Graduate Scholarships and Resources for Education Students

American Indian Education Fund

• Partnership With Native Americans
• $1,000-$