school scholarships with your school's financial aid office.

Graduate school can help you take your career ambitions to the next level. But the cost can be very high. That's where grad school scholarships and grants come in. Scholarships and grants don't need to be repaid, which means you can leave school with minimum drag on your post-graduation finances.

There are several categories of graduate school scholarships.

Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on your academic achievements and other achievements. In contrast, need-based scholarships are awarded based on the financial need of the student. 

Beyond these two main categories, you can find specialized scholarships designed for particular fields of study or demographics. For example, you might find a scholarship opportunity based on your prior military experience or your desire to obtain a graduate degree in a specific field.

Before you can snag a scholarship, you'll have to find the opportunity and apply for it . Your school's financial aid office is a good place to start your search because they might have information on school-specific scholarships. You can also find scholarship opportunities through online search engines, like the U.S. Department of Labor's free tool or Scholarships.com .

When you find an enticing opportunity, it's important to craft a compelling application. Many scholarships require an essay, which could make or break your chances. 

"Writing essays for a graduate scholarship is not the same as it was for undergraduates," says Ben Ralston, president of Sachs Foundation , an organization that provides scholarship opportunities to Black Coloradans. 

"You are later in your career and can focus less on what you want to do with your education and more about what you have already accomplished," Ralston says. "Get specific in how graduate studies will develop more professional skills to build on previous accomplishments instead of speaking more generally about future goals."

See Insider's picks for the best graduate student loans >>

Grants are another form of funding that you usually don't have to pay back. Below are some of the most popular grants for grad school:

• Federal grants: Some federal grants are available to graduate students, including the TEACH Grant , which is designed to prepare them for teaching at the elementary or secondary school level. After graduation, grant recipients must teach full-time for at least four years in a school that serves low-income students. Skipping the teaching commitment means you'll have to repay the funds. 
• State grants : Many states provide grant opportunities to students. In some cases, these grants are designed to support students pursuing a graduate degree that's relevant to the state's needs. 
• Institutional grants : Many colleges and universities provide grant opportunities to students. You can find out about these opportunities through your school's financial aid office. 
• Private grants: Some organizations and foundations offer grant funding to graduate students. In most cases, you'll need to meet some specific eligibility requirements to apply. 

Tapping into this source of free money for college is a worthwhile option. If you are interested in grant funding, start by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to potentially tap into federal grant opportunities. 

In terms of state-level, institutional, and private grants, you'll need to do some research to find grants that might apply to your unique situation. Consider reaching out to your school's financial aid office, they might have more information on grant opportunities you can apply for.

A fellowship for graduate school provides financial support to pursue a graduate degree. Depending on the fellowship, the funds might go beyond tuition costs to include a stipend designed to help students pay for basic living expenses. 

In many cases, fellowships are tied to teaching or research duties. For example, teaching assistantships and research assistantships are relatively common. With a teaching assistantship, you might be expected to teach a course to undergraduates or support a professor in their teaching duties.

Many schools offer fellowships on an internal basis, often with merit-based criteria and tied to a particular field of study. Students can also seek out fellowships from other organizations. While it's not exhaustive, UCLA's graduate funding database can help you find a wide range of graduate fellowship opportunities. Your school's financial aid office offers another opportunity to seek out fellowship information.

Since fellowships often involve some hands-on duties, like teaching or research, the opportunity can offer much more than a debt-free path to graduation. In many cases, the right fellowship can kickstart your professional career.

No. Many grad school scholarships and grants are decided on a need basis. With that, top-performing students don't always have an edge when pursuing grad school funding. 

Some scholarships and grants allow you to use the funds for any graduate program. But other scholarships and grants have specific requirements on where you can use the funds. 

Yes, some graduate school scholarships are specifically designated for minority students. 

Whether or not you can use grad school scholarships and grants to cover living expenses depends on the specific scholarship. In some cases, the funds are restricted for use on tuition or other educational costs. But some scholarship and grant programs are less stringent and allow students to use the funds on living expenses. 

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Gre prep online guides and tips, 47 great graduate school scholarships.

Grad school prices can cause a real case of sticker shock—so you want every dollar you can get to offset the cost! Many graduate school scholarships are school-specific, but that’s not your only option for grad school funding.  In this categorized list, we have tons of scholarships that students of all types can apply for. There are graduate school scholarships for women, graduate school scholarships for minorities, STEM scholarships, teaching scholarships and many, many more! We’ll also provide some advice for picking the best grad school scholarships for you to apply for.

Table of Contents

The scholarships:

Graduate School Scholarships for Anyone

• Grad School Scholarships for Studying Abroad

Graduate School Scholarships For Women

Minority graduate school scholarships.

• LGBT Graduate Scholarships

Religious Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships for veterans, stem scholarships for graduate school, arts and design grad school scholarships, humanities and social sciences scholarships, professional school scholarships.

• Grad School Scholarships from Membership Organizations

Miscellaneous Graduate School Scholarships

4 tips for choosing the right scholarship for you, graduate school scholarships: an overview.

As mentioned in the introduction, most graduate school grants and scholarships are awarded by specific schools. Outside of this, scholarships for grad school seem scarce on the ground, especially when compared to the huge numbers of college scholarships available for high school students.

However, there are still a number of scholarships of various award sizes available. This is especially true if you are a diverse candidate or have particular academic interests.

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It’s probably not a surprise there hear that there are a variety of graduate school scholarships for women and many minority graduate school scholarships. And there are a plethora of STEM scholarships available. But did you know there are also scholarships for studying acoustics, for religious individuals, and for budding library scientists? There are scholarships for graduate school with many different eligibility requirements, so don’t count yourself out without seeing what’s out there.

To help you in your funding search, we’ve compiled a list of almost 50 graduate school scholarships in various categories. Please note that this is primarily a US-focused list, with most scholarships either for those pursuing study within the US or for US citizens studying abroad. However, there are some scholarships that international students studying outside the US can apply for!

Some of these scholarships are regional, but I’ve also avoided listing scholarships that are too intensely location-specific (for example, to a specific metro area). But I encourage you to look for location-specific scholarships for students from your hometown, county, or state!

Anyone pursuing advanced study can apply for these scholarships for graduate school. Open contests like the ones below tend to have more modest awards, but they can definitely add up! Scholarships are listed alphabetically.

Ayn Rand Institute Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

The Ayn Rand Institute sponsors multiple annual essay contest scholarships for students of all levels. Graduate students may enter the Atlas Shrugged contest.

Award:  $50-20,000

Due Date:  2018 date not yet posted; 2017 date was May 10, 2017.

Eligibility

• Essays must be written in English
• Entrant must be a 12th-grader, college undergraduate or graduate student at contest deadline

Application Components

Essay of 800-1600 words answering one of the following prompts:

• “Francisco d’Anconia says that the “words ‘to make money’ hold the essence of human morality.” What does he mean? What are today’s prevalent moral attitudes toward money? Do you agree with Francisco’s view? Explain why or why not.”
• “Atlas Shrugged is both a celebration of business and a defense of it against widespread attacks. Judging from the novel, as well as from Ayn Rand’s essay “What Is Capitalism?” and her speech “America’s Persecuted Minority: Big Business,” why does she think business should be defended and championed? What does she think is a proper defense of business, and why?”
• “Ragnar Danneskjöld says he loves that which has rarely been loved, namely, human ability. What do you think he means? How does his position relate to the idea: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”? Do you agree or disagree with Ragnar’s attitude? Explain.”

Eve’s Addiction Scholarship

Jewelry vendor EvesAddiction.com offers an annual scholarship for all students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program.

Award: $1500

Due Date: 2017 applications were accepted from February 1, 2017-April 28, 2017. 2018 application dates have not yet been posted.

High school senior or anyone planning on attending an undergraduate or graduate program in the US in the fall following the application period.

Applicants need to answer the following prompt: “If your dream job only allowed you to apply via Twitter, write the 140-character limit Tweet of why you would be the ideal candidate.”

Giva Student Scholarship and Worldwide Community Ambassador Award

Giva, a service management software company, sponsors a scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students to help them “further their education as well as expand their social responsibility and community service footprint in the world.” According to most recent updates on their website, scholarships are not currently being offered, but may return in the future.

Award: $1000

Due Date:  Normally June 1 and Dec 1 every year.

Must already be an enrolled student in an undergraduate or graduate program

• Application form
• Essay between 600-1000 words on the following question: “How will you use your talents and education to make the world a better place for future generations? What are your career and personal goals and why?”

Grad School Scholarships For Studying Abroad

These very prestigious and highly competitive graduate school fellowships and scholarships fund US citizens pursuing education abroad. These application processes are long and involved, typically taking place almost an entire year before graduate study commences. Some even require institutional nomination if you are still an undergraduate. Scholarships are listed alphabetically.

Endeavor Scholarships and Fellowships

The Endeavor program, sponsored by the Australian Department of Education and Training, provides funds for international students to pursue graduate study in Australia.

Award (Values in AUSD)

• Up to $15,000/semester in tuition
• $3000 travel allowance
• $4000 establishment allowance
• $3000 monthly stipend
• Health and travel insurance

2017 applications opened in April and closed on June 30; 2018 application dates not available yet.

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• Applicants must be over 18 when fellowship program period commences
• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of a participating country (US is a participating country)
• Must not have already started the proposed program
• Must not have previously received an Australian-government sponsored fellowship.
• Transcripts
• Multiple essays
• Proof of admission to Australian institution
• 2 recommendations

Fulbright Study/Research Fellowships

Fulbright Study/Research Fellowships allow individuals to design study and/or research projects (which may or may not involve study towards a graduate degree) in a foreign country. Program requirements vary by host country, so be sure to read up on those requirements if you are interested!

• Transportation to and from host country
• Living stipend
• Health insurance
• May also include full or partial tuition

Due date for 2018-2019 awards cycle is October 26, 2017.

• US citizenship
• Must have bachelor’s degree before start of grant
• Must be in good health
• Adequate proficiency in language of the host country
• Note: You cannot conduct clinical/medical research with this grant
• Personal Statement
• Grant project proposal
• Foreign language certifications
• Affiliation letter (from host institution in country)

George J Mitchell Scholarship Program

The US-Ireland Alliance sponsors up to twelve Mitchell scholars annually for one year of graduate study in any field in an educational institution in Ireland.  (However, note that for 2018-2019 Northern Ireland is not available). Applicants are selected based on scholarship, leadership, and their commitment to public service.

• Accommodation
• Stipend for living expenses and travel

Due date for 2017-2018 cycle is 29 September 2017.

• At least 18 years of age but not yet 30 on September 30th of the application year
• Will complete bachelor’s degree before beginning Mitchell Scholar study
• Video interview
• Personal statement up to 1,000 words
• 4 recommendations
• Institutional endorser contact info (if undergraduate)

Marshall Scholarships

Marshall Scholarships allow US citizens to undertake graduate study in any field abroad in the United Kingdom.

Award: Tuition, fees, and stipend for 1-2 years of study in the UK

Due Date:  2018-2019 applications due October 2, 2017.

• Have a bachelor’s degree from the US completed by the commencement of the grant period but obtained no earlier than April 2015
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.7
• Personal statement (1,000 words)
• Essays about proposed course of study and improving US-UK relations
• Four recommendation letters

There are a number of scholarships available specifically for women. These scholarships are often to encourage women to pursue study in fields where women are underrepresented, like business and STEM. Scholarships are alphabetical.

Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarships

Zonta International sponsors this scholarship to promote women’s entrance and advancement into business careers.

Award: $1000-$7000

Due Date: Initial application must be submitted through your local Zonta club, which will typically have an April or May deadline.

Women pursuing a business or business-related graduate program

• A recommendation from a faculty member in your field
• A recommendation from an employer, volunteer supervisor, or academic advisor
• A 500-word essay

Society of Women Engineers Scholarships

Scholarships for women pursuing post-secondary education in engineering.

Award: $1000-$5000

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Due Date: February 15, 2017

• Must identify as female
• Must be planning to study full-time at an ABET-accredited program (undergraduate, master’s, or PhD) in engineering, computing, or technology for the coming year
• Must not already have full funding for all tuition, fees, and supplies
• Two recommendations
• Financial Information

Women Techmakers Scholars Program

Formerly the Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Program, Google sponsors this scholarship to promote gender equality in computer science by cultivating female leadership in the field.

Award: $10,000 and attendance at the annual Google Scholars’ Retreat

Due Date: Dates for next cycle not yet available

• Identify as female
• Enrolled at an accredited university for 2017-2018 and enrolled or accepted for the 2018-2019 academic year in a Bachelors, Masters, or PhD program
• Studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related field
• Background information
• Two letters of recommendation
• Four essay responses

There are many graduate school scholarships for minorities, especially for minority groups in fields where they are underrepresented. Scholarships are listed alphabetically; note that some of these grad school scholarships for minorities are available only to specific groups while others are open to members of all racial and ethnic minorities.

AIGC Graduate Fellowship

The American Indian Graduate Center funds need-based fellowships for graduate and professional study of Native American descent.

Award: Up to $5000/year

Due Date: June 1, 2017

• Enrolled member of a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native group or have documentation of descent (¼ degree verifiable federally recognized Indian blood)
• Able to demonstrate financial need
• Pursuing full-time graduate or professional study
• Answer the following essay prompt: “The Mission of AIGC is to “build, promote and honor self-sustaining American Indian and Alaska Native communities through education and leadership.” Please write a 500-word (or less) statement that best describes how receiving an AIGC Fellowship will help you to continue this mission in your community upon completion of your degree program. This statement may be utilized to match you with additional funding resources (based on availability of funds).”
• Unofficial Transcripts

Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship

This merit-based fellowship is offered by Goldman Sachs for 1st-year business school students who are Black, Hispanic, or Native American in order to increase interest in financial careers among minority MBA students.

Award: $25,000 (in addition to Summer Associate salary)

Due Date: N/A

1st year Black, Hispanic, or Native American business school students

In order to apply, you need to interview to be a Summer Associate at Goldman Sachs for your first summer after starting an MBA. All successful, eligible Summer Associate applicants will be evaluated for the fellowship!

HCA Corris Boyd Scholars Program

The Hospital Corporation of America sponsors this program for graduate students of color accepted to CAHME-accredited graduate programs in health administration and related fields.  

Award: $40,000 (paid in 4 installments)

Due Date: April 17, 2017

• Full-time student of color who is a US citizen or permanent resident
• Accepted into CAHME-accredited graduate program for the upcoming school year
• Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
• Program information
• Academic information
• Test Scores
• Personal statement (up to 1200 words)
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Financial information

Monsanto Graduate Student Scholarship

Monsanto offers this merit-based scholarship to minority students studying STEM and hoping to have careers in food and agriculture.

Award: Up to $25,000

Due Date: May 1, 2017

• Minority students who are US citizens or legal residents
• Must be enrolled/admitted in STEM-focused Master of Science program
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• PhD Candidates not eligible
• 3 recommendations
• 300-word personal statement describing career goals and interest in STEM
• College transcript

National Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Program

This national scholarship program is aimed at Hispanic students studying for careers in health care.

Award: $2000-$10,000

• Enrolled in an accredited dental, medical, pharmacy, nursing, public health or health policy program for the coming year
• Interested in Hispanic health
• Recommendation

Xerox Technical Minority Scholarships

Xerox offers scholarships to minority group members pursuing technical degrees at the bachelor level or higher.

Award: $1000-$10,000

• US citizen or permanent resident who identifies as a racial/ethnic minority
• Full time student in a technical science or engineering field
• Have at least a B average
• Have tuition/expenses not already covered by scholarships or grants
• Application

LGBTQ Graduate Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships and grants for graduate school available for members of the LGBTQ+ community. I’ve listed two major ones here, but there are also many smaller, more specific or local scholarships for LGBTQ students.

Point Scholarships

The Point Foundation sponsors need-based scholarships for LGBTQ students pursuing post-secondary education in the next year.

Award: Average award $10,000/year; renewable up to 4 years

Due Date:  2017 due date was January 31; 2018 dates not yet available

• Must be enrolled full-time for the following academic year at a college or university in the US in a degree-granting program
• Must identify as LGBTQ

Pride Foundation Scholarships

The Pride Foundation offers a single application that allow applicants from the Pacific Northwest to be considered for over 50 scholarships for LGBTQ individuals and allies who show leadership potential, lack an LGBTQ community support system, face additional barriers to their education, and have financial need.

Award: Up to $12,000

Due Date: October 2017

• Applicants must reside in the Northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington)
• Must be pursuing post-secondary education the following school year
• Optional recommendation letter

Religious-affiliated organizations often sponsor scholarships for graduate students of that religion. These are typically smaller awards, but the more specific the criteria, the less competition you are likely to face. A selection are listed alphabetically below.

Jewish Community Centers of North America Graduate Scholarship Program

The JCC Association of North America sponsors this scholarship program for graduate students to prepare for a career at a Jewish Community Center.

Award: $10,000/yr up to two years

Due Date:  2017 due date was February 1; 2018 dates not yet available

• Pursuing first Master’s degree full-time in a field relevant to JCC employment
• Commitment to work at a JCC for at least two years after graduation
• Commitment to do a field placement at a JCC during program
• Prospective graduate program must be in North America

Roothburt Fund Scholarships

This scholarship fund was created by Albert and Toni Roothbert to help students studying in the US with demonstrated financial need who are “motivated by spiritual values.”

Award: $2000-$3000

Due Date: February 1, 2017

• Student in the United States living or planning to study in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, or North Carolina motivated by spiritual values
• Preference given to those pursuing careers in education, but students in any field allowed to apply
• Recommendations
• Interviews for finalists

Stanfield and D’Orlando Scholarships

These three scholarships, administered by the Unitarian Universalist Church, are for UU members studying art or law. Selection criteria are primarily related to UU involvement and financial need.

Award: Not specified; varies by year

Due Date: February 15

• Must be member of a UU congregation
• For law scholarship, student must be attending law school (not pre-law)
• For art scholarship, student must be undergraduate or graduate attending school for fine (not performing) arts
• Recommendation from a church official
• Other recommendation
• Financial statement
• Portfolio (for art applicants)

There are many scholarships available for veterans, current US military members, and their families. Here are two significant scholarships for graduate school of this type.

PNC Serving with Integrity Scholarship

PNC and the Student Veterans Association partner to offer this scholarship to student veterans who exemplify “serving with integrity” and are studying finance, business administration or related fields.

Award: $10,000

• Honorably discharged from active duty or currently serving in the Guard or Reserve
• Able to provide proof of military service
• Studying finance, business or a related field

The Tillman Scholars Program

This merit-based award for military personnel and their spouses is sponsored by the Pat Tillman Foundation. Scholars are selected based on demonstrated service, academic and professional ambition, personal achievement, and leadership.

Amount: Average of $10,000/yr; renewable

Due Date: Applications for 2017 open February 1, 2017 and close March 1, 2017

• A veteran or active-duty member of the military (all branches eligible) OR spouse of a veteran or active-duty service member (includes surviving spouses)
• Full-time student in US institution getting a Bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree
• Documentation of military service (or community service for spouses)
• Two essay questions
• Character recommendation

Fortunately for people studying STEM, there is lots of STEM-specific funding available! Here’s a selection of some pretty hefty STEM graduate school scholarships, listed alphabetically.

Acoustical Society of America Fellowships and Scholarships

ASA offers several scholarships for graduate students engaged in the scientific study of acoustics.

Award: up to $30,000

Due Date: Varies depending on scholarship

Varies depending on the scholarship, but must be studying acoustics.

Most ask for references, academic information, and essays

Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award

The Hertz Foundation sponsors fellowships for PhD students of the applied sciences.

Award: Full tuition and fees plus a $32,000 stipend; renewable up to five years

Due Date: Dates for next cycle not yet available; likely to be fall 2017

• US citizen or permanent resident studying (or intending to study) applied physical, biological, engineering, or math.
• Not currently beyond the first year of PhD study
• Willing to make a moral commitment to place skills at the disposal of the US in “time of national emergency”
• Personal statements and essays
• Publications

National Physical Sciences Consortium Fellowship

The NPSC is a partnership between government agencies, industry, and higher education aiming to increase the number of diverse American citizens with graduate education in physical sciences and engineering fields.

• Free tuition and fees
• Annual $20,000 expense allowance (up to 6 years)
• One-two paid summer internships with a government agency

Dates for next cycle not yet available

• US citizen intending to pursue or currently pursuing relevant graduate work at NPSC member institution of higher education
• Does not already have a doctorate
• Employment history
• References (3-5)
• Honors and awards
• Research experience
• Personal statement and professional goals

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The National Science Foundation funds American master’s and doctoral students in STEM and STEM education fields. They especially encourage applications by women, minorities, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergrad seniors.

• $34,000 stipend for three years
• $12,000 annual tuition and fees support for three years
• Additional opportunities for research and advancement
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident intending to pursue a master’s or PhD in STEM
• Have completed no more than twelve months of any full-time graduate program by application date
• Have not previously applied for the GRFP
• Personal statement
• Statement on graduate research plans
• 3 references
• Academic transcripts

There’s definitely not as many major funding sources available for graduate studies in art and design as in STEM, but there’s still some out there! Here are some graduate school grants and scholarships for art and design fields, listed alphabetically.

Frank Huntington Beebe Fund for Musicians

This fund, established by the trust of Frank Huntington Beebe, provides fellowships for US-based musicians to study and travel abroad.

Award: $22,000

• Young professional musicians based in the United States who have not spent an extended amount of time abroad
• Must be younger than 30 on July 1, 2017
• Second round: Audio samples and/or scores of performance
• Third round: Live audition

IFDA Educational Foundation Student Scholarships

The International Furnishings and Design Association Educational Foundation sponsors two scholarships for which graduate students are eligible: the Vercille Voss Graduate Student Scholarship (graduate students only) and the Ruth Clark Furniture Design Scholarship (for undergraduates and graduates).

Award: $2000-3000

Due Date: Accepted between March 1-March 31

• For Vercille Voss: Graduate students who have completed at least 4 college-level design courses at time of application, majoring in interior design or related field.
• For Ruth Clark: Full-time undergraduate or graduate students who have completed at least 4 college-level design courses at time of application, majoring in interior design or related field.
• Proof of enrollment
• Complete Application Form
• 200-400 word essay on goals
• Additional requirements for Ruth Clark:
• Five original furniture designs
• Recommendation from professor

Vectorworks Design Scholarship

This is a design contest scholarship offered by Vectorworks, a design software company. Contest applies to any design-related field, using any design software, and any design type.

Award: 3000-7000, plus a suite of Vectorworks software for your institution’s lab

Due Date: July 15, 2017

Graduated no earlier than 2015 with design-focused degree OR enrolled/accepted for undergraduate or graduate studies in design. Design includes architecture, engineering, urban design, graphic design, landscaping, industrial design, event planning, and other fields.

• Design submitted in PDF, .mov or .mp4 file, no more than 100 MB
• Several short answers explaining your design

Much like art and design, humanities and social science fields don’t have as many major funding sources available as STEM. Awards tend to be modest.

DAR Centennial Scholarship

The Daughters of the American Revolution funds this merit-based award for graduate students studying historic preservation.

Amount: $2500

Due Date: Must be postmarked by February 10

• Must be US citizen
• Pursuing graduate study in historic preservation at a U.S. institution
• 1,000-word personal statement
• Two-four recommendations
• Financial need form

ISI Graduate Fellowships

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s fellowship program is for students who intend to go into teaching in academia. A second fellowship offered by ISI is for students doing graduate work on the American founding.

Award: $5,000-$15,000

Due Date:  2017 due date February 1; 2018 deadline not yet available

• US citizens enrolled in full-time graduate program for following year
• Professional degrees not eligible
• 1250-2500 word essay responding to this question: ““What is the relationship between liberal education and a free society?”
• One page CV/resume
• 5-10 page “personal, philosophical, and professional autobiography”
• 5-10 page academic writing sample
• Two letters of recommendation (academic)
• Several short answers relating to applicant’s pursuit of the fellowship
• Signed declaration stating intent to teach

You can find a decent variety of funding sources available for specific professional programs —MBAs, Library Science degrees, MEds, MPHs, MSWs, and so on. We have some of the major professional school funding sources for various fields here, sorted alphabetically.

Christopher Hoy/ERT Scholarship

The American Library Association offers an annual scholarship to a US or Canadian citizen or permanent resident pursuing an ALA-accredited MLS program.

Award: $5,000

Due Date: March 1, 2017

• US or Canadian citizen/permanent resident
• Attending ALA-accredited Master’s degree program
• Have not completed more than 12 credit-hours towards the program before June 1 of the award year

Healthline Stronger Scholarship Program

Healthline.com offers this scholarship program—new in 2017—to graduate students studying health-focused areas. Each year they will choose a focus condition (this past year’s was type 2 diabetes) and award two scholarships to individuals who are somehow connected to that health condition.

Due Date: Deadline for 2017 has passed, but application period was May 15-June 20th.

• Must be enrolled or planning to enroll in graduate school in the health sciences in the following fall semester
• Must be connected to the focus condition.
• Current U.S. resident
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) from most recent transcript
• Show community involvement and leadership
• Complete online application
• Most recent transcript
• Test scores
• Answers to three essay questions

James Madison Graduate Fellowships

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation offers fellowships for people pursuing graduate studies in order to become secondary school teachers of the American Constitution.

Award: $24,000 awarded to one successful applicant from each state.

• US Citizen with a bachelor’s degree (or about to receive a bachelor’s degree)
• Be a teacher or plan to become a teacher for grades 7-12 in the areas of American History, American Government, or other social studies topics related to the Constitution.

Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

Tylenol offers this merit-based scholarship to future healthcare professionals, including public health and health education students.

Award: $500-10,000

• Residency in US or Puerto Rico
• Enrolled in public health, health education, medical school, nursing, or pharmacy degree program with 1+ years of school left
• College GPA
• Academic records in health professional program
• Community service and volunteer experience

Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Fund offers funds for individuals with STEM backgrounds to train as secondary-school teachers. Fellows receive funding for their graduate study in education and commit to teach for at least three years in a high-need urban or rural school district. Fellowships are currently available for schooling and teaching in Georgia and New Jersey.

• Includes admission to a partner university to prepare Fellows for teacher certification in math, science, or technology education
• $30,000 stipend
• Tuition arrangements vary by partner university campus

Applications accepted in rounds; final round deadline for the coming year is February 26, 2017

• College-level or higher training in a STEM field
• US citizen or permanent resident
• Will have a bachelor’s degree by the commencement of the program
• GPA of at least 3.0

Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship

The National Social Work Foundation offers scholarships for master’s candidates in social work interested in working in African American communities.

Award: $5500

• Must be NASW member (see membership details ; students receive a discount)
• Applied or accepted to MSW program
• GPA of 3.0 or above
• Biographical essay
• Two letters from professional references

Grad School Scholarships From Membership Organizations

Membership organizations like honor societies, sororities, and fraternities often offer graduate school scholarships. If you are a member of any organization of this type, check and see if you can get a scholarship for graduate school!

Alpha Lambda Delta Graduate Fellowships

The Alpha Lambda Delta Society, an honor society, offers 26 annual graduate fellowships to its members.

Award: $3,000-$7,500

Due Date:  2017 due date was January 31; 2018 dates not yet announced

• Alpha Lambda Delta member enrolled in or about to start a graduate or professional degree program in the US
• 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA

Golden Key Scholarships

The Golden Key honor society offer scholarships and fellowships for graduate student members.

Amount: Up to $10,000

Due Date: Varies by specific scholarship

Must be a Golden Key member

Vary by scholarship

Kappa Alpha Theta Scholarships

Like many sororities and fraternities, Kappa Alpha Theta sponsors scholarships for its members, including alumnae pursuing graduate degrees.

Amount: Minimum $1000

Due Date: Typically in March

• Must be an initiated member of KAT by the application deadline
• Must have eligible academic expenses not covered by other scholarships
• Additional specific eligibility requirements for individual scholarships vary, but by submitting one application, applicants will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible.

Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi offers over fifty fellowships to members starting their first year of a graduate or professional program.

Amount: $5,000-$15,000

Due Date: Initial deadline is set by Phi Kappa Phi chapter, with national deadlines in April

• Active membership in Phi Kappa Phi
• Plan to enroll full-time in graduate/professional study for coming academic year
• Short answers
• Writing Sample

The following scholarships have eligibility requirements that don’t fit neatly into any other category. If you’re involved in social justice, an immigrant, a mother, an Italian-American, or someone who has been treated for a skin condition, check out this list!

Davis Putter Scholarship Fund

The Davis Putter Scholarship Fund gives need-based scholarships to students active in social and economic justice movements in the US.

Award: Up to $10,000 per year

Due Date: March 31

• Pursuing post-secondary education
• Active in social and economic justice movements in the US
• 2 letters of recommendation

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

This fellowship is awarded annually to 30 new Americans —immigrants or children of immigrants—who show great promise in their field.

Award: $90,000 disbursed over two years

Due Date: Nov 1, 2017

• US citizen with two parents who were born abroad as non-citizens
• Are a naturalized citizen
• Are a green card holder
• Were adopted from a country outside the US and granted citizenship via adoption
• Were granted deferred action under DACA program
• Will be enrolled in a full-time graduate program in the United States for the following academic year. You are eligible to apply if you are already in a graduate program and you have not yet begun the third year of that program.
• You must be 30 years or younger at the application deadline (your 31st birthday must be after the deadline)

Scholarships4Moms

Scholarships4Moms sponsors a scholarship for mothers with educational expenses.

Due Date: March 15, 2017

Mothers enrolled in postsecondary education or who currently have educational expenses to pay off

Brief application form; winners chosen in a random drawing

Sons of Italy in America National Leadership Grants

The Sons of Italy Foundation offers grants to U.S. citizens of Italian descent pursuing undergraduate or graduate study.

Award: $4000-25,000 (funding varies by year)

Due Date: Feb 28, 2017

• US citizen with at least one Italian or Italian-American grandparent
• Enrolled for fall 2017 at accredited undergraduate or graduate institution
• Not a previous SIF scholarship winner
• Essay of 500-750 words on a personal experience related to your Italian heritage
• Processing fee

Valeant Dermatology Aspire Higher Scholarship

Valeant, a dermatology pharmaceutical company, offers scholarships for students who have been treated for dermatological conditions.

Award: Up to $10,000

Due Date: April 20, 2017

• US citizen residing in US
• Plan to attend institution of higher learning in 2017
• Have been diagnosed and treated for a dermatologic condition by a medical professional working in a dedicated dermatology practice
• Used a prescription medicine to treat the condition
• A 500-word essay about your experience with your dermatological condition and the role the treating medical professional played
• Two letters of recommendation on your school and community activities
• Signed medical statement from treating medical professional

Here are four tips for selecting the right scholarships for you to apply for.

Consider Your Eligibility Characteristics

At a basic level, you need to apply for scholarships you are actually eligible for. Don’t apply for a STEM scholarship if you’re getting an MFA! But your particular potential eligibility characteristics can actually help lead you to specific scholarships. Consider more common diversity characteristics like your gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. But also consider other factors: what about your religion? Your specific goals and interests? Your cultural heritage? Are you part of any membership organizations? Are there scholarships available for people from your hometown, county, or state? Do you speak a particular language or have a certain kind of volunteer experience? If you can name a personal characteristic, there’s probably a scholarship for it! And the more specific the criteria is, the less competition you’ll face.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

If you’re really looking for all of the funding you can get, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Don’t just file one application for one super-competitive full-ride scholarship and do nothing else. It’s a good idea to apply for multiple graduate school scholarships in multiple amounts and with varying competition levels. That way, you’ll be more likely to get some funding, even if you don’t get things completely covered.

Consider Deadline Timing

You want to make sure you have enough time to complete scholarships and your graduate school applications. If all of your deadlines are super-close together, you may be spreading yourself too thin. Try to pick scholarships that you can either complete in advance of the hectic application season or ones you can complete after most of your applications are done!

Return-On-Investment

When you select which grad school scholarships to apply for, consider how much effort you’re putting in vs. how much funding you’ll get back. It doesn’t necessarily make sense to complete six exhaustive applications with totally different application requirements and essays that all have relatively small awards. You won’t get the best return on your application time investment in that case. That’s why it’s best both to pick scholarships that have similar application requirements, if possible. The more you can repurpose scholarship materials (including recommendations), the more you’re getting out of your time investment! And if you can re-use materials from your graduate school applications, even better!

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Scholarships

Though most graduate school scholarships come from individual educational institutions, there is funding available from other sources! We’ve compiled a great list of 46 grad school scholarships you can apply for.

With so many to choose from, what’s the best way to select which scholarships for graduate school to actually apply for? Here are 4 tips:

• Use your unique eligibility characteristics to figure out which awards you are particularly suited to apply for!
• Don’t put all your eggs in one funding basket—apply to a variety of funding sources!
• If possible, choose scholarships with spread-out dates so that you won’t be trying to file a bunch of scholarship and graduate school applications at the same time.
• When you select a portfolio of graduate school scholarships to apply for, consider the potential return on time investment. It’s most efficient to select scholarships with at least some overlapping requirements so you can reuse materials and avoid filing enormous, totally different applications for a number of small-potatoes funding sources.

What’s Next?

See our guide to finding and applying for graduate school scholarships !

Not sure which graduate school test you need to take? Let us help you decide between the GRE and the GMAT . Or see if you need to take an entrance exam for grad school at all!

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26 Graduate School Scholarships for All Types of Students

There’s no doubt that obtaining a college education can open a world of possibilities and new opportunities, but what about going on to graduate school and getting an advanced degree? On

There’s no doubt that obtaining a college education can open a world of possibilities and new opportunities, but what about graduate school? 

On average, around 61.8% of high school graduates enroll in college . About a third of those students go on to pursue an advanced degree (such as a master’s or a doctorate degree). Those who do usually see a tidy return on their investment.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker with a postgraduate degree earns 18 to 44% more than someone with just an undergraduate degree. Of course, grad school isn’t cheap, and student loans can put a serious ding in a post-grad-school pay raise. That means that for most graduate students, scholarships can be a critical piece of the funding puzzle — and the key to unlocking higher earning potential and a more rewarding career.

Here are 26 of the top scholarships for graduate students

This list contains scholarships specifically for graduate students. Keep in mind, however, that many generic college scholarships are also open to graduate students. So it’s always worth checking out scholarship search engines in addition to curated lists like this to make sure you have access to all the available options. 

1. The Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship

Amount: Full tuition equivalent + $250,000 personal stipend

Provider: The Hertz Foundation

Eligibility Requirements:

• College senior, first-year graduate student, or taking a gap year while preparing to apply to graduate school
• Declared study in the field of applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering

Application Requirements: Transcript, 4 letters of recommendation, essay

Funded by a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing science education, the Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship supports students conducting doctoral research in STEM-related fields. It’s merit-based, but the essay plays a big role in the selection process. In it, applicants should discuss their passion for creative problem solving, especially as it relates to urgent issues in our world today. In addition to a financial award, winners will also receive lifelong access to a valuable network of Hertz Community members. 

2. National GEM Consortium Fellowships

Amount: $16,000 minimum stipend + full tuition and fees 

Provider: The National GEM Consortium

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
• Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American 
• Declared study in the field of engineering or computer science 
• Availability to intern with the sponsoring company for two summers

Application Requirements: Transcript, resume

Founded almost 50 years ago, the National GEM Consortium strives to support burgeoning scientists and engineers. To that end, GEM’s Fellowships provide multi-year assistance to students from underrepresented backgrounds. 

To apply, you must be pursuing a graduate degree in a STEM-related field. Awardees get a significant stipend and full tuition and fees to a participating GEM university, but that’s not all. They’re also presented with an internship with a GEM employer. Pro tip: This fellowship has multiple application deadlines with different requirements, so be sure to mark them all on your calendar. 

3. Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship

Amount: $25,000 stipend and 50% of tuition

Provider: The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans

• Have two parents who were born outside the U.S. and were not eligible to become U.S. citizens at the time of their births
• Currently hold a bachelor’s degree.
• Be no older than 30

Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, standardized test scores (if they were required for your graduate program), 2 essays

Sponsored by Hungarian Americans Paul and Daisy Soros, the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship focuses on supporting immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing graduate school in the United States. There is no required major, university, or GPA to be eligible for this merit-based scholarship. Instead, the selection committee wants to know what makes you unique. 

Since the award is targeted toward new Americans, candidates should also highlight their commitment to American values, specifically those in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. (Note: You do have to be either a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident—like a green-card holder or someone with refugee status—to apply.)

4. The Beinecke Scholarship Program

Amount: $34,000

Provider: The Sperry and Hutchinson Company

• Plan to enter a research-focused master’s, doctoral program, or MFA 
• Declared study in the field of arts, humanities, and/or social sciences 

Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume/CV, work sample/portfolio, letter from dean 

Endowed in memory of the philanthropic Beinecke family, the Beinecke Scholarship Program is both merit-based and designed to support college students with demonstrated financial need. There’s also some preference for those who are Pell Grant-eligible, so if that sounds like you, consider applying. Fine print: Applicants must attend an affiliated university and be nominated by their university. That shouldn’t stop you, though—the list contains over 130 schools. 

5. Sidney B. Williams Jr. Scholarship

Amount: Up to $30,000

Provider: The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law

• Black/African-American
• Enrolled as an law school (1L) student at an ABA-accredited law school
• Declared study in the field of patent law

Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, proof of acceptance/enrollment, LSAT scores, personal statement, resume

If you’re a Black law student looking for scholarship opportunities, this one’s worth considering. The Sidney B. Williams Jr. Scholarship provides a $10,000 stipend each academic year for up to three years. Prime candidates will be those with a history of strong academic achievement and an interest in patent law. The scholarship award does take financial need into account, and applicants can submit a copy of their completed FAFSA® to apply.

6. Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship

Amount: $35,000 + Summer Associate salary + $40,000 upon completion of program

Provider: Goldman Sachs

• Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and/or female
• First-year MBA student

Application Requirements: Online application, potential interview

The Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship is one of the most competitive scholarships for graduate students in their first year of business school. Because it involves both a scholarship and a paid internship opportunity, this fellowship is a great way to kickstart a business career. 

To apply, you have to be a woman, a person of color, or both. In addition to the financial stipend, awardees will win a paid summer internship with Goldman Sachs at one of the following offices: Atlanta, Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Greenwich, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, West Palm Beach, or Washington D.C 

7. Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship

Amount: $24,000 Provider: NCAA

• Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Enrolled in a graduate program at an NCAA member institution
• Competed on a varsity athletic team at an NCAA member institution

Application Requirements: Transcript, 4 letters of recommendation, essay, list of academic and athletic honors and awards, list of community activities 

If you’re a student-athlete considering grad school, the Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship should top your list. Given to one male and one female student-athlete each year, this renewable grad school scholarship is one of the NCAA’s bigger awards, and a fairly prestigious one at that. Applicants must be nominated by their school to be considered, so be sure to talk to your coach or athletic director to get your name in the running. 

8. Davis-Putter Scholarship

Amount: $15,000

Provider: Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

• Enrolled in a graduate program or trade program
• Active in a social or economic justice movement 

Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, completed FAFSA® or SAR, personal statement

Determined to support a generation fighting for social justice, the Davis-Putter Scholarship was designed for current students who are active advocates. It’s needs-based, and it’s applicable to a wide variety of activism, from economic justice to trans rights to anti-imperialism. It’s also applicable to folks from a range of backgrounds, including incarcerated student activists and both undergraduate and graduate students.

9. AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students

Amount: $12,000

Provider: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

• Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and/or Pacific Islander
• Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a PhD program
• Declared study in the field of accounting 
• CPA or plan to pursue CPA licensure 

Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation

Calling all aspiring accountants and doctoral students of color: This fellowship program sponsors students from underrepresented groups who currently have a master’s degree, or have completed three years of work in the field of accounting. Because this one’s geared toward full-time students, applicants can’t be working full-time or teaching more than one course in a graduate assistantship to be eligible.

10. Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship

Amount: $10,000

Provider: Association of California Water Agencies

• Enrolled full-time in a graduate program
• Declared study in the field of water law and policy or public administration

Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, essay

As the statewide leader in water policy, the Association of California Water Agencies created this award to support the next generation of students passionate about solving the climate crisis. To that end, the ACWA chooses one graduate student each year to receive the Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship . While there is no GPA requirement, applicants will be selected based on their academic achievement, their passion for water-related issues, and their commitment to a future career in the industry.

Loving these scholarships, but need help applying for your government financial aid? We can help you fill out your FAFSA and state aid.

11. Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship

Provider: Government Finance Officer Association

• Declared study in the field of public administration, accounting, finance, political science, economics, or business administration

Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation

The Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship was designed to recognize and support outstanding students from underserved communities. (It’s one of 11 scholarships from the GFOA, so be sure to check out the others if this is your chosen field.) To be competitive, you should highlight the connection between your coursework and your future career goals in the field of government finance.  

12. SEG Scholarship

Amount: Up to $10,000

Provider: The Society of Exploration Geophysicists 

• Declared field of study in Geophysics  

Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 academic references

While there’s no exact GPA requirement for the SEG Scholarship , it’s still merit-based. That means that to be competitive, you’ll need to demonstrate above-average academic performance. The good news? That’s pretty much it. The only other hard-and-fast requirement is that you’re pursuing a degree program related to geophysics. 

13. United Health Foundation Louis Stokes Scholarship

Amount: $8,000

Provider: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Black/African American
• Enrolled full time in a graduate program
• Declared study in the field of healthcare or medicine

Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, video essay, resume, headshot

If you’re a Black American, a current graduate student, and pursuing a career in healthcare, then this multi-year scholarship was created with you in mind. The United Health Foundation Louis Stokes Scholarship is awarded to four students each year to assist them with their graduate studies. While GPA is considered, applicants with a strong background in community service or demonstrated leadership skills will get top priority. 

14. ASH Foundation’s Graduate Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Provider: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation

• Enrolled full-time in a graduate program 
• Declared study in the field of communication sciences and disorders

Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, letter of acceptance or good standing, essay, relevant coursework, letter of application 

The American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASH) Foundation is passionate about communication. With this in mind, use your essay to explain how your experiences have shaped your passion for breaking through barriers of communication-related disorders. Aside from the essay, applying for the ASH Foundation’s Graduate Scholarship is a pretty involved process. But because they award 15 scholarships each year, at least you’re guaranteed a good shot. 

15. Oncology Nursing Foundation Master’s Scholarship

Provider: Oncology Nursing Foundation and Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation

• Enrolled in or applying to a master’s program
• Be a registered nurse
• Declared study in the field of oncology nursing 

Application Requirements: 1 letter of recommendation, essay 

According to Precedence Research , the field of oncology is predicted to reach over $530 billion by 2029. As research and treatment continue to advance, so does the nation’s need for oncology nurses. If you’re a registered nurse and interested in pursuing a graduate program, the Oncology Nursing Foundation Master’s Scholarship could be a great supplement to your financial aid package, and a path to a fulfilling career in a growing field. 

16. (ISC)² Graduate Scholarship

Provider: Center for Cyber Safety and Education

• Pursuing a master’s degree or a PhD
• Declared study in the field of cybersecurity or information assurance

Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, essay, resume/CV

The (ISC)² Graduate Scholarship was created for students pursuing graduate degrees related to cybersecurity or information assurance. Grad students can be full-time or part-time, and can attend school either online or on campus. This award is merit-based but it also takes financial need into consideration. The best way to stand out, however, is to convey your passion for cybersecurity and commitment to a future career in the field. 

17. Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

Provider: American College of Healthcare Executives

• Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, Asian American, and/or Pacific Islander or a member of the LGBTQ+ community
• Entering your final year of study
• Declared study in the field of healthcare
• Not previously a recipient of this award or the Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship

Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, essay, resume

The Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship seeks to support ethnically diverse or LGBTQ+ graduate students enrolled in a healthcare management graduate program. Though preference is given to Student Associates of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), it’s not a requirement.  

18. Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship

• Not previously a recipient of this award or the Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

Sponsored by the American College of Healthcare Executives, The Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship aims to reduce the burden of paying for graduate studies — and to make it easier for outstanding students to achieve their healthcare career goals. The award grants $5,000 to graduate students enrolled in relevant programs. That includes MHA, MPH, and healthcare administration MBA programs, among others. 

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19. Banks Brown Graduate Scholarship

Provider: American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation

• Enrolled in a graduate program
• Declared study in the field of hospitality

Application Requirements: Transcript, essay

Both full-time and part-time students are eligible for the Banks Brown Graduate Scholarship . Backed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation, this industry-specific scholarship was created with a simple goal: to strengthen the lodging industry and equip the next generation to succeed. Candidates can either be studying for a graduate degree in hospitality now, or enrolled in any graduate program after completing a hospitality-related undergraduate degree. 

20. Eckenfelder Scholarship

Provider: Brown and Caldwell

• Enrolled full time
• Declared study in the field of engineering or environmental science

Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, essay, resume

The Eckenfelder Scholarship program was created to honor Dr. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr. and his commitment to the environmental industry. To carry on his legacy, the award helps fund college juniors, seniors, and graduate students as they pursue environment-related careers. Applicants should highlight their academic performance, their passion for environmental studies, and their future career goals in the industry. 

21. Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholarship

Amount: $3,000-$4,000

Provider: Overseas Press Club Foundation

• Declared study in the field of journalism

Application Requirements: Resume, writing sample, cover letter

In support of future foreign correspondents, the Overseas Press Club Foundation selects 17 scholars to sponsor each year. The Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholarship can help fund students’ academic endeavors or pay for a trip abroad to pursue experience in the field of journalism. Travel-ready graduates and undergraduates in both traditional journalism and photojournalism are welcome to apply. 

22. Edward C. Bryant Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Provider: American Statistical Association

• Enrolled full time in a graduate program 
• Declared study in the field of statistics  

Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume/CV, list of extracurricular activities, list of honors and awards

The best way to honor someone obsessed with statistics is to empower someone with a similar obsession. To that end, the Edward C. Bryant Scholarship — established in the name of the founder of the American Statistical Association — supports one student each year in their pursuit of an advanced degree in statistics. To apply, you must have experience with survey statistics and a record of academic excellence in graduate school.

23. Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship

Provider: American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

• Arab-American
• Declared study in the field of mass communications

Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, essay, work sample/portfolio

Given in honor of the groundbreaking writer Dr. Jack Shaheen, the Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship is available to Arab-American students who are college juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Hopefuls must share Dr. Shaheen’s affinity for compelling storytelling — only journalism, television, radio, and/or film majors are invited to apply. Pro tip: If you don’t already know Dr. Shaheen’s work well, it’s time to start reading, since describing his influence on your life and career goals is a key component of the essay.

24. Rick Guggolz Memorial Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Provider: Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP)

• Declared study in the field of insurance, economics, finance, or business

Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, relevant coursework, list of extracurricular activities, list of honors and awards, list of leadership roles, summary of steps taken to pursue a career in insurance

Here’s some simple addition for all you math and econ majors out there: What’s your tuition bill minus $2000? Correct — $2000 less in student loans that you’ll have to repay after graduation. Presented by a professional organization of insurance executives, the Rick Guggolz Memorial Scholarship was designed to help subsidize higher education for graduate students in math-adjacent fields. (Note that those interested in pursuing an insurance career will have a leg up on other applicants.) 

25. Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: American Psychological Foundation

• Current graduate student
• Declared study in the field of psychology

Application Requirements: 1 letter of recommendation, resume and CV, description of project, project budget proposal

The Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship was created to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Sponsored by the American Psychological Foundation, this award funds graduate-level scholarly projects that use a psychological perspective to help raise awareness and change perspectives around mental health. You’ll need a specific, well-thought-out project proposal to have the best shot at winning this award. 

26. Gertrude M. Fox Scholarship

• Declared study in the field of statistics 

Application Requirements: Transcript, 3 letters of recommendation, essay, resume/CV, headshot

The Gertrude M. Fox Scholarship is sponsored by the American Statistical Association. Its goal: to support outstanding women as they pursue statistics-related professions. The committee gives out two different awards  — one for a female statistician in the beginning of her graduate studies and the other to a woman nearing the end of her program. 

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Teaching Scholarships & Grants

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Apply for the $500 Teacher.org "Inspire Our Future" Scholarship!

There are many scholarships and grants available for educators and those thinking of becoming educators. We have included details below on numerous scholarships that are offered in the United States. So, let's get started!

What is a Scholarship? What is a Grant?

Sponsored school(s), art teacher scholarships.

Art is a talent that many people like to develop on their own. In some cases, young people are motivated and talented enough to make a career from art and design for other purposes - such as web design, cover art, and more. These scholarships help teachers achieve their goal in bringing out the best in their students, or to pursue art teaching themselves.

Learn more about becoming an art teacher . Many art teachers earn a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in art.

NAEF - Various Awards

The National Art Education Foundation is a large philanthropic organization dedicated to promoting good teaching practices and allowing people to enter into art education. They offer a number of grants and scholarships, among them are the Ruth Halvorsen Professional Development Grants, Mary McMullan Grants, NAEF Research Grants, SHIP Grants, and Teacher Incentive Grants. The monetary value varies depending on the grant applied for, so it is best to check the website and the application process for further details.

More information on grants and scholarship is available at the NAEA website . All applicants need to be a member of the Foundation in order to be eligible.

Haig and Janette Tashjian Art Teaching Scholarship

Available from the Western Michigan University, this scholarship is in recognition of excellence for art students who are in financial need - students will need to demonstrate this through the application process. The dollar value of the award varies, and it rotates between schools every second year. The award is limited to students who intend to go on to a career in teaching. You must be studying an art major for this, be in your junior or senior year, and must be nominated by the faculty. Click here for more details on the Haig and Janette Tashjian Art Teaching Scholarship.

GPA 3.5: or above Deadline: 1 st February in the year of awarding (2016, 2018, 2020...)

UMW Mary Baker Emerick Art Scholarships

This award from The University of Montana Western is for students of art. It is a fund set up in honor of Mary Baker Emerick and available only to female students who intend to study for a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education while choosing art as their major. Alternatively, they can be studying a degree in Visual Arts with a focus or minors in art and crafts business and art therapy. The value of the award presently stands at $2000 and is awarded to up to ten individuals every year. Cick here for information on the UMW Mary Baker Emerick Art Scholarships .

GPA : 2.5 or above Deadline : 1 st March every year

College Educator Scholarships

In order to become a lecturer/professor at a college or university, you are going to need an advanced degree. In some cases, a Master's Degree will do, but increasingly, Doctorates are required for teaching and research roles. Here are just some of the funding programs you may use to fund your path towards a career as a college professor.

Learn more about becoming a college professor . Many college professors seek degrees in Adult Education or advanced degrees in their area of study.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid should be the first port of call for most students, but especially those looking to go onto post-graduate study. American colleges and universities will always need university level teachers and lecturers. The great thing about FAFSA is that there are very few restrictions to the program - each applicant is considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must be a US citizen, an eligible non-citizen (such as a permanent resident), and have a valid Social Security number. Funding is also dependent on "satisfactory" academic grades with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Click here for a full list of FAFSA requirements .

Fulbright Scholar Program

Fulbright offers a number of grants and scholarships to undergraduates and graduate students, with a particular focus on early career research, lecturing and funding the first post-doctoral research that would be vital to your college teaching career. In this case, you already need to have completed your doctoral degree - you cannot apply while you are still a student. They offer several funding paths: some are available only to women and ethnic minorities for example, and most are field-flexible meaning you can apply from almost any discipline. Click here for a full list of Fullbright Scholar Programs and eligibility .

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

The HSF presently offers access to two separate scholarship programs. Their general program, which has run for many years, is available for people of Hispanic ethnicity from underprivileged backgrounds. It is not just for high school students looking to enter college, but also existing undergraduate and postgraduate students looking to further their studies and research - this includes doctorates with a view to carry on into teaching and researching at college. The value of the fund ranges from $500 to $5,000. You have a higher chance of acceptance if you are studying a STEM subject.

Requirements include:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA for High School Students
• Minimum 2.5GPA for college students (undergraduate and postgraduate).
• Completion of the FAFSA application

For other criteria and details, visit the Hispanic Scholarship Fund .

AICPA Fellowship

There is considered to be a lack of ethnic minorities in the accounting field. With that said, the AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students focuses on increasing representation in the teaching of accounting and other financial subjects. This fellowship is available to ethnic minorities who are presently studying for a doctorate in finance and intend to devote their studies towards teaching the subject to others. You do not need to have gained acceptance onto a doctoral program. Applicants can also be awaiting a decision from a college. Also, applicants should be a member of or intend to apply to become a full member of the CPA. For more details, visit AICPA scholarships .

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

The ASME Fellowship seeks to address the critical shortage of engineers. ASME have set up this fund in an attempt to encourage the brightest and best young people (who might have otherwise felt hindered by costs) to apply to an essential field. Anyone can apply, but the selection process generally favors women and ethnic minorities. However, that's not to say you will receive automatic refusal for not being part of this demographic. The fund is available for those who intend to pursue engineering education as a career, so college professorships are ideal. Award value is $5,000. To see more details and apply, visit ASME engineering scholarships .

NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship

This education development fellowship seeks to improve education standards across all disciplines within our schools. With a value of $27,500, the fellowship is available to anyone who has proposed a research dissertation on how to improve education standards in the US. It is a highly competitive fellowship, with just 35 granted each year to an expected 600+ applicants. Applicants need not be US citizens, but should be candidates for a doctoral program at a US university. They need to have demonstrable experience of researching standards in education. For further details, visit the NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program .

Deadline : 1 st June every year

English Teacher Scholarships

Another essential area of education is the English language. Whether you have a passion for teaching the great works of literature to kids, or are more interested in linguistics (the mechanics and rules of language), there are many funds available for this highly important field.

Learn more about becoming an English teacher . Often times, English teachers earn degrees in Secondary Education or a Bachelor's in Education . Many English teachers even go on to earn a Master's Degree in Education in order to advance their careers.

Fulbright Awards

The Fulbright Awards offer a number of scholarship programs crossing many major fields so that American students can study and work abroad as part of their degree, and to get working experience. One of the most successful and best-known scholarship areas is the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Named in honor of J. William Fulbright, it provides funding for international relations through education. Applicants must be looking to study or work abroad as part of their education. For more information, visit Fulbright TEFL scholarships.

Gates Millennium Foundation

Though you may apply for the GMF to study for any major, it is most encouraging of those wishing to enter into education as a career (and therefore it is applicable to any degree type listed here). Set up by Bill Gates to enable the underprivileged into higher education, applicants must be an ethnic minority within the US and either a citizen, permanent resident or American National. It is a full scholarship fund that can be applied for undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral studies. You must have applied for the PELL grant to be eligible. For more information, visit the Gates Millennium Scholars Program .

Deadline : mid-January every year GPA : 3.3

Edwyna Wheadon Training Scholarship Fund

It can be difficult to get funding for a postgraduate course, and teaching English is no exception. For those who wish to advance in their career to study a master's or other post-grad course, the EWTSF offers $500-1,000 annually to one applicant. Set up in honor of a woman who did much in her career to encourage advanced training for English teachers in her native Houston. The money goes directly to the institution. You must already be an English teacher at a publicly funded education establishment in order to apply and be a member of the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English). For further information, please visit the Edwyna Wheadon Scholarship Fund page.

Deadline : 31 st January (the same every year)

High School Teacher Scholarships

High school teaching is one of the most essential careers that anybody coming out of the college system can consider. Most roles require only an undergraduate degree, but if you wish to further your career with a higher pay scale and more responsibility, you should consider further study. The following list highlights some of the best scholarships and grants to anybody looking to enter into a career in high school education.

Learn more about becoming a high school teacher . Most high school teachers earn a degree in Secondary Education , Education , or even go on to earn a Master's Degree in Education .

Federal TEACH Grant

Though not limited to high school teaching, these federal grants and scholarships are available to undergraduates, graduate students, and those in post-baccalaureate programs associated with teaching. You must check that the program you are already on is eligible as a TEACH course or you may not be able to apply. It is worth up to $4,000 per year for each individual student with some adjustments made in the next few years. You are also bound by a number of conditions to teach in deprived schools, or in a high needs field for at least four of the eight years after receiving your grant. For further details, please visit the TEACH website.

Grade : Varies, but is typically the 75 th percentile Deadline : End of September, for 2015 it is the 30 th

NILRR Applegate-Jackson-Parks Future Teacher Scholarship

Set up in honor of three Michigan teachers who refused to pay union fees (and were consequently fired for refusing to do so), this scholarship is for both undergraduates and graduates who have pursued or are pursuing a degree in education at an accredited and publicly funded institution. Approval is dependent on the applicant having a teaching license, or pending acceptance of said license. You will be expected to write a mini essay on the subject of voluntary unionism and the problems of compulsory unionism. The fund will go directly to the education establishment upon approval. For further criteria and to apply, visit the Applegate-Jackson-Parks Future Teacher Scholarship application page .

Deadline : December 31 st every year.

James Madison Graduate Fellowship

It's important that High School students understand the importance of the US Constitution, its history and context, its meaning, and why it is so important to the country's laws.

The James Madison Graduate Fellowship is a fund set up in honor of the fourth president for people who wish to teach about the Constitution in our high schools. It has a value of $24,000 and is limited to one person, per state, per year. Therefore, the only competition you will have will be other people in your state applying for the fund. More information on the foundation and their fellowship, visit the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation .

Minority Teaching Fellows

This Tennessee specific fund is for ethnic minorities in the state who are an eligible US citizen or permanent resident and who wishes to pursue a career in post-secondary education. It is for a flat $5000 fund going to a single selected candidate every year. Applicants will be required to write a statement titled "Why I chose teaching as a profession" with a limit of 250 words along with a number of other selection criteria. To check the details on eligibility of this fellowship, please visit the Minority Teaching Fellows Program .

GPA : minimum 2.75

Kindergarten Teacher Scholarships

The earliest years of our childhood are vital for setting up the rest of our educational years. This is where we learn to socialize, develop thinking skills, and much more. It's important that we have teachers willing and able to teach children during the formative years of schooling. If you want to become a kindergarten teacher, you will need to have earned at least a Bachelor's Degree. The following grants and scholarships will help you achieve that.

Learn more about becoming a Kindergarten teacher . To become a Kindergarten teacher, most will earn an Elementary Education Degree , a Bachelor's Degree in Education , or even a Master's Degree in Education .

Sol Hirsch Education Fund

Children are curious about the world around us from an early age. The Sol Hirsch Education Fund is a grant for teachers of children of all ages who wish to improve their teaching of the understanding of weather. The grant is worth $750 and you must already be in teaching position. The money may be used for professional development, learning materials, and anything else that may help towards teaching children about the importance of weather systems and their importance. For more information, review the Sol Hirsch Education Fund Grants.

Deadline : 1 st June every year.

Nancy Larson Foundation

This scholarship is designed specifically for college and university students training to become elementary school teachers. You can apply whether you are a junior, senior, or graduate student wishing to teach the youngest among us. Nancy Larson herself is famous for having written a number of math and science textbooks, but this found can be applied for teaching any subject. The value of each scholarship is $1,000 and it has only a short application window from 1 st of October to 15 th of November. For more information, visit Nancy Larson Foundation College Scholarship.

Middle School Teacher Scholarships

The importance of middle school should not be underestimated. This is where children will begin to understand their academic strengths and weaknesses. A middle school teacher's job is to encourage and aid them to make the best of their strengths and weaknesses. Here they will develop social skills as well as begin the basics of subjects they will go on to study in greater depth at high school. Becoming a middle school teacher is an honorable choice.

Learn more about becoming a middle school teacher . Many middle school teacher first seek to earn a Secondary Education Degree , Bachelor's in Education , or even go on to earn their Master's in Education Degree .

NCTM Equity in Mathematics Grant

If you're already a middle school teacher, then you may wish to apply for this $8,000 grant to help improve math standards. The class must have been recorded as underachieving in grades 6-8 and can be for an individual teacher or a group of teachers wishing to improve standards in their school. Applicants must be a full member of the NCTM and will be required to write a 2,000 word proposal in order to be considered. All activities to improve math standards in the class or school should aim to be completed within one year. For further details, visit NCTM .

AFCEA Educational Foundation STEM Scholarship

Encouraging interest in science and technology from an early age is a vital step in securing the future of America's competitiveness on the world stage. To that end, AFCEA offers an annual scholarship for high school and college students who are seeking a career in science and technology (and other STEM subjects) with a goal to teach middle school students. The scholarship is valued at $5,000. In addition, an extra candidate is selected for the special MG Eugene C Remzi award. This too is worth $5,000. For further information, visit AFCEA STEM Majors Scholarships for Undergraduate Students .

GPA : 3.5 from an accredited college or university.

NFB Blind's Scholarship Program

Blindness is no barrier to teaching. To that end, the National Foundation for the Blind has made available 30 scholarships for those who wish to pursue a career in teaching. The value of the scholarship is anything between $3,000 and $12,000, and will go towards education that will lead to a teaching career at middle or high school. Applicants must be blind in both eyes and a resident of the US, District of Colombia, or Puerto Rico. Winning candidates will also be expected to take part in all NFB activities for its national convention. Complete details are here at the NFB website .

Deadline: end of March every year

Lewis & Clark MAT Teaching Scholarships

The Graduate School of Education and Teaching offers a number of scholarship programs for its students, among them are funds for student counseling as well as middle school teaching of specific and general subjects. They range from $500 to $6,000. Candidates must be a student of the university, or recently had an application accepted. Anybody wishing to apply for this scholarship must already have applied for the FAFSA scheme in order to be considered. For a full list of their scholarships and details on how to apply, visit the Teacher Education MAT Program .

Deadline: December 1st of every year

Music Teacher Scholarships

Schooling and education are not just about producing the scientists, linguists, and business leaders of tomorrow. Many prefer to pursue an education path that allows them to explore a vocation such as music or art & design. We need technology engineers of tomorrow, but we also need musicians. The arts are great for tourism and for developing our culture. If you wish to pursue a vocation in music teaching, these scholarships can help you do that.

Learn more about becoming a music teacher . A lot of music teachers earn a Secondary Education Degree with an emphasis in music.

Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity Scholarships

This is an international body allowing students to get together to discuss their love of music and holds a convention every three years to conduct business. SAI offer a number of scholarship programs - some of which are dedicated to enabling students or prospective students to enter into a career as a music teacher. They offer annual awards of $1,000-$5,000 depending on the subject and level of study, and during convention years (every third year) offer an extra set of scholarships. For a full list of their scholarships and grants, and for further details on the application process, visit Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity Scholarship Grant Program .

Suzuki Association of the Americas

The SAA is an association dedicated to teaching music to children using the Shinichi Suzuki Method. It encourages and helps children to learn through the right learning environment. To that end, the SAA offers several scholarships to its members who intend to use the money to apply the method in their teaching, and be pursuing a career in music education. Your membership of the SAA must be older than three months prior to the application, a statement of financial need and letters from professionals and a recommendation from a trainer. For more details on how to apply, and for values of their many programs, review SAA Teacher Development scholarships .

UNT College of Music Scholarships

The University of North Texas has an impressive music scholarship program that are designed with a career in teaching in mind that lead to certification in music teaching. Whether you wish to teach vocal music or instruments, you can apply for one of their seven scholarship programs. You must already be a student at the university. For further details and to apply, visit their official named scholarships .

American Music Therapy Association

A growing body of evidence has shown the usefulness of music therapy as a form of personal development and for coping with the stresses of modern life for some people. To encourage more professional musicians to enter into teaching music therapy, the AMTA provides several scholarships annually for undergraduates, postgraduates and people already working in the music therapy profession. Some of their scholarships require nomination by the institution, not by the individual student - and only for AMTA approved faculty members. For further information about all their programs, go to Edwina Eustis Dick Scholarship for Music Therapy Interns.

Preschool Teacher Scholarships

Pre-school are the earliest years of schooling - focusing more on personal development, play and socializing in order that children get used to being around each other. Rarely any academic schooling as such, it prepares children for the years ahead. You will certainly need a high school diploma - preferably at least an associate's degree. Generally though, a bachelor's degree is required if you wish to work in public schools.

Learn more about becoming a Preschool teacher . Preschool teachers often earn degrees in Child Development or Early Childhood Education .

The Association of American Educators is a general scholarship and grant fund dedicated to the improvement of education standards all over the country. There are few specific criteria that you need in order to apply for this fund - they are just as likely to give money to a pre-school teacher for a project as they are to give to a high school student applying for money to do a degree in education. Those who are already members of AAEF are preferred. Most individual scholarships and funds are worth a maximum of $500. For more information on the AAEF and on their funding opportunities, please visit AAEF National Scholarship and Grant Program .

Bright Horizons - Bright Futures Scholarship

The Bright Horizons Scholarship Program is one of only a few dedicated to training and encouraging the next generation of early childhood teachers. Applicants need to provide proof of their academic excellence, write a short essay in support of their application and provide multiple strong references. Finally, you must demonstrate potential as a teacher of under 8s (the age limit against which your education degree should apply). Typically, the value of the award is between $250 and $1000; any scholarship over the value of $600 are sent directly to the college. For further details of eligibility, go to Bright Futures Scholarship .

GPA : minimum 3.0

TEACH Early Childhood

The TEACH scholarships and grants are the most extensive Federal programs presently available. Knowing how important it is to get early education years right, they have made available one Early Childhood scholarship available for each state. The money is to be used against earning an Associates Degree or other accredited program to improve the standards of preschool education. One applicant is chosen per state, For further details, please visit the TEACH website.

Grade : Varies, but is typically the 75 th percentile. Deadline : End of September, for 2015 it is the 30 th

Preschool Development Grants

This is a competition applied for by preschools to aid in the development of their education programs. The money should be used to develop preschool programs and the infrastructure to enable high-quality preschool services to the children who attend. Secondly, so that the establishment can develop high-quality preschool programs in low and moderate income family areas. There is no upper limit to the grant value; in 2014, recipients received over $224m between them. Fore more information on the grants, read the Preschool Development Grants information sheet .

School Administrator Scholarships

Educational Administration is as important as teaching - somebody needs to carry out the daily tasks, outreach, student administration, program organizing, field trips and so on in order that a school or college runs smoothly. It can be a thankless task requiring professional skills and qualifications. Here are some scholarships and grants that might help you achieve your qualifications in educational administration. Most jobs require a master's degree in administration.

Learn more about becoming a school administrator . School administrators often earn degrees in one of the following: Educational Administration , Master's in Education , or Doctorate in Education .

TKE Scholarships

Tau Kappa Epsilon is one of the country's largest fraternities. In order to apply for their available scholarships, you must already be a member and studying at a college or university. More than that though, you must be an active member and demonstrated leadership and prominence within your chapter of the fraternity. You will be expected to provide a transcript of recent grades and a photograph in support of your application. Many of their scholarships can apply to any degree, but some are specific to administration and education. Value of the award varies depending on a variety of factors. For the full list of scholarships and details on applications, visit TKE's Grand Chapter Scholarships .

WMU Scholarship in Education Leadership

Western Michigan University has several scholarships available for their students that can be applied against Education Administration and Education Leadership courses. Amongst them are Robert O. Brinkerhoff Endowed Scholarship for organizational learning (must be pursuing a Master's Degree in Organizational Learning and Performance) and the Van E. Cooley Memorial Scholarship for educational leadership (applications are accepted only from students of Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology). Review the full details for the Educational Leadership, Research and Technology scholarships .

GPA : for the Robert O. Brinkerhoff Award, students must have a GPA of 3.0 or above. For the Van E. Cooley, the grade must be 3.5 or above.

CSDIW Scholarships

The Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars is a group dedicated to strengthening ties and preserving the records of Native American descendants. As part of a wider scheme to encourage and aid education, they have a single scholarship worth $5000. Any woman over the age of 16 who can prove lineage may join; only members can apply for the scholarship. Applicants can be studying any education related course (including administration) or social service as an undergraduate. A letter of statement of financial need is required. Learn more at CSDIW .

GPA : minimum 3.0 Deadline : 15 th June every year

School Librarian Scholarships

Books are an essential part of civilization and an essential part of the education system. Being a modern librarian requires a wide range of skills particularly in organization and cataloging. A love of books is also essential, as does knowledge in more than one key area. If working in a book archive is for you, then you may wish to look at these scholarships and grants to help you achieve that goal. Most librarian careers expect a master's degree.

Learn more about becoming a school librarian or earning a Library Science degree.

ALA Scholarships

The American Library Association is the largest organization in the country for librarians. As one of the oldest in the world, they have a long tradition in helping people enter into the field as a career. They also have one of the most extensive scholarship programs with many different awards. Some are for general application, and some are set aside for people from low-income families, ethnic minorities and so on. They also have subject specific scholarships and grants for those who wish to train and specialize. Their scholarships are not limited to the US either - Canadian citizens are also eligible for some programs. GPA varies from scholarship to scholarship so check the ALA site for details .

ACRL Scholarships

The Association of College and Research Libraries is a division of the ALA (above) dedicated to librarian who work or want to work in the education and research sector. Knowing that having good academic librarians is a must for selecting books for our schools and colleges, the ACRL have made available a number of scholarships and grants for librarians who are still in the early part of their career. The Early Career Librarian Scholarship is for librarians already working in the field (but with less than six years of experience) to develop professionally - particularly amongst minorities and other disadvantaged groups. There are 120 scholarships available, valued at $385 with an extra $250 for traveling expenses to reach the annual conference. For further details, visit the ACRL scholarship program .

AALL George A. Strait Minority Scholarship

The American Association of Law Libraries makes available a number of scholarships to college graduate students who are a) part of an ethnic minority as defined by government guidelines and b) have significant law library experience that could lead to a career as a librarian and c) are at an accredited law school or library. Candidates need a transcript from the college that granted their most recent degree, three letters of personal recommendation and a personal statement amongst other things. Value of the award varies every year. For further details on this scholarship and other programs, visit George A. Strait Scholarship & Fellows .

SAA Scholarships

Archiving includes libraries, but it also includes any system of storage of documents and material, and their cataloging in order that an interested audience can search and access them. For those who want to work in a more specific niche, the SAA are one of the country's major organizations dedicated to indexing, storing and preserving the nation's important book, evidence, historical records and other vital collections. Some of the country's top universities (particularly in the medical sector and in anthropology) have important archives. The SAA have three scholarships. F. Gerald Ham and Elsie Ham Scholarship is worth $10,000 and is for the post-graduate archival education of second year undergraduate students. The Mosaic Scholarship is for ethnic minorities (scholarship value varies). For details, visit SAA scholarships to apply .

Science Teacher Scholarships

It is a widely recognized fact that the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) is one area where we have a shortage of graduates. Those that do tend to go into research or industry, fewer into education. To this end, a number of government and private scholarships are available to improve provision in our high schools and colleges.

Learn more about becoming a science teacher . Science teachers often earn a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Science. Many even go on to earn a Master's Degree in Education .

NSF Robert Noyce Scholarships

The National Science Foundation is the country's largest science education organization. The Robert Noyce Scholarships seek to readdress the balance of a lack of science education at lower levels by offering a $10,000 annual scholarship to encourage STEM graduates and professionals to consider teaching as a career option rather than research and development or other commercial or industrial applications. Encouraging interest in science at an early age is key to producing the STEM graduates of the future. More information is available at the National Science Foundation website .

KSTF Fellowship

Another organization looking to improve the standard of STEM teaching at an earlier age is the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation. Instead of scholarships, they offer a number of early career fellowships to aspiring STEM teachers based on three criteria:

• Potential to develop content for teaching
• Potential to develop teaching practices
• Potential to develop outstanding teaching qualities

The fellowships are practical programs to help the brightest and best not just financially, but also developing practical skills in an educational workplace. Candidates need to demonstrate a commitment to a long-term career in teaching, leadership skills and have graduated in a relevant subject. The award is based on achievement and promise, not on financial need. Award value varies and includes grants and development funds. For more information, visit the KSTF fellowship section of their website.

NYS Math & Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship

This scholarship is in place in the state of New York in order to encourage science and math graduates to enter into teaching those subjects to grades 7-12. In order to be eligible, you must be enrolled in a college in New York State (High School Students are not eligible) and not receiving scholarships from any other program - especially those that might commit you to conditions of receipt (to work in a certain school or field). Undergraduates and postgraduates are equally eligible. Maximum value of the grant is $6,195. For more information, visit NYS Math & Science Teaching Incentive Program .

Deadline : 31 st January every year GPA : 2.5 or higher

The Mikkelson Foundation

Some funds require that you already be in a teaching position in order to qualify; this is one of them. The scholarship for teachers provides money for extra training for teachers wishing to increase the breadth and depth of their knowledge. Eligible subjects are the core STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and math - to improve what is a vital field with a skills shortage in the US. Its aim is to improve science education amongst teachers to impart greater knowledge amongst children. For more information on whether you are eligible and to apply, check the Mikkelson Foundation website .

Biology Teacher Scholarships

Biology is one of the core "hard" sciences that help us to understand the natural world. Every year, new biology graduates are needed in the medical field, in environmental research, biotech and much more. Encouraging understanding of biological sciences such as evolution from an early age can ensure an adequate supply of graduates in this important field.

Learn more about becoming a biology teacher . Biology teachers often earn a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Biology. Many even go on to earn a Master's Degree in Education .

NABT Scholarships and Awards

National Association of Biology Teachers is dedicated to excellence in teaching biology in school. They offer several scholarships, some aimed at students and others aimed at those who are already teaching biology for a living but wish to apply for funding to further develop their methods, skills and knowledge. The BELS (Biology Educator Leadership Scholarship) is such a fund for biology teaching professionals who are members of NABT and enrolled (or already studying) a master's or doctorate. Maximum award value for the BELS is $5000. To check various programs and deadlines, refer to the NABT Awards Information .

Deadline : Varies, but most (unless stated) are typically mid-April

Oklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship

Residents of Oklahoma who may be studying key shortage subjects and wish to teach it as a career (most STEM, including biology) may be eligible for the Future Teacher Scholarship. Unlike most scholarships, the student cannot apply for the fund - instead, their education establishment must nominate them for consideration. Upon graduation, you are bound by the decision to teach the shortage subject within the state of Oklahoma. The value of the awards depends on a number of criteria including the length of the study course. For further details, visit Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education .

GPA : Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA throughout matriculation

NOAA Scholarships

Looking at the science from the perspective of ocean science (including biology), their scholarship programs encourage undergraduates and graduates in getting hands on experience. They have a number of fellowships and scholarships available for anyone with an interest and strong aptitude in ocean sciences. The Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship, for example, is worth up to $8000 (it does not have a set amount, but this is the upper limit) and is for 2 nd and 3 rd year students in relevant disciplines looking to go on into any career in ocean sciences. For more information, visit the NOAA scholarship programs .

Deadline : Applications between June and September every year

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology rewards one woman every year on a number of criteria including scientific achievement, excellence in teaching (at post doctoral and undergraduate levels) and contributions to the scientific community. Evidence will include details of excellence, research papers, biography and supporting statements. Award recipients will receive a cash prize and funds. They will also get to present an Excellence In Science Award Lecture at the annual meeting of a FASEB member society of their choice. For more information, see FASEB's Excellence in Science Awards .

Deadline : Nominations for the 2023 award cycle will be accepted between October 10 - December 12. 2022.

Elementary Teacher Scholarships

Elementary school teachers need to know about a wide range of subjects in order to teach the basics to the children who study under them. Having a broad knowledge is advantageous so if you feel that teaching is your strength rather than any one subject, you may find a rewarding career in this area. Here are a few scholarships that may help you develop along these lines. Particularly, elementary school teachers in low income areas are in short supply.

Learn more about becoming an elementary school teacher . Elementary school teachers often earn degrees in the following: Elementary Education , Education , Child Development , or Early Childhood Education . Earning a Master's Degree in Education can also lead to becoming an elementary school teacher.

AKA Educational Advancement Scholarships

The Sorority House has a number of scholarships, some education specific, for which members may apply to aid their degree in education. They pride themselves on improving education and it represents one of their prime outreach programs. Some are needs based, some are merit based. None have an upper limit value. Applicants need to be a member of the group and already enrolled on a relevant degree course; it will also help your application if you have engaged in leadership and promoting the house. For further details, visit AKA EAF scholarships .

GPA : 3.0 (merit based); 2.5 (need based) Deadline : mid-April every year

DAR Scholarships

Daughters of the American Revolution offer a number of scholarships pertaining to education - elementary, middle and high school options. Specific to elementary school teaching is the Edward G. and Helen A. Borgens Elementary and Secondary Teacher Education Scholarships. Each year, two students are chosen for a one-off scholarship of $1500 (one for elementary school, one for secondary education). Applicant must be a college sophomore or high school graduate looking to enter into education. More information, including details on other scholarships, visit DAR scholarships .

Z-NEF Education Program

Like most Sorority organizations, Zeta Phi Beta has a number of scholarships covering most educational areas. Of particularly interests to students and graduates of Elementary Education, is the Isabel M. Herson Scholarship in Education. Valued at between $500 and $1000, applicants need not be members of the House but should provide proof of their enrollment. Selection is based on academic merit. Three letters of recommendation are required including. For further details, please visit National Education Foundation Scholarships .

• One from college professor
• Minister of Community Leader
• From the graduate Zeta Chapter in support of your application (if the applicant is a member)

ESL Teacher Scholarships

Teaching English as a second language works twofold - firstly for encouraging first generation immigrants to America to fully integrate and make themselves employable in their new home, allowing the full benefit of living here. Secondly, working abroad and teaching English as a foreign language can be an enriching experience and help you in your teaching career.

Learn more about becoming an ESL teacher . Many ESL teachers earn a Bachelor's Degree in Education .

TESOL International

The international organization dedicated to helping learners to become fluent in English, and allowing teachers to expand their career in teaching English as a second language, have several scholarships and grants available. Some are dedicated to teaching and others are more for researching teaching methods. The Ruth Crymes TESOL Fellowship, for example, is a $1500 fellowship awarded to one member every year researching classroom application. Applicants must be a member of TESOL Intl, should produce a statement and brief essay in support of their application; fellowship is awarded on the basis of financial need and project merit. Deadline is 1 st November every year. For more details and to apply, visit TESOL Access Awards, Grants and Scholarships .

Jaqueline Ross TOEFL Dissertation Award

ETS are another international education organization dedicated to improving education standards the world over. Their TOEFL dissertation award grants $2,500 to one Doctoral student every year whose dissertation is on the subject of second or foreign language testing standards. Part of the award will be compensation for accommodation and travel fees for traveling to the ceremony to collect the award. Candidates may be studying outside the US and is applicable only against eligible doctoral programs. For full details, visit Jacqueline Ross TOEFL® Dissertation Award .

Bureau of Education Exchange Program

Not a scholarship or grant, but a government organized exchange program (and therefore more like a fellowship), invites highly experience individuals in the areas of TEFL and TESOL to apply for a 10-month program. Here, they will learn a wide range of extra skills including: Classroom Teaching, Curriculum Development, Program Evaluation, Needs Assessment and much more. Applicants must be a US Citizen with a master's degree in TESOL and with practical ESL/EFL classroom experience. See more details at the English Language Fellow Program .

History Teacher Scholarships

The teaching of history in any country is integral to understanding its culture and laws; this is why it is considered so important to every country around the world and why it is vital to have history teachers at all grades teaching all topics related to history.

Learn more about become a history teacher . History teachers often earn a Bachelor's Degree in Education or Secondary Education with an emphasis in History/Social Studies.

James Madison Memorial Foundation

The JMMF makes available a number of set bursaries for the research and teaching of US history. Fellowship value is anything up to $24,000 which - where granted - is spread over two years. Applicants must be US citizens and either a teacher or planning to become a teacher of American history or government or social studies, of children aged 7-12. The coursework should concern the US Constitution considerably, and the applicant must be graduates of certain (designated) subjects. For a full list, see their eligibility page .

American Historical Society Grants

As the country's largest organization dedicated to research and teaching standards of history across the US, the AHA offers a number of research grants to members. They are to be used for research that is already in progress, not for starting academic projects - for travel fees, borrowing from libraries and archives and other research expenses. Only members are permitted to apply for the grants. Though the value of the grant varies, no member is entitled to more than $1000 from the AHA in a five year period. For a full list of AHA grants, visit AHA Grants and Fellowships .

AFSCME Member Scholarships

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is one of the largest unions in the country today. As part of their outreach programs and perks, they have a list of scholarships available to members and their families who wish to study certain relevant degree programs. Though most of their scholarships can be applied against any education subject, there is one specifically for social sciences such as history. The Jerry Clark Memorial Scholarship, worth $5,000 for the two chosen applicants, includes the opportunity to intern with the Union. For further details, visit the AFSCME Member Scholarships dedicated page .

GPA : 2.5 or above

Catherine W. Pierce Scholarship

One of the many United Negro College Fund scholarships, this $5,000 value scholarship is for black students of history, American Studies, art and other social sciences such as anthropology. Students must be enrolled at an accredited university and studying a four-year course. Application should be supported by an academic transcript. For further details, visit the Catherine W. Pierce Scholarship website .

GPA : 2.5 Deadline : Usually late June

Samuel Eliot Morison Naval History Scholarship

This $5,000 scholarship is available only to full commissioned naval officers who wish to retrain to teaching naval history in an American school. This niche area is important to understanding America's maritime history, particularly of its military. The Officer must already have a degree and be actively studying or pursuing further education such as a Master's Degree. A copy of the university transcript is required, as is a 500-word supporting statement. To see the full terms and to apply, visit the Naval History and Heritage Grants and Fellowships page .

Deadline : end of April every year

Math Teacher Scholarships

Mathematics is one of the most important subjects to teach in our schools and universities. As one of the STEM subjects, it is a recognized graduate shortage area even though we all use it every day. Advanced math is vital to the other hard sciences. Thinking of pursuing a career in math? Here are some scholarships for which you may be eligible.

Learn more about becoming a math teacher . To become a math teacher, many earn Bachelor's Degrees in Education or Secondary Education with an emphasis in mathematics. Earning a Master's Degree in Education will also allow you to become a math teacher.

NCTM - Various

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has a full range of grants, scholarships, awards and funds for the improvement of math quality in schools. Amongst them are the Connecting Math to Other Subject Areas - to develop teaching materials and methods that promote the study of the subject and encourage children to understand its importance. This particular grant is valued at $4,000. For their full list, visit the NCTM dedicated grants page .

National Merit Scholarship Program

Offering a number of scholarships, but particularly in STEM subjects, this organization rewards academic excellence in high school students looking to go to college and university to train as math teachers and as an applied science. In order to be eligible, a student must take the preliminary SAT, the result of which will form part of the application process. They must also be planning to enroll at college the same fall season of the year of application and be either a US Citizen or qualifying Permanent Resident. The standard Merit Scholarship is worth $2,500 but they have other programs with varying amounts. Deadlines vary so check the website for NMSC individual program details .

AAUW Selected Scholarships

To encourage women to enter into what are traditionally male-dominated fields (and especially STEM), the American Association of University Women makes available scholarships worth $25,000 for women applying for or already studying master's degrees in select subjects. In addition, they have other scholarships available only to women of color to enter into business and law. Applicants must be US Citizens are Permanent Residents. For further details, visit AAUW Fellowships and Grants .

Deadline : mid-January every year

Math for America Fellowship

MfA is one the country's largest math teaching organizations. Their mission is to help make teaching a viable, rewarding, and respected career choice for the best minds in science and mathematics. Currently, there are three fellowship opportunities offered through MfA. The fellowships are for new and experienced math and science teachers and leaders. For more details, visit MfA Fellowships .

Montessori Teacher Scholarships

A relatively new development in teaching methods respecting the individual psychological and sociological needs of the student, there are bursaries, scholarships and grants available to teachers wishing to explore this method of student-teacher interaction. It is advisable first to try the two largest organizations before looking elsewhere.

Learn more about becoming a Montessori teacher .

Association Montessori International USA

At present, they offer the MES Fund and school sponsorships. The school sponsorship program is set up to provide training for members wishing to train as a Montessori teacher - inquire directly with the listed schools to see eligibility. The major funding program (MES) was set up in honor of Margaret Elizabeth Stephenson who dedicated her life to promoting the method. Applicant musts be a US citizen or permanent resident and planning on taking up study at an AMI training center located in the USA and have a demonstrable financial need. Priority will be given to candidates who already have a teaching degree and have taught or worked at an AMI school. For further information about the fund, visit AMI's dedicated page on financial aid resources .

Deadline : mid-May every year

American Montessori Society

AMS is the largest Montessori organization in the USA. Every year, they make available a number of scholarships to people who are already on, have been accepted to, or has an application pending for an AMS affiliated program or school. Applicants are chosen on the basis of financial need, and chosen from a strict set of criteria that includes a personal statement, three recommendations and verification of the candidates attendance or application to an official affiliated program. Value is $1,000 (each) given to three candidates every year from existing funds. For more details on all their scholarships, please visit Montessori Teacher Education Scholarships .

Deadline : 1 st May every year

Montessori Schools of Massachusetts

The MSM network, being a representative body in the state, has made available a single scholarship worth $3,000 to one select student every year. The selected applicant must be applying for, or has already been accepted to, a registered course affiliated with the AMI or MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) in Massachusetts. Selection is made largely on the basis of financial need, but you will be expected to also demonstrate a commitment to the Montessori Method. Check GS Memorial Scholarship for how you can apply .

Deadline : mid March every year

Physical Education Teacher Scholarships

If there is one class that divides children, it's physical education. Some love to get outside and play team sports while others dislike it. It takes a good PE teacher to actively encourage children of all ages to take part, get fit and enjoy being active. In the past, it didn't necessarily take qualifications for this but with competitive sports being a big part of school extra-curricular activities, you now need qualifications. Here are some scholarships to help you achieve that.

Learn more about becoming a physical education teacher . A lot of PE teachers earn a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in physical education. Many PE teachers also go on to earn an advanced Master's Degree in Education .

SHAPE America

The Society of Health and Physical Educators have three scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students looking to enter into physical education teaching as a career. For the Ruth Abernathy Presidential Award, the value is $1,250 (undergrad) and $1,750 (postgrad) and a complementary three-year membership to SHAPE. A separate scholarship (The Cooley Scholarship) is worth $1,000 and eligible for master's students only. All scholarships require a supporting statement and proof of enrollment. Other requirements vary depending on the scholarship program. The Bill Kane Scholarship is also valued at $1,000 and for undergraduate students only. Not only scholarships, but they also offer grants for qualified teachers and researchers seeking to improve fitness of young people. For full details on SHAPE America scholarships and grants available, visit their Grants and Scholarships page.

GPA : 3.0 minimum Deadline : mid-October

CANFIT Scholarships

CANFIT is a non-profit organization that prides itself on providing a bridge between communities and decision makers particularly relating to areas such as fitness and nutrition. Based in California, their funds are available to ethnic minorities on an accredited degree or postgraduate degree program in the state. Selection is made on the basis of financial need (primarily) and checks will be made to ensure that the funds have gone towards the cost of tuition. Dollar value varies depending on need and availability. For full details and to apply, visit CANFIT Scholarships .

GPA : 3.0 or higher Deadline : End of March every year

FAMU Scholarships

The prestigious black university in Florida has several scholarships available to its students studying programs at the HPER Department. Amongst them are the Robert "Pete" Griffen & Hansel Tooke Scholarship rewarding Physical Education majors and outstanding athletes representing the school (worth $1,500), the Costa Kittle Award (worth $1,000 also for athletes and physical education majors - applicants judged on sporting merit) and the Althea Gibson Award in honor of the Wimbledon and US Open winner (worth $1,500). Each are judged on academic and sporting merits to evaluate eligibility. For more details and to apply, visit Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Scholarships.

GPA : 2.5 (Robert "Pete" Griffen & Hansel Tooke Scholarship, and Costa Kittle Award). 3.5 (Althea Gibson) Deadline : 1 st June (all scholarships)

Tobin Sorenson Physical Education Scholarship

Available to members of Pi Lambda Theta, this scholarship is for undergraduate and postgraduate students intending to pursue a career in the physical education of children grades K-12. The scholarship is worth $1,000 and is sent directly to the accredited institution at which the student is presently studying or about to commence a program of education. Candidate must display leadership qualities and extracurricular activities in sports and physical education. For more information, visit Pi Lambda Theta .

Deadline : 1 st April every year GPA : 3.5

Principal & Secretary Scholarships

To become a school principal takes more than becoming a teacher and rising through the ranks - it takes more than being a great school administrator. It's not a career for everyone and that's why it takes specialist training after serving as a teacher. Take a look at the scholarships and grants below to help you become a school principal.

Learn more about becoming a school principal , becoming a vice principal , or becoming a school secretary . In many cases, school principals have a Doctorate in Education or Educational Administration .

Larry Graham Aspiring Principal Scholarship

Offered by the Alaska Association of Secondary Principals (AASP) it is named after a former School Principal who did much during his life to promote the importance of having qualified, dedicated people in the role. Applicants must already be enrolled on the Alaska Type B Administrative Certificate to be eligible to apply for this $1,500 scholarship. Applicants must also supply a personal statement on why they wish to become a school principal. For more details, visit Alaska Principals Foundation (APF) Aspiring Principal Scholarships .

Deadline : early October

AASA Education Administration Scholarship

The American Association of School Administrators is the leading educational administration organization in the USA. It honors and aids graduate students to achieve an administration role in a school or college - including for those wishing to train to be school principals and secretaries. It is one of the country's oldest scholarship awards having been founded in 1949. The value of the award is $2,500 per successful applicant who will be given up to $500 as a travel bursary to go to the award ceremony to collect the scholarship. They also have other scholarships and awards. For further details and to apply, visit AASA's Educational Administration Scholarships .

Business Professionals of America Scholarship

The BPA offer scholarships to certain administration students, but only if the college or other education institution has affiliated with the BPA. There is a set list of criteria - for example you must be studying one of the defined courses which include most finance, business and public administration programs at any accredited college in those states. There are three scholarships available with the first chosen receiving $3,000, the second receiving $2,500 and the third $2,000. You must also be a member of the BPA. For more details, scholarship opportunities available to members of Business Professionals of America .

GPA : varies by institution - check if your college is eligible Deadline : mid-March every year

School Counselor Scholarships

Therapy and counseling can be a difficult yet rewarding job. Some children go through difficulty at an early age - whether problems in their parents' marriage or with their academic work. Schools need counselors as much as they need teachers and administrators. If you feel your calling is in this direction, then look at these scholarships to help you counsel young people.

Learn more about becoming a school counselor .

American Psychological Association

The APA is the country's largest psychology organization offering many scholarships relating to training in counseling and psychology, and helping people research and develop treatments for a variety of mental illnesses. Amongst them are a number for child psychology and those for people wishing to provide counseling services to young people. The Jacqueline Ann Morris is an annual fund for teachers looking to improve mental health in their elementary or middle school. Maximum value of $4,500 annually. For further details, visit APA's Scholarships and Grants .

National Association of School Psychologists

The largest group in the USA dedicated to providing training and information to school psychologists, have several scholarships and grant programs available for applicants wishing to enter into school counseling / psychology as a career. Amongst them are the Minority Scholarship Program available to lower financial barriers to ethnic minority students wishing to enter into a career as a school psychologist. The scholarship is valued at $5,000 and applicants must be members of NASP, a US citizen and enrolled at a NASP approved institution. For more information, refer to NASP Awards, Scholarships, and Grants .

Special Education Teacher Scholarships

Special education teaching takes a special kind of teacher. Teaching children with special needs - whether that be learning difficulties such as dyslexia, or children with learning disabilities such as neurological or physical disability, it can be rewarding but presents a different kind of challenge. Because there is a shortage of such teachers, there are special grants and scholarships available.

Learn more about becoming a special education teacher and earning a Special Education Degree .

Dr. Marc Hull Special Education Leadership Scholarship

Available to residents of Vermont, this $1,750 scholarship is available to students pursuing a career as an administrator of special needs education services. The institution of attendance must be Federally approved Title IV funding (Pell and TEACH grants). Applicants must be seeking application of certification or license of special education administration and provide a letter of recommendation and references. For more details, see VSAC-Assisted Scholarships .

GPA : 3.0 Deadline : early March

Not limited to teaching kids with special needs, extra consideration is given to those students at undergraduate and graduate level who intend to teach children and young adults with special education needs. The grant is worth up to $4,000 every year and special conditions are placed on recipients such as that they are contractually bound to teach in a US school for a certain number of years (usually in a socially deprived area). There are no limits to who can apply. More information and application is on the TEACH Teaching Scholarships webpage.

Grade : factors vary, but typically anyone in or above the 75 th percentile will be prioritized. Deadline : End of September

Indiana Minority Teacher/Special Services Scholarship

Available only to minority students living in the state of Indiana, applicants must already have applied for FAFSA to be eligible, and the commission must receive a copy of this. You may already be studying an accredited education course or have received an offer of a place to study at a relevant education establishment and a US citizen or eligible non-citizen (such as a permanent resident). Scholarship is also limited to those who will teach at an accredited school upon graduation. For more details, see the Indiana Commission for Higher Education William A Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarships .

More Scholarships

PDK Educational Foundation Scholarship

The PDK Educational Foundation awards scholarships every year across all PDK International membership categories. They offer one-time and renewable awards with the award amount ranging from$500 - $4,000. Find out more by visiting the PDK Educational Foundation Scholarship Program.

Deadline: Beginning of April

William A Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship

This scholarship is for minority students (defined as Black and Hispanic/Latinx individuals) who after graduating plan to teach at an accredited Indiana school. Students must agree that once hired they teach for at least three years in Indiana. You can find out more at the Indiana Commision for Higher Education.

Deadline: August 31st

Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teacher

This scholarship is open to students who are currently enrolled in, or plan to participate at a Charles Butt Foundation Raising Texas Teachers partner university. The Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers offers scholarships of up to $8,000 - $10,000 per year. Other unique benefits from this opportunity is professional development opportunities and mentorship among others. Find out more about the Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers .

Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority

This scholarship opportunity offers financial aid to students in Kentucky who are pursuing teacher certification at participating Kentucky colleges. This award can be up to $2,500 per semesters. You can find more details at the KHEAA Teacher Scholarship Program .

Deadline: May 1st

Milwaukee Area Teachers Scholarship

This scholarship offers financial aid in the form of one-half tuition scholarships for three credits per term, or 1.5 credits. The Milwaukee Area Teachers Scholarship is for teachers that are employed as an elementary or secondary teacher in the Milwaukee area. To find out more details visit Milwaukee Area Teachers Scholarships .

Deadline to Apply: Fall Semester is February 14, Spring Semster is November 15, and summer session is April 15

NYS Math & Science Teaching Incentive Program

This incentive program is offered in hopes to encourage students to pursue a career as a math or science teacher in secondary education. Students can be attending school at an undergraduate and/or graduate degree level. In exchange for this incentive, you will need to work as a full-time math or science teacher in secondary education in NYS. Find out more about the NYS Math & Science Teaching Incentive Program .

Search NYU Steinhardt

Scholarships and Grants

Paying for your education.

We award millions of dollars in scholarships to graduate-level students each year to recognize need and merit. While our scholarships may not completely cover your costs, they can be part of a multi-source financial aid package that helps you gain access to NYU Steinhardt’s academic and professional opportunities.

We strongly encourage all US citizens and permanent residents to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be eligible for the greatest range of aid. We must receive a FAFSA by March 1 for summer/fall enrollment or November 1 for spring enrollment in order to consider you for School-based scholarships.  Learn more about applying for financial aid .

Unless otherwise noted, our scholarships are for full-time, on-campus, US citizen or permanent resident students. Students receiving Tuition Remission from NYU are not eligible for school-based scholarships.

Scholarship deadlines are firm, so do not wait for your admissions decision before submitting your FAFSA and/or scholarship application. Applying after the deadline delays the processing of federal aid and may result in you being ineligible for Steinhardt scholarships.

Scholarships for Underrepresented Populations

Scholarships recognizing service, steinhardt mission scholarships: recognizing inclusion, innovation, or impact, global study scholarships, scholarship for non-us citizens and non-permanent residents, scholarships for part-time students, scholarships for online students.

Diversabilities Scholarship

Steinhardt believes that inclusive education is central to achieving high-quality education and experiences for all learners, including those with disabilities. Preference for this scholarship is given first to students eligible for services in the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities,  including hearing and visual impairments, mobility impairments, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders, chronic illnesses, and psychological impairments. 

Available to newly admitted on-campus master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma programs  students. To apply, submit our new student scholarship application   using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt on-campus graduate application, and complete the FAFSA. Deadlines for the scholarship application are March 1 for Fall/Summer start and November 1 for Spring.

First Generation Scholarship

Recipients of this award must be in the first generation of their family to have completed a bachelor’s degree and have the potential to excel academically based on demonstrated success.

Available to newly admitted on-campus master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma programs students.  To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt on-campus graduate application, and complete the FAFSA. Deadlines for the scholarship application are March 1 for Fall/Summer start and November 1 for Spring.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges Scholarship

We offer this scholarship on a competitive basis to newly admitted full-time on-campus students who are graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. 

Available to newly admitted on-campus master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma  students. To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt on-campus graduate application, and complete the FAFSA. Deadlines for the scholarship application are March 1 for Fall/Summer start and November 1 for Spring.

LGBTQ+ Diversity Scholarship

Applicants must have a proven track record of leadership and community involvement, working for the betterment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities.  Any interested student, regardless of identity or background, is eligible for this opportunity.

Available to newly admitted on-campus master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma  students. To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt on-campus graduate application, and complete the FAFSA. Deadlines for the scholarship application are March 1 for Fall/Summer start and November 1 for Spring.

AmeriCorps Alumni Scholarship

We award up to five partial scholarships per year to AmeriCorps alumni interested in pursuing full-time graduate study in one of our on-campus  master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma programs,  starting in the Fall semester.  We do not match the Education Award . You must complete your service by the start of the Fall semester to be eligible. 

To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt on-campus graduate application, and complete the FAFSA. The deadline for the scholarship application is March 1.

City Year Scholarship

We award up to five partial scholarships per year to City Year members and alumni interested in pursuing full-time graduate study in one of our on-campus  master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma programs , starting in the Fall semester.

To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt graduate on-campus application, and complete the FAFSA. The deadline for the scholarship application is March 1.

NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship Program

This program offers a select group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) leadership development programming and financial support while you pursue a full-time on-campus MA or MS degree, starting in the Fall semester. The Coverdell Fellowship selection process is competitive; a limited number of fellowships are available each year, and availability   varies. The fellowship will provide a 50% tuition scholarship, basic health insurance, and participation in leadership development programming overseen by the NYU Leadership Initiative. Only RPCVs who have successfully completed their term of service by the start of the Fall semester are eligible. For more information visit the  NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship page .

To be considered, answer “yes” on your online application for admission to the Coverdell Fellowship question, upload a copy of your Description of Service  and an essay (question in admission application) to the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Description of Service Upload page.

Please note, to be considered for the fellowship  your application for admission must be submitted by the program deadline date or January 15th , whichever comes first.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Scholarship

A competitive scholarship is open to newly admitted returned Peace Corps volunteers pursuing full-time graduate study in one of our on-campus  master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma programs . 

To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt on-campus graduate application, and complete the FAFSA. Deadlines for the scholarship application are March 1 for Fall/Summer start and November 1 for Spring.

Teach for America Alumni Scholarship

We award up to five partial scholarships per year to alumni of Teach for America who are interested in pursuing full-time graduate study in one of our on-campus master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma programs,  starting in the Fall semester. You must complete your service by the start of the Fall semester to be eligible.

To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt on-campus graduate application, and complete the FAFSA. The deadline for the scholarship application is March 1.

Urban Educators Impact Scholarship

We award up to five partial scholarships per year to current or former teachers from urban school districts who are interested in pursuing full-time graduate study in one of our on-campus  master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma programs, s tarting in the Fall semester. 

To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt graduate on-campus application and complete the FAFSA. The deadline for the scholarship application is March 1 for Fall.

Steinhardt Graduate Scholarships

We offer this scholarship to on-campus full-time master's and advanced certificate students who are academically talented and show a need for financial assistance. 

Meet all admissions and FAFSA application deadlines, and you will be automatically considered for this scholarship.

21st Century Scholarships

This scholarship is offered to on-campus full-time, newly admitted master's and advanced certificate applicants showing the greatest potential and the strongest fit with the vision and mission of NYU Steinhardt. 

Dorothy Height Impact and Inclusion Award

In honor of distinguished alum and civil rights leader Dorothy Height, Steinhardt recognizes incoming full-time on-campus graduate students who have demonstrated a commitment to inclusion in the field of education and have made an impact in their community.

To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt graduate on-campus application, and complete the FAFSA. Deadlines for the scholarship application are March 1 for Fall/Summer start and November 1 for Spring.

NYC Community Impact Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes residents of New York City’s five boroughs who have demonstrated impact in their community and/or their field of study pursuing full-time graduate study in one of our on-campus  master's degree, advanced certificate or diploma programs,

To apply, submit our  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit your NYU Steinhardt graduate on-campus application, and complete the FAFSA. Deadlines for the scholarship application are March 1 for Fall/Summer start and November 1 for Spring.

Global Study Scholarship

We believe that faculty-led graduate-level study abroad can significantly enhance your professional and academic training. To support participation in Steinhardt study abroad programs,  NYU Steinhardt offers select candidates a one-time scholarship of up to $3,000 to be used toward the cost of tuition, housing, and activity fees for a Steinhardt-based graduate study abroad course or program at one of our global sites or approved study away sites.  This scholarship is available to incoming students only.  

Additional Global Study Opportunities

We offer scholarships for current NYU Steinhardt students who wish to study abroad, and for full-time teachers attending NYU to have international academic experiences. Review our  additional scholarship opportunities for global study .

Global Citizen Scholarship

This competitive scholarship is awarded to newly admitted on-campus master's, advanced certificate or diploma students who are  non-US citizens or non-permanent residents (including people who require a visa and DACA applicants) and have demonstrated strong academic achievement in their previous post-secondary education. Several awards are offered on a competitive basis.

To apply, submit the  new student scholarship application  using the same login credentials you used to submit  your NYU Steinhardt on-campus graduate application. Deadlines for the scholarship application are March 1 for Fall/Summer start and November 1 for Spring.

Centennial Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to new on-campus part-time master's and advanced certificate students with superior academic achievement. 

For automatic consideration, meet all admissions and FAFSA application deadlines and indicate part-time study on your application for admission.

The Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program

Up to five partial tuition scholarships are available for on-campus part-time students who are full-time New York City employees.  Apply through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) .

Teacher Residency

Scholarship information is available for the full-time Teacher Residency option  and the part-time Teacher Residency option . You can also contact admissions at [email protected] or 877-710-6381 for more information.

Counseling@NYU

Contact an Admissions Counselor at 855-698-4622 or  [email protected]  to learn about scholarship opportunities.

Contact an Admissions Counselor at 888-698-0462 or  [email protected]  to learn about scholarship opportunities.

NYU Steinhardt Office of Graduate Admissions Joseph and Violet Pless Hall 82 Washington Square East, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003-6680 [email protected] Tel: 212-998-5030 | Fax: 212-995-4328

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•       Financial Aid       Scholarship       Grad School Scholarships for Women

Funding Graduate School for Women Essential Scholarship Information for Financing an Advanced Degree

For prospective graduate students, determining how to finance a master’s degree can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to finding credible resources or identifying a starting point. When seeking ways to pay for a graduate program some of the most important sources of funding to consider are scholarships, grants and fellowships. As a merit-based financial support that doesn’t have to be repaid, all potential graduate students should make it a goal to apply for scholarships.

Below, search a wide-selection of resources and scholarships for women in some of the most popular master’s degree programs — education, MBA, STEM and social work — and helpful tips and methods to navigate the application process.

Featured Online Schools

• Funding the Future: Scholarships for Women

Breaking Down the Scholarship Application Process

Additional scholarship & financial aid resources for women.

• WOMEN GENERAL
• WOMEN NURSING, PHYSICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
• WOMEN SOCIAL WORK
• WOMEN EDUCATION

There are a variety of funding opportunities available to women preparing to pursue an advance degree. Many of these aim to offset the costs associated with school, but many also celebrate some of the exceptional accomplishments of women through history and into modern day.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Dissertation Fellowships

Graduate school funding for women preparing to complete dissertations, full-time post-doctorial research, and/or research for a publication project. The dissertation fellowship can cover any or all of the following: education and living expenses, including childcare; research assistants and equipment; travel for field research and conferences.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Postdoctral Research Leave Fellowship

Postdoctoral funding for women engaged full-time in the completion of a dissertation, and post-doctoral institutional research or research for publication. The postdoctoral fellowship can be used to purchase equipment, hire research assistants, pay for publication costs, and cover living and childcare expenses.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Summer/Short-Term Research Publication Grants

An 8-week grant for graduate scholars engaged in independent research for publication and preparing research for publication. Grant money can cover living expense, research assistants, clerical and non-technical support, office supplies, and journal fees.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Career Development Grants

Provides educational and living expenses for women pursuing graduate work, professional development, and/or technical training to advance their careers. The grants are targeted at women of color and women in non-traditional disciplines, and women who do not yet have an advanced degree.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fellowships

Master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral fellowships for women pursuing a degree in the United States who are not citizens or permanent residents, to cover education and living expenses, as well as travel to meetings and conferences.

Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP) Scholarships

Scholarships are offered by the AICP to students who are already enrolled in a graduate school program, based on merit and on need.

American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) Fellowships

AIGC fellowships are offered only to those of American Indian and Alaska Native descent who are pursuing graduate or post-graduate work at the master’s or doctoral level.

Boren Fellowships

The NSEP aims to bolster national security infrastructure through a program of fellowships provided to graduate students interested in studying less commonly taught language abroad, in regions of Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In return, Boren Fellows are pledged to work for the federal government for one year after graduation.

Sponsoring Organization: National Security Education Program (NSEP)

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Scholarships

The CHCI offers graduate scholarships to Latino students based on leadership qualities and financial need.

Emerging Voices Scholarship

These scholarships are funded by the Ford Motor Company in partnership with the AWMF to encourage women pursuing journalism and media studies at the undergraduates and at the graduate-school level. The scholarship includes the opportunity to contribute content to the AWMF website.

Sponsoring Organization: Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) with the Ford Motor Company

Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics

The NCAA awards these scholarships to 13 ethnic minority graduates and 13 women graduates annually, in order to cover the costs of the first year of graduate study in a sports administration-related field. Applicants must be preparing to enroll in a sports administration or other graduate program aimed at pursing a career in intercollegiate athletics.

Sponsoring Organization: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee

Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund

The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund provides educational aid and scholarships to low-income women who are 35 or older, primarily for technical and vocational degrees, but also for qualifying women who are aiming to pursue degrees in business-related fields.

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

The PD Soros Fellowships for New Americans are targeted at helping 30 immigrants and/or the children of immigrants to the US pursue graduate degrees in the U.S. Candidates must be naturalized US citizens or be granted deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Scholar Awards

These scholarships are reserved for women who are nominated by a local chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, who are citizens of the U.S. or Canada, and who are within two years of completing a doctoral degree.

Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Peace Scholarships

The International Peace Scholarship provides educational grants for graduate-level study in the U.S. and Canada to women from countries outside of the U.S. and Canada.

Wells Fargo American Indian Scholarship

Open to men and women of American Indian and Alaska Native decent for undergraduate or graduate school. Must have a Tribal Eligibility Certificate to apply.

Sponsoring Organization: American Indian Graduate Center

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics academic programs and job opportunities are increasing for women with an aptitude for mechanics or demonstrate a healthy curiosity about how the world around them works.

Ada I. Pressman Memorial Scholarships

Open to women undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing degrees in all areas of engineering, including construction, chemical, computer, mechanical, and marine/oceanographic engineering. This scholarship is renewable for up to five years.

Sponsoring Organization: Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

AAUW Selected Professional Fellowships, Science and Technology Group

Aimed at supporting women entering graduate work in disciplines in which women have traditionally been underrepresented, including master’s programs in architecture, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and statistics. Covers education and living expenses, including travel to professional meetings and conferences.

Sponsoring Organization: American Association of University Women (AAUW)

Amelia Earhart Fellowships

The 35 Amelia Earhart Fellowships overseen by Zonta International are awarded annually to women pursuing doctoral degrees in aerospace science and aerospace engineering fields. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a qualifying PhD program, and the fellowships do not cover post-doctoral research.

Sponsoring Organization: Zonta International

Betty Lou Bailey SWE Region F Scholarships

These academic scholarships are targeted at both undergraduate-and graduate-level women in computer-related engineering fields who are attending a university in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Students from these states who may not be attending an institution in the proscribed areas may be considers, and the scholarships are renewable for up to five years.

Chyrsalis Scholarships

This award is intended to provide funding toward graduate degree completion and thesis completion for women studying in the geosciences whose careers and education have been interrupted in some way. The scholarship can cover everything from drafting expenses and late-stage research, to child care and professional travel.

Sponsoring Organization: Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG)

Dr. Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund

The Soffen Fund was set up by NASA to help aid graduate student in science and engineering pay for travel to professional and academic conferences at which they are presenting research.

Sponsoring Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship

Named for a former director of the National Ocean Service, this NOAA-funded scholarship aims to encourage women and minorities earning advanced degrees in oceanography, marine biology, and maritime archaeology, as well as in other scientific, engineering, and social science involving resource management in ocean and coastal areas. Applications are handled by online by the federal government’s Grants.gov .

Sponsoring Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarships

Named for the founder of the Institute for Women and Technology, Google’s Anita Borg Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually to women pursuing in graduate degrees in computer science, computer engineering, information technology fields. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted as full-time student in an accredited graduate program through a university in the U.S. or internationally.

Sponsoring Organization: Google

Lydia I. Pickup Memorial Scholarship

An SWE scholarship program that provides academic awards to women in graduate programs studying in a range of engineering fields, from civil and mechanical engineering, to computer and construction and engineering. Applicants must be full-time students at an accredited graduate school in engineering.

M. Hildred Blewett Fellowship

A fellowship award designed to help women return to research careers in physics through graduate study. Applicants must have completed some work toward a PhD.

Sponsoring Organization: American Physical Society

National Physical Sciences Consortium (NPSC) Graduate Fellowships in Science and Engineering

A non-profit consortium of research universities, national laboratories, technology companies, and government agencies, the NPSC awards fellowships for graduate work in science, with preference given to women and minority candidates. These awards are tracked through participating universities and sponsored by research companies and laboratories.

NASA Graduates Aeronautics Scholarships

NASA’s comprehensive scholarship program to promote graduate studies in aeronautical research and related fields, includes covering graduate school tuition costs for up to $11,000; up to $35,000 in graduate students’ stipends per academic year; and summer internship opportunities that pay up to $10,000.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth and Space Science Fellowships

NASA’s Earth and Space Science Fellowship is aimed to assisting and supporting master’s degree and PhD students who are pursuing work in an array of applied physical sciences, including Earth systems research, heliophysics, planetary science, and astrophysics.

Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science Fellowships

Sigma Delta Epsilon, also know as Graduate Women in Science is a longstanding non-profit organization, founded in 1921, that advocates for and promotes the cause of women studying and working in the sciences. Through its National Fellowships program, it awards year-long grants for research and scholarship to women with at least a bachelor’s degree who are working toward a master’s or PhD in the sciences.

Sponsoring Organization: American Women in Science (AWIS)

Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship Foundation Scholarships

Designated for women pursuing a Master of Science in Engineering, with an emphasis on water and wastewater treatment, the Stutz-McDonald Foundation scholarships, of which there are two a year, includes a $250 stipend for travel to the Society of Women Engineers annual conference.

For women considering careers in entrepreneurship or leadership and need the skills to advance to an executive role, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree program can help students develop a comfort with numbers, risk-taking qualities and insights into various industries to launch them on their desired career paths.

AAUW Selected Professional Focus Professions Group Fellowships

Fellowship grants that provide education and living expense to minority women pursing graduate studies, specifically African-Americans, Mexican Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. Targeted at graduate-level study in fields in which these groups have been historically underrepresented, including MBA programs (second year of study only); JD in law (third year of study only); and MD or DO in medicine (third or fourth year of study).

C200 Scholar Awards

As part of its “Reachout Program,” which partners women business leaders and entrepreneurs with MBA programs at various universities, the Committee of 200 awards to students in these programs who display leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. The scholarships are based on merit and need.

Sponsoring Organization: The Committee of 200

Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship Program

The Chicana/Latina Foundation is a regional organization serving Northern California. It awards merit-based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate schooling for students of Chicana/Latina heritage in designated counties of California.

Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship

A scholarship for women who are pursuing undergraduate and master’s degree programs in business administration. The organization awards twelve $7,000 international scholarships each year, as well as additional regional scholarships of $1,000 through local affiliates.

Little Family Foundation MBA Fellowship

These awards are only available to college graduates who have previously been involved in teaching through Junior Achievement (JA) program and who have worked in business for at least two years. The Little Family Foundation contributes at matching grant of $2,500 toward tuition costs in conjunction with participating schools, for a total of $5,000 in tuition relief.

Sponsoring Organization: Junior Achievement USA

Military MBA Scholarships

Military MBA offers scholarships to U.S. residents who have served in the military and who are pursuing an MBA. These scholarships are only valid at participating institutions, including Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management, and MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

Moss Adams Foundation Scholarships

This award is given annually to minority women pursing graduate degrees in accounting and business, including those attending master’s programs in business administration, banking and financial support services, and other related fields.

Sponsoring Organization: Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting

National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Graduate Scholarships

Open only to NBMBAA members, these scholarships are merit-based and open to African-Americans who are enrolled in an MBA program.

Toigo MBA Fellowship

Toigo Foundation MBA fellowships are open to any minority student, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor, including those who are African-American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, and/or South Asian American. In addition to MBA degrees, they can be applied to master’s degrees in real estate and finance.

Sponsoring Organization: Robert Toigo Foundation

Candidates with an appreciation for biology, anatomy and chemistry and want to apply concepts to a possible career path will find degrees in these areas valuable.

Nursing and Healthcare AACN Scholarships

AACN scholarships are targeted to further the continuing education and specialization goals of active registered nurses pursuing further graduate studies. They can cover up to $3,000 in tuition costs and other expenses, including up to $750 for travel.

Sponsoring Organization: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

AfterCollege/AACN Scholarships

A joint venture between the AACN and AfterCollege, this scholarship offers awards of $2,500 quarterly to graduate students in nursing programs, particularly those who are on track to become a nurse educator. Applicants must be members of the AACN.

Thompson Scholarship for Women in Safety

Awarded by the ASSE to women pursuing a graduate degree in fields related to occupational safety management and engineering, including occupational health nursing and medicine, fire and environmental safety, and industrial risk management.

Sponsoring Organization: American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)

Sponsoring Organization: Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA)

Sponsoring Organization: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

Hurst Reviews/AACN Nursing Scholarship

Open to nursing students who have not yet been licensed, this AACN administered scholarship is offered twice a year to cover tuition costs for one semester of nursing school.

Liberty Leadership Scholarships

A graduate-level continuing education scholarship for AOOHN members who are already in the occupational health and environmental nursing field, and who want to further career goals. Funding can be used for tuition, travel, and associated living expenses.

Sponsoring Organization: American Organization of Occupational Health Nurses (AOOHN)

NBNA Scholarships

Open to NBNA members who are currently enrolled in a nursing degree program and have at least one year left to complete, NBNA scholarships are targeted at helping minority nursing candidates complete their degrees on their way to a professional career in nursing.

Sponsoring Organization: National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

The DHHS’s Nurse Corps offers scholarships to nursing students in return for a commitment of at least two years of service at an approved healthcare facility in need of nurses. Nurse Corps scholarships cover tuition and other school-related costs, and include a monthly stipend (currently $1,316). Preference is given to those in financial need.

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Annette Haag Leadership Scholarships

An award designated for a licensed occupational and environmental health nurse to further his or her career goals through leadership education and training, including attendance of the AOOHN National Conference.

American Organization of Occupational Health Nurses (AOOHN) Professional Development and Academic Educational Scholarships

The AOOHN provides scholarships to support occupational and environmental healthcare nurses and professionals in furthering their careers through continuing education opportunities outside of the classroom, and through professional education programs. Two academic scholarships of $2,500, and two professional development scholarships of $1,500 are offered annually.

Social work degrees are useful for those with an interest in public health, counseling, psychology or public planning or policy. Courses and concentrations offer opportunities for students to work with families or children and potentially in mental health or educational institutions where they can assist others in need or represent the best interests of others who might be vulnerable or incapable of doing so themselves.

Social Work Scholarships American Cancer Society Health Professional Training Grants

The ACS targets one of its grants for Health Professional Training at second-year master’s degree students in clinical oncology social work. The grant covers two years of graduate training.

Sponsoring Organization: American Cancer Society (ACS)

American Society on Aging Graduate Student Research Award

The ASA’s Graduate Student Research Award is given to a student who is nominated by an ASA member for graduate research in the field of aging, including clinical social-work research in this area. Applicants must have a faculty sponsor and a fully formed research project ready to undertake.

Carol A. Sarchet Scholarship

This scholarship is open to students in the CSU Schools of Social Work; Education; Occupational Therapy; Human Development & Family Studies; Food Science & Human Nutrition; Family & Consumer Sciences; or Design & Merchandising. Candidates must be first generation students, and preference is given to those raised in foster or kinship care.

Sponsoring Organization: Colorado State University

Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial MSW Scholarship

The Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial scholarships are awarded to master’s degree candidates in social work who have demonstrated a commitment to working with American Indian, Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latino populations.

Sponsoring Organization: National Association of Social Workers

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund Scholarships

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund aims to support students working toward graduate and undergraduate degrees who are engaged in working for peace and social and economic justice in any applicable discipline, including social work.

Judith Holm Memorial Student Awards

This ACSWA grant program is for those in their second or final year of a master’s degree program in social work. Applicants are required to submit a paper recounting a professional field-placement intervention and its outcome, using current social-work theory and clinical literature.

Sponsoring Organization: American Clinical Social Work Association (ACSWA)

Shelomo Osman Memorial Awards

The Osman Awards are conferred by the ACSWA on first-year students in social work master’s degree programs. Applicants must submit a paper detailing a clinical intervention by the author, demonstrating an awareness of current social-work theory and practice, and describing the outcome.

Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial Scholarship

The NASW awards four scholarships annually in memory of Verne LaMarr Lyons, a social worker and NASW national staff member who died in 1989. The scholarships are designated for graduate students in social work who have demonstrated a commitment to working in African-American communities.

Sponsoring Organization: National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

With the increasing demand for educators, a degree in education at any level – early, secondary or special education – will help women advance by giving them the tools to work in any capacity, whether as teachers, professors, aides or administrators, to make an impact on the next generation on any campus.

Renshaw Fellowship

Doctoral students or applicants to doctoral programs in education who are members of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute can apply for the Renshaw Fellowship, which is targeted at individuals aiming to teach at the college level or to work as a superintendent or administrator/researcher in the field of curriculum development.

Sponsoring Organization: Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ICI)

Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers

Future high-school physics teachers can apply for a $2,000 scholarship from the AAPT. These scholarships are available to students pursuing a teaching certificate at the undergraduate and graduate school levels.

Sponsoring Organization: American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)

American Chemical Society (ACS)-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship

Administered by the American Chemical Society, the ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship is aimed at chemistry majors and professionals in the chemistry field who are pursuing a master’s in education with the intention of teaching chemistry. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and at least one year of experience working in a professional capacity. For those who have not spent at least a year working in a field related to chemistry, there is an ACS-Hach Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Scholarship

James Madison Fellowships/p>

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation offers aid to graduate students earning a degree in education who are committed to teaching at the secondary school level, and who demonstrate a defined interest in teaching the American Constitution.

Sponsoring Organization: James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation

JCC Association Graduate Scholarship Program

The JCC Association Graduate Scholarship Program provides funding for students earning degrees in Jewish communal service, nonprofit management or MBA, public policy, sports management, health and physical education, Jewish studies, social work, and early childhood education. Participants are required to maintain a field placement at a JCC during their studies, and to show a commitment to working in the JCC movement after completing their degree.

Sponsoring Organization: Jewish Community Centers of North America

Journalism Education Association (JEA) Future Teachers Scholarships

The JEA provides grants of $1,000 to students pursuing a master’s degree in education who are aiming to teach at the secondary school level. Current teachers of journalism may also apply for funding to earn a graduate degree.

Maley/FTEE Technology and Engineering Teacher Scholarship

Members of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association who are currently employed as technology and/or engineering teachers at any grade level can apply for this grant to begin or continue graduate-level study in education.

Sponsoring Organization: Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators

TEACH Grants

TEACH is short for Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education, and the Department of Education’s TEACH program is designed to offer assistance to teachers in training who commit to four years of teaching at a school or educational service in low-income communities, or in a field defined as “high-need.” The four years of teaching must be completed within eight years of earning a degree.

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Department of Education

Woodrow Wilson MBA Fellowships in Education Leadership

Woodrow Wilson MBA Fellowships in Educational Leadership are available to graduate students who are pursuing an MBA and who are interested in working in the field of education, as administrators and leaders. These fellowships are intended to cover the full tuition costs of an MBA in educational leadership, and are only available in participating states, currently Indiana and Wisconsin.

Sponsoring Organization: Woodrow Wilson National Fellowships Foundation

Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships

Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships are aimed at training and promoting teachers who are committed to teaching in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in Georgia, Indiana, and New Jersey. Applicants interested in earning a master’s degree in education in these states, and who are willing to commit to teaching math and/or science in an urban or rural school district, can qualify for full tuition plus a stipend.

When we invest in women and girls, we are investing in the people who invest in everybody else.

Scholarships dedicated to women serve one important goal: to encourage them to fill gaps in industries where they are underrepresented. Some of the top careers seeking an increase in women professionals include science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and some foundations and fellowships are willing to offer additional financial aid to low-income single women or those challenged by difficult life circumstances.

As women prepare to This section provides a detailed look at the essential actions for preparing a scholarship application, from inception to conclusion:

Research what scholarships are available by searching some key scholarship search tools such as fastweb.com , salliemae.com and scholarships.com and create a list of those you are qualified for. Lists can be as simple or as detailed as you prefer, but make sure you highlight the more pertinent information including the name of the scholarship or grant, deadline, eligibility guidelines such as minimum GPA, requirements and special area(s) of interest or focus. Keeping a calendar with dates also can be useful.

Gather necessary paperwork as required by each scholarship and make copies. Some scholarships may require similar information. As you begin compiling documentation, you may find it easiest to set up a folder or tracking system. Be sure to be honest in your applications about grades, qualifications, talents and skill levels. Following instructions also is critical to remain competitive.

Scholarship selection committees use essays to determine what makes an applicant unique and worthwhile in funding. It’s an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate their background, experiences, life goals and commitment to pursuing their professional objectives.

Letters serve as expert sources from others who can speak to the candidate’s qualifications and characters and show support for why they’re deserving of the scholarship for which they’re applying. It’s important to select those not related to the applicant but do know them in a professional or academic capacity and can speak of their achievements and abilities in a positive light. Be sure to ask for a letter well in advance so the letter can be included with the application or submitted separately on time for consideration.

This piece is an opportunity to introduce the candidate to the readers as an individual with a distinct personality, goals, desires, ambitions and accomplishments. Describing oneself with her own unique voice and theme succinctly is key. Make this section as compelling as possible to make it clear why you stand out and are full of promise.

Applications should be sent complete and with all necessary documentation. Some scholarships offer a checklist. Checking against the scholarship’s requirements could mean going through all paperwork multiple times. This also could mean recruiting the help of a family member, instructor or trusted peer for reassurance.

Making certain all documents have been proofread, edited for grammar and content and represent the candidate in the best light are important. Just as checking to make sure all attachments are in place, be sure there’s enough time for a trusted friend to read through the statements and application for spelling or punctuation errors; an application riddled with errors would make a poor impression on the committee reading it.

Once applications have been completed, it’s important to make sure they arrive in the hands of the funders on time for consideration. Note deadlines on a calendar or list and mark them off as they’ve been mailed or submitted electronically.

The following is a list of websites to scholarships, grants or fellowships dedicated to women graduate students, as well as organizations that center on activities or opportunities related to women.

The association offers an international fellowship to graduate or postgraduate students based on their academic achievement, professional potential and the likelihood they will help advance the future of women and girls in their country of origin. Applicants must provide a three- to five-minute video based on a social issue facing women such as education, health, violence against girls and women or others.

Leadership exCHANGE offers female students around the globe a four-week program to engage in university classes, activities to expose them to cultural experiences and community service opportunities. Applicants are judged based on their applications and could be contacted for an interview.

Scholarships are open to applicants enrolled in or have been accepted to baccalaureate or graduate engineering or computer science programs. Women applying for these scholarships must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and cannot be a current recipient of a Society of Women Engineers scholarship or already receiving full funding for tuition, books or fees from their college of choice or another organization such as the armed services or reimbursement from an employer.

Jane Klausman, part of the Zonta Club of Syracuse, New York, made a bequest in 1998 to establish this scholarship for women seeking opportunities in business management. Scholarships are awarded to women of any age living or studying in a district or region of Zonta International and applicants are selected by the local club.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration program is available to foster women’s interest in oceanography and marine science. The scholarship offers a year-long stipend of $30,000 and an allowance of up to $12,000 for costs pertaining to their education. Master’s students can receive two years of support and doctoral students can get up to four. Four scholarships are awarded per year.

Dr. Anita Borg (1949-2003) founded the Institute for Women and Technology. The scholarship seeks to motivate women to achieve in technology. Female undergraduate and graduate students are chosen based on academic performance and leadership skills and are invited to attend a Google retreat, build a network of support among peers and attend workshops, speakers and panelists. They also receive a financial award for a school year.

This organization supports the advancement of women in the accounting industry through research and educational opportunities. Graduate scholarships offered include the Institute of Management Accounts IMA, Rhonda J. B. O’Leary Memorial and Moss Adams Foundation to provide academic support. An application form is available at the Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting’s website, and applicants must provide personal and professional goals and demonstrate skills in accounting or business.

Women studying technology, computer science and engineering are encouraged to apply for an opportunity to visit Palantir’s headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif. for a day-long workshop. The workshop is a chance for women to understand how technology is impacting the world, plus finalists receive an amount between $1,500 and $10,000 in financial aid for their studies. Applications include an essay to describe a technical project the student has been working on or has completed and how technology was used as a strategy to achieving goals for the project.

The award, established by a bequest from physicist M. Hildred Blewett after her death in 2004, encourages women to go back to their careers in physics research after long periods of not working in their chosen fields. The fellowship award supplies up to $45,000 and permitted expenses include travel, salary, equipment, tuition and other fees. Applicants must already have completed some units toward a doctorate, and recipients will be judged based on actions they’ve taken toward returning to their career, the planned project and feasibility and academic significance.

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Top 72 Scholarships for Teachers in April 2024

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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Even though teaching is one of the most important professions, there can be many financial roadblocks to becoming a teacher in the United States. Getting a master’s or other advanced teaching-related degree can be very expensive, and many entry-level teaching positions do not pay enough to make these degrees feasible.

Luckily, there are programs out there to help relieve this burden, such as scholarships for teachers and teacher loan forgiveness. Whether you are a current teacher looking to further your education, or a recent graduate looking for scholarships for another education program, we’ve gathered the best scholarships for teachers to help you make your teaching dream come true!

Why choose Scholarships360

We helped over 4 million students find scholarships in 2023

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The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
• The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
• The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
• There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high… Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education. Show Less

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

Minority Teaching Fellows Program

Offered by College Pays Tennessee

Are you a minority student pursuing teacher certification to teach in Tennessee? If so, you may be interested in applying for the Minority Teaching Fellows… Show More

Are you a minority student pursuing teacher certification to teach in Tennessee? If so, you may be interested in applying for the Minority Teaching Fellows Program! The program is open to postsecondary minority students in Tennessee who are pursuing teacher certification to teach in Tennessee. Undergraduate applicants must be full-time upperclassmen (juniors and seniors), while all minority graduate applicants are eligible so long as they are enrolled at least half-time. The program is offered by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC), a non-profit corporation created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1974. They focus on increasing the number of Tennesseans with postsecondary credentials. Thus, every year, they award $5,000 scholarships to help multiple lucky recipients continue their education. If you are an aspiring, minority teacher in Tennessee, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Niche $25,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year!

Sherman & Frances L. Teller Teaching Credential Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by National Council of Jewish Women - Los Angeles (NCJW l LA)

The Sherman & Frances L. Teller Teaching Credential Scholarship is open to K-12 educators pursuing a multiple or single-subject teaching credential (including in special education… Show More

The Sherman & Frances L. Teller Teaching Credential Scholarship is open to K-12 educators pursuing a multiple or single-subject teaching credential (including in special education and ESL) at a University of California or California State University campus in the Greater Los Angeles area or the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The NCJW|LA Scholarship application cycle runs twice a year in the Spring and Fall. If you’re enrolled in a teaching credential program at a University of California or California State University campus in the Greater Los Angeles area or the University of Nevada Las Vegas, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

ALU LIKE, Inc. Hana Lima Scholarship

Offered by ALU Like, Inc.

Are you a Hawaii resident of Native Hawiian descent enrolled full-time (12 credits min.) in a 2-year vocational degree or vocational certification program in Hawaii?… Show More

Are you a Hawaii resident of Native Hawiian descent enrolled full-time (12 credits min.) in a 2-year vocational degree or vocational certification program in Hawaii? If so, you may be eligible for the ALU LIKE, Inc. Hana Lima Scholarship! Each year, their scholarship awards $1,500 each to multiple such students who are enrolled in a 2-year vocational program at an eligible institution of higher education in Hawaii (a full list of eligible institutions can be found on the ALU Like, Inc. website). Applicants must also hold a minimum 2.0 GPA to be considered. If you're a Native Hawaiian student and resident of Hawaii who will be attending a 2-year vocational program in your home state, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

ARFORA Helen Muntean Education Scholarship for Women

Offered by The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America

Are you a female communicant member of a parish or mission of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, or the wife or daughter of a… Show More

Are you a female communicant member of a parish or mission of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, or the wife or daughter of a communicant member who has completed her first year of an undergraduate degree? Additionally, are you studying to become a teacher? If so, you might consider applying for the ARFORA Undergraduate Scholarship for Women! The scholarship is funded by the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America with the goal of helping communicant members further their education and become teachers. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to selected students annually. The scholarship can be used for any educational expenses. If you’re a female, education major passionate about your faith as a part of the Roman Orthodox Episcopate of America and are looking for some help paying for college, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

We The Future Contest

Offered by Constituting America

The We The Future Contest is an amazing opportunity for anyone from elementary school students, to college students, to graduate students, teachers, and even senior… Show More

The We The Future Contest is an amazing opportunity for anyone from elementary school students, to college students, to graduate students, teachers, and even senior citizens to earn money for their knowledge about the Constitution. The Contest offers scholarships of varying amounts to students of different levels (from elementary to college/university level/category, and even graduate and senior adult levels). Depending on their category, applicants will have the choice to submit an essay, short film, social media video, song, PSA, or even a STEM project about the Constitution. To find out which you can submit for, we recommend checking out the different categories on Constituting America's website. If you have a passion for the U.S. Constitution, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship

Offered by The Kansas Board of Regents

Are you a current or aspiring teacher planning to teach in Kansas for at least a year? If so, you might be interested in applying… Show More

Are you a current or aspiring teacher planning to teach in Kansas for at least a year? If so, you might be interested in applying for the Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship! The scholarship is open to students pursuing bachelor's degrees in teaching, as well as current teachers and graduate students pursuing an endorsement in hard-to-fill disciplines or planning to teach in underserved areas. Applicants must also be willing to teach in Kansas for at least one year. The Kansas Board of Regents, a governing board, offers the scholarship program. They are responsible for the state's educational institutions and are dedicated to supporting the well-being of Kansas' public higher education institutions, the students who attend them, and Kansas citizens. Every year, they are proud to offer up to $5,830 to eligible recipients for their educational costs. If you are passionate about teaching and doing so in Kansas, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

Hawaii Education Association Student Teacher Scholarship

Offered by Hawaii Education Association

Are you a student teacher intending to teach in the Hawaii State Department of Education? Further, will you be enrolled in a State-Approved Teacher Education… Show More

Are you a student teacher intending to teach in the Hawaii State Department of Education? Further, will you be enrolled in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program or in a Hawaii SATE alternative licensure program for the upcoming academic year? If so, the Hawaii Education Association’s Student Teacher Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, they award $2,000 to two (2) student teachers aspiring to teach in the Hawaii State Depratment of Education who (a) will continue their enrollment in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program or in a Hawaii SATE alternative licensure program for the upcoming academic year. Scholarships are awarded to student teachers to minimize the need for employment during the student teaching semester. If you’re a student teacher aspiring to teach in Hawaii and are currently enrolled in a teacher education or licensure program, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship

Offered by MPOWER Financing

Are you an international or DACA female student looking to earn a STEM degree abroad? If so, you may be eligible for the MPOWER Women… Show More

Are you an international or DACA female student looking to earn a STEM degree abroad? If so, you may be eligible for the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship! The scholarship is open to international women who want to earn a STEM degree in the U.S. or Canada and are allowed to legally study in the U.S. or Canada. Thus, international women looking to study in the U.S. must have a Green Card, DACA status, or a valid visa. As for Canada, eligible applicants must be permanent residents or have a valid Canadian study permit. Each year, the scholarship recipients receive up to $6,000 to help pay for their degrees. If you are a woman in STEM and are looking for a scholarship opportunity, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

Teachers Test Prep “Pass the Torch” Scholarship

Offered by Teachers Test Prep

Are you an aspiring K-12 educator from Missouri? If so, consider applying for the Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship… Show More

Are you an aspiring K-12 educator from Missouri? If so, consider applying for the Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards two $5,000 awards: one to an aspiring elementary educator, and one to an aspiring secondary school educator. In addition, all finalists will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and one year of free access to any of Teachers Test Prep's Core Plus Online Prep Programs to help them pass the credentialing exams required by their state. Funds are awarded directly to the recipients to help pay for living expenses that financial aid typically doesn't cover so they can focus more time on preparing to become a credentialed teacher. To apply, interested individuals must submit an ~6-minute video in which they "tell their story." If you're an aspiring elementary or secondary school educator from Missouri, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship

Offered by Indiana Commission for Higher Education

The William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship is open to Black and Hispanic/Latine individuals from Indiana who are planning to teach in an accredited school… Show More

The William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship is open to Black and Hispanic/Latine individuals from Indiana who are planning to teach in an accredited school in Indiana upon graduation. Applicants must be first-time undergraduate students and must agree in writing to apply for teaching positions in Indiana and, if hired, teach in Indiana for at least three years. To renew the scholarship for subsequent academic years, a recipient must reapply for the scholarship each year and maintain the cumulative grade point average (GPA) required for admission to the institution’s school of education or at least a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent if the school does not require a minimum GPA. If you're an aspiring Black or Hispanic/Latino teacher from Indiana, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$2,000 No Essay CollegeVine Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeVine

Easy scholarship open to current high school students and college applicants. A free CollegeVine account with a completed chancing profile required to enter.

Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program

Offered by West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

Are you a high school senior or recent high school graduate from West Virginia who is pursuing a career as an educator in the fields… Show More

Are you a high school senior or recent high school graduate from West Virginia who is pursuing a career as an educator in the fields of math, science, elementary education, or special education? If so, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, up to 25 aspiring educators from West Virginia are chosen to receive $10,000 to go towards their post-secondary education. The scholarship can be received for up to four years, so long as the recipients continue to meet renewal requirements. Upon graduation from university, recipients of the scholarship are required to teach at a West Virginia public school in the fields of math, science, elementary education or special education under contract with a county board of education for a period of five consecutive years. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Julian Keen Memorial Scholarship

Offered by SWFL Heroes Foundation

Are you an aspiring military personnel, law enforcement officer, firefighter/EMT, or teacher who plans to work in Southwest Florida? If so, consider applying for the… Show More

Are you an aspiring military personnel, law enforcement officer, firefighter/EMT, or teacher who plans to work in Southwest Florida? If so, consider applying for the Julian Keen Memorial Scholarship! On a rolling basis, the scholarship awards roughly between $1,500 and $3,500 each to aspiring heroes who demonstrate both passion for helping others as well as financial need on their journey. If you're planning to work in Southwest Florida as military personnel, a law enforcement officer, firefighter/EMT, or teacher, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

How to win scholarships for teachers

Resources for teachers.

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As with any type of scholarship, scholarships for teachers are highly competitive. You’ll have to stand out in your applications in order to earn money. Before you start applying, do some reflection.

Think about the experiences that have motivated you to be a teacher and jot them down. Then, think about the change you hope to make in the world and make a rough plan of how you’ll accomplish it. Finally, think about experiences you’ve had, whether they are tutoring kids after-school or taking care of your younger siblings, which help demonstrate that you have talent in the field. Jot all of these down with bullet points or however feels most comfortable to you. You’ll come back to this sheet later to help you write your essays!

Writing strong essays

Writing a great scholarship essay takes a lot of skill. It’s not quite the same as other types of writing. Our guides on starting and ending scholarship essays, writing about yourself , and writing a winning scholarship essay can help you through. We can also help you tailor your writing to 250 or 500 word prompts, and help you respond to the common “ Why do you deserve this scholarship? ” prompt. Good luck!

National Education Association

Teaching is a dynamic and community-oriented field. Being a part of a professional organization like the NEA can be helpful in keeping up with the state of teaching as well as making connections with teachers around the country. They also help advocate for teachers’ rights and a host of other beneficial initiatives for teachers.

Association of American Educators

The AAE focuses on empowering teachers and students through collaboration and advocacy. Members receive benefits such as scholarships, classroom grants, networking opportunities, supplementary insurance, literature on the current state of teaching, and more.

Regional teachers’ organizations

These national organizations are a great way to plug into a huge nationwide network, but remember that it can also be beneficial to plug into some more local organizations. Working with local orgs can give you a better idea of the state of education in your city, county, or state. You’ll also have more opportunities to meet in-person and perhaps to find a job in your community.

Frequently asked questions about scholarships for teachers

Are there scholarships for teachers, what is the teach grant, how long is teacher loan forgiveness, additional scholarship lists to explore.

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You’ve made the decision: you’re going back to school to earn your graduate degree. Congrats! That’s a significant investment in your future that can pay dividends for decades.

Now, you just have to figure out how to pay for it.

Finding funding for graduate study is one of the more complex parts of the whole experience. There are thousands of scholarships out there and an array of other financial options that you should consider.

Here is some information that will help demystify the experience as we explore 9 strategies to pay for graduate school.

1. Understand the Whole Picture

The first thing to do is compile all the relevant information about your finances and graduate school costs. Try to write it down in one document so you fully understand the situation.

“Get a good sense for what the entire program of study will cost and contextualize that with both your current financial reality and your likely income after you find a job in your chosen field,” says Chrissie Chang, director of student services in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington.

When you do this, remember to include non-educational expenses, such as transportation, child care or your living expenses (which could change if you have to move to attend an in-person program). If you need to work less while in school, be sure to adjust your expected income over that period as well.

2. Start Early

Not everybody knows that you can apply for scholarships even before you get into a grad program. — Aaliyah Davis, manager, UW Graduate Funding Information Service

“Not everybody knows that you can apply for scholarships even before you get into a grad program,” says Aaliyah Davis, manager of the Graduate Funding Information Service at the University of Washington. “There are funding opportunities where they’ll award you money before admission, with the stipulation that you must show proof of enrollment before they pay you.”

Another piece of advice: pay attention to deadlines. Davis notes that many funding applications are due between October and March, so keep that in mind when you start your search.

3. See If Your Employer Can Help

One of the most popular options for paying for grad school is to have your employer subsidize your degree. This is now a common benefit offered by many companies.

“At least half of the organizations in the U.S. that I’ve seen provide some form of tuition reimbursement to employees,” says Justin Sun, a compensation adviser at Expedia Group and an instructor for UW Professional & Continuing Education's Certificate in Human Resources Management .

Large companies like Boeing and Amazon offer this benefit to their full-time, salaried employees. Many governments also offer tuition assistance to their workers (such as employees of the state of Washington ).

“My job is covering 100% of the cost of my degree,” says Cosmina Bartels, a Boeing employee currently enrolled in the UW Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics program. “If it weren’t for that financial benefit, I wouldn’t be able to get my master’s. Working for a company that will pay for my degree has been absolutely huge for my career.”

The amount that an individual employer will contribute toward your education varies; one study estimated the most common amount is $5,000–$6,000. Be sure to check with your organization to see if they offer a tuition reimbursement program and what percentage of the total cost it might cover. Also, note that most employers will require that you stay with the company for a minimum period of time after completing your schooling.

4. Research Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants

The best kind of school funding is the kind that’s given to you (and you don’t have to pay it back). Scholarships, fellowships and grants (the terms are generally interchangeable) should be high on your list of funding targets.

This type of grad school funding can come from anywhere: governments, foundations, civic groups, individuals and from colleges and universities themselves. That’s the good news.

It can be overwhelming. If you can narrow it down — say, filter by your gender or ethnic background — and pursue scholarships that specifically apply to you, you’ll have a better chance. — Kimbo Smith, graduate academic adviser, UW Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

“It can be overwhelming,” says Kimbo Smith, a graduate academic adviser in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the UW. “If you can narrow it down — say, filter by your gender or ethnic background — and pursue scholarships that specifically apply to you, you’ll have a better chance.”

Some scholarships also target professionals who are changing fields or returning to the workforce. Try using those keywords if this describes your situation. And, of course, be sure that any scholarships you’re considering apply to graduate study (because some are limited to undergraduate degrees).

5. Fill Out the FAFSA

Another important step, says Smith, is to make sure you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Once you’ve filled it out, any accredited graduate program you apply to can use it to determine your financial need and eligibility for various kinds of financial aid.

The FAFSA is also used to determine if you’re eligible for federal grants and loans. If you want to get a quick sense of what you might be awarded in these aid categories, you can fill out the Federal Student Aid Estimator . (This is not a replacement for the FAFSA itself, however.)

6. Reach Out to the School

It seems obvious, but it’s important to emphasize: always reach out and talk to someone at the school or program you want to attend. These advisers have the most knowledge about how students pay for their programs.

“While their website is a good place to start, the best way to discover what kinds of scholarships and opportunities a program offers is to talk to someone within that department,” says Davis. “Some students don’t realize this. They shouldn’t be afraid to reach out; the programs want to hear from interested students.”

After you’ve accepted an offer of admission and registered for the program, this opens up even more resources for finding grad school funding. As the manager of the UW’s Graduate Funding Information Service , Davis meets one-on-one with enrolled students to help them navigate the grad school funding process.

“Once you’re in, you’re eligible for many more opportunities — things like departmental funding and research centers,” she says.

7. Learn About Work Opportunities

Another popular funding option for many graduate programs is work-study, often called assistantships . This means you’ll work for the department (or another part of the university) to help pay for your school.

One traditional role is a teaching assistantship (TA), where you teach in the same department where you’re enrolled. Some of these positions allow you to waive some or all of your tuition costs. Others pay an hourly wage.

Another option is a research assistantship, where you typically help a faculty member on a research project (or conduct your own, often under supervision). There are also graduate assistantships, where you work in a more administrative role for the university (it doesn’t necessarily have to be in the department where you’re studying).

“Some students come to me only looking for TA roles, and they don’t know about these other positions,” Davis says. “You’re not limited; you can apply to work in other departments or places like campus cultural centers or libraries.”

8. Consider Loans (as a Last Resort)

Once you’ve filled out your FAFSA and explored all your options for employer benefits, scholarships and work-study, you might still face a funding gap. That’s when you might need to consider taking out a loan for grad school.

A note of caution: Not all student loans are created equal! Be sure you shop around and pay careful attention to interest rates and repayment terms (including when your loan payments will start).

Perhaps your best option is a federal student loan , which offers terms and benefits that many private loans do not. These include flexible repayment plans; cancellation, discharge or forgiveness of loans under certain circumstances; and postponement options if you experience hardship (like a global pandemic).

Be sure to contact your school or program adviser if you have any questions about loans. They can often steer you in the right direction (and prevent you from taking a wrong turn).

9. Advocate for Yourself

You did it. Your dream graduate school accepted you — but the cost is a major obstacle. Chang, who has years of experience helping admitted students with funding issues, encourages you to let an adviser know about your situation.

“Admissions committees these days typically have limited funding,” she notes. “Hearing from prospective students about their enthusiasm for the program is not a guarantee of a funding offer, but it definitely doesn't hurt.”

Want to discover more helpful content about grad school? Check out our go-to guide for applying to graduate school for links to additional articles.

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David Hirning

David Hirning is an accomplished writer and editor with extensive experience in both tech and higher education. He began his career in journalism, then spent over a decade as an editor at Microsoft, where he worked on Encarta Encyclopedia and related reference products.

David worked for six years as a full-time writer and content manager at UW Professional & Continuing Education. He also operated his own editorial consulting business, with stints at leading companies like Amazon and Expedia, and taught English for two years in Costa Rica.

David has served as an instructor for the UW Certificate in Editing program and as a teaching assistant for the UW Certificate in Storytelling & Content Strategy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Stanford University and a Certificate in Literary Fiction from the UW.

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How to Choose a Graduate School: 7 Tips for Success

So you’ve made the decision to go to grad school. You’ve weighed your options , researched the benefits of a graduate education , and discovered the value of having an advanced degree . Now it’s time to choose which program to pursue—a task that can seem overwhelming given the number of options available.

But the process doesn’t have to be so daunting. There are actions you can take to make choosing a graduate degree program more manageable—exciting, even. As you take the next step toward your personal and professional goals, take note of the following tips to help you choose a graduate school and degree program best suited for you.

Difference Between Grad School and Undergrad Programs

Before you start searching for the right graduate school for you, it’s essential to know what to expect for this new career trajectory you’ll be embarking on. Unlike an undergraduate program, grad programs are highly specialized and much more advanced in your field of study.

Prospective graduate students can expect a far more individualized experience as they work closely with students and professors. Due to this specialization, entering a graduate program will be an investment of time that’ll ultimately help elevate your expertise and career choices.

Tips for Choosing a Graduate School

1. Take inventory of your passions and motivations.

Pursuing a graduate education is a big investment, so it’s critical to understand the unique “ why ” behind your decision. What do you hope to achieve by going back to school? Whether you’d like to gain more specialized knowledge, change careers, earn a promotion, increase your salary potential, or achieve a lifelong personal goal, make sure the program you choose will help get you there.

Examine the curricula and course descriptions of various degree programs, and assess how each offering aligns with your passions and interests. Graduate school is challenging, but it will feel more manageable if you’re working toward something that matters to you. Understanding your expectations and what you want to get out of the program is the first step in choosing a degree that will be a good fit.

2. Do your research and explore your options.

Once you’ve determined your motivations for returning to school, leave yourself time to research the types of degree programs available in your preferred area of study and the opportunities each can create.

Resources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook can give you a sense of typical career paths by industry, along with the educational degree requirements for each. The handbook also provides market growth forecasts and earning potential to help inform your decision.

It’s also important to note the structure and focus of each program. Even in the same discipline, a program’s focus can vary among institutions. Does the curriculum emphasize theory, original research, or a more practical application of knowledge? Whatever your goals may be, make sure the program’s focus aligns with the educational experience that will provide you with the most value. Career changers, for example, who likely don’t have industry experience, might prefer a program with access to hands-on learning opportunities or a path for completing prerequisites like Northeastern’s Align and Bridge programs.

While conducting your research, don’t be afraid to utilize your professional network. Speak with colleagues who have pursued an advanced degree in your industry and reach out to alumni of the institutions you’re considering. Listening to their experiences as a graduate student and in the job market post-degree can help you gauge if the program is in line with your goals.

3. Keep your career goals in mind.

After exploring your range of program options, consider your career goals and how each specific graduate program can help you get there.

If you’re seeking a specialized area of focus, be sure to examine the program concentrations offered at each institution. One graduate program in education might prepare you to specialize in higher education administration or elementary instruction, while other institutions may offer concentrations in special education or classroom technology. Make sure the program you choose reflects your career interests.

Alternatively, if you’re unsure of exactly where your career path may take you, you may want to consider a broader degree that can give you flexibility in its application. Some degree programs, such as a Master of Business Administration , teach skills that can be applied across multiple professions. If this is the path you’d prefer to pursue, pick a degree that will remain relevant as you move around in your career.

Examine the types of credentials professionals in the industry possess and research the types of skills potential employers are looking for. Check to see that the degree program offers opportunities to learn and develop those same skills. You’ll want to make sure the program you’re investing your time in will arm you with the knowledge you can actually apply in the real world.

Some professions also require board certification and/or state licensure. For example, someone interested in becoming a ​​project manager must complete 35 hours of relevant training before gaining eligibility to sit for the certification exam. You’ll want to ensure that the graduate program you ultimately decide on is fully accredited and will help you meet any certification or licensure requirements.

Location is also an important factor to consider when thinking about potential employment opportunities after graduation. Individuals interested in financial services may consider schools in a major banking center, such as Charlotte , while those pursuing a technology career might look for programs in Silicon Valley .

Further, if your goal is to work for a specific company, do your research to determine where graduates of the programs you’re looking at are working. Universities often have corporate partnerships in which employers recruit graduates to work at their organization. Check to see if your dream company partners with any nearby universities.

4. Make sure the program fits your lifestyle.

While aligning your career goals, make sure the degree program you choose will realistically fit within your lifestyle, and determine what level of flexibility you need. There are many options available that will allow you to earn an advanced degree at the right pace and in the right format for you.

Some degrees can be earned in as little as 12 months, while others can take years. Determine how much time you’re willing to invest, considering your personal values, work and family commitments, and the type of graduate experience you’d like to have.

Full-time graduate studies are not for everyone. If you’re a working professional, you may benefit from the increased flexibility provided by a part-time degree program. You might also consider the benefits of online or hybrid graduate programs that provide access to worldwide institutions that may have otherwise not been an option.

5. Consider your finances.

Decide what you can afford for graduate school, and don’t forget to factor in both the up-front costs, such as tuition and textbooks, and hidden fees, like transportation and student activity costs. While your education is an investment, make sure you can cover the costs associated with earning your graduate degree.

Paying for graduate school can seem intimidating, but there are many different options available to you. While you narrow down your list of schools, be sure to check out the financial aid options at each institution. Along with scholarships , loans, and grants, some schools may offer assistantships or fellowships for graduate students.

For those who may already be working in their industry, your employer may offer tuition reimbursement , which pays for a predetermined amount of continuing education credits or college coursework to be applied toward a degree. Contact your company’s human resources department to determine whether tuition reimbursement is available to you and if your program of interest meets the eligibility requirements.

All of these options will help ease the costs associated with your education and could help you earn valuable experience to enhance your resumé. You may also want to consider your future earning potential and job opportunities when weighing your options—you want your degree to be worth the money, time, and energy you put into earning it.

6. Talk to admissions advisors, students, and alumni.

When determining your graduate school options, it’s important to talk to current students and alumni. Begin by creating a list of questions to ask, such as:

• Do you have enough academic and career guidance?
• What do you like and dislike about your program?
• Are you happy with your professors?
• Are there co-op and internship opportunities available to you?
• How do you feel about the student community?
• What do you wish you knew before enrolling?

What students and alumni tell you might surprise you and could be extremely valuable in determining the right graduate school for you.

Speak With a Student Ambassador

 Talk to an ambassador who’s been there and done that.

You can also speak with graduate admissions advisors to help you narrow your options. They have experience guiding students to make this type of decision and can provide you with the outcomes of past students whose goals were similar to yours. In speaking with the institution’s alumni and mentor network, you also have the opportunity to assess the type of connections you can make there and how they may help you get ahead after graduation.

7. Network with faculty.

Faculty can make or break your graduate school experience. Take the time to reach out to your potential professors and get to know them. Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions about their background to see if it aligns with what you want to learn.

Apply to universities that have one or more professors who focus on your area of interest and with whom you can imagine collaborating while earning your degree. Determine if they can help facilitate your growth, and go with a program where you’re comfortable with the faculty.

Applying to Graduate School

After narrowing down your options and determining which graduate programs align most closely with your career goals, lifestyle, and personal interests, you’re ready to begin the application process. It might seem intimidating, but applying to graduate school is simple so long as you remain organized and are well-prepared.

While the application requirements may look different depending on the institution and type of degree program you’re applying to, there are certain materials that you’ll likely be asked for as part of your grad school application. These include:

• An application form
• Undergraduate transcripts
• A well-optimized professional resumé
• A statement of purpose or personal statement
• Letters of recommendation
• GRE, GMAT, or LSAT test scores (if required)
• An application fee

Do your research to determine what the application requirements are for your program of choice, and remain conscious of deadlines. 

Remember that Graduate School Is a Stepping Stone

When deciding which program to pursue, it’s important to remember that graduate school is a stepping stone toward your personal and professional goals—not the final destination. That said, the clearer you are on what you want to do following graduation, the easier it will be to find a program that aligns with your goals.

Start early, keep your search organized , and reach out for support. In the end, only you can decide which program will be best for you. No matter what program you choose to pursue, with commitment, resilience, and hard work, you can find success.

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Fellowships vs. scholarships vs. grants: what is the difference.

When pursuing a graduate degree, understanding the various funding options is crucial. Scholarships, grants, and fellowships play distinct roles in supporting students financially. Scholarships recognize academic excellence, grants address financial need, and fellowships offer specialized opportunities. Let’s explore each type in detail to help you make informed decisions about funding your graduate education.

Fellowships provide financial support for pursuing a graduate degree. They often relate to short-term opportunities for study or research in a specific field.  While scholarships and grants are more common, fellowships offer unique experiences and may include research stipends, travel allowances, or other benefits.

Scholarships for graduate students are typically awarded based on academic and professional achievements. They can come from schools, nonprofit organizations, or private companies.These awards do not need to be repaid and are often merit-based

Grants are awarded based on financial need rather than past achievements. They can come from federal or state sources, as well as nonprofit organizations. As a graduate student, you may be eligible for grants that help cover tuition, fees, and living expenses. Unlike loans, grants do not require repayment.

In summary, scholarships recognize achievement, grants address financial need, and fellowships offer specialized support for graduate students. Exploring these options can help you reduce the burden of student loans and make your graduate education more affordable

Sun Devil wins world-building competition with game that imagines a better future

2 asu grad school scholarships awarded in worlds for change challenge.

ASU animation student Victoria Silva (left) and Vedika Bhasin, an augmented reality artist based in the San Francisco Bay area, both won a $60,000 scholarship to graduate school at ASU in the Worlds for Change Challenge announced recently at the SXSW 20 fest in Austin, Texas.

An Arizona State University student has won a scholarship for graduate school by designing an extended-reality game that reimagines the landscape of her native Guam.

Victoria Silva, an animation major in the School of Art who was one of two Worlds for Change grand prize winners, created “Leeward,” a 3D gardening game about conservation and identity from an indigenous perspective.

The other winner is Vedika Bhasin, an augmented reality artist based in the San Francisco Bay area who designed “Grok,” an extended-reality experience from the perspective of someone with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, with the goal of understanding neurodivergence.

Both artists won a $60,000 scholarship to attend one of ASU’s transdisciplinary extended-reality graduate degree programs at the MIX Center in Mesa or at the ASU California Center Broadway in downtown Los Angeles.

The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts launched the Worlds for Change Challenge last September, asking artists to create a virtual world illustrating a positive future. The competition was open to any current or recently completed undergraduate student or early-career professional.

Competitors followed this prompt: “Show us a moment of everyday life in the future from a world that you would like to see.”

The winners were announced recently at the SXSW 24 festival in Austin, Texas.

Silva knew about the competition and attended the kickoff event in September, but didn’t think she had any ideas that could change the world. She played around and realized that she had already done much of the work necessary.

“I did the world building on 'Leeward' until I reached the point where I couldn’t work on it anymore. I needed to execute it, but I didn’t have the technical skills,” she said.

So she took an eight-week crash course on how to use the Unreal engine through Code Coven, a coding academy for game developers from marginalized communities.

Silva is CHamoru, an Indigenous person from the island of Guam, a U.S. territory where she was born and raised. Her family moved away 16 years ago.

“One day at my job I was doodling this little concept, ‘What if there was a little place to germinate plants and what if we repurposed things and repaired things?’

“The experience of the game is repairing and rejuvenating the island after the effects of climate change and colonialism and tourism overload,” she said.

“It’s an opportunity to talk about the struggles and things that Pacific Islanders encounter when they’ve moved away and want to reconnect with their island.”

Silva said that, for many people, their only knowledge of Guam is from its history as a battle site during World War II.

“I wanted the narrative to be more positive,” she said.

She started collecting old photos of different spots in Guam and comparing them with modern photos of the same place. She came across an old photo album on eBay from the 1950s, when a military family was based on Guam.

“There were photos I hadn’t seen before, and one was of a bungalow, which was the first thing I 3D modeled in the game,” she said. She made the bungalow into a greenhouse.

In the game, the player is an islander who returns for their grandmother's funeral after having spent time away. The player can restore parts of the island through gardening and other actions. Some of the tasks are cultural, such as restoring a mural.

"Leeward" includes weather and natural disasters, like typhoons, volcanos, earthquakes and invasive plant and animal species, as well as real settings, such as the beach, jungle, village and a sacred area that’s been used as a military zone.

The game is not ready for release yet.

“It’s still an early concept, and I’ll work on it as my applied project for the extended arts degree program,” said Silva, who expects to complete her BFA in December.

Silva is already a working artist. She’s part of SaturnHex , a two-person independent art studio in Phoenix focused on illustration and design through silkscreen and risograph printing, and she also teaches screen printing.

“I’m interested in continuing to teach, especially if it’s related to the work I’m doing in making games and storytelling and world building,” she said.

“Even though the project is very focused on an experience of someone from the Pacific and an islander, I hope it’s a game that everyone can learn from and enjoy.”

The Worlds for Change Challenge had several sponsors and partners The sponsors were the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, the ASU Thunderbird School of Global Management, the Center for Science and the Imagination, ASU Narrative and Emerging Media, The Luminosity Lab, Dreamscape Learn and the Nemesis Club. Presenting sponsors were Intel+Lenovo, Pixera/AV Stumpfl, Planar/Optitrack and Volvox Labs. Partners were ASU MEDIAted eXperiences Lab, ASU METEOR Studio, Games for Change, Our Future Life and Brelyon. .

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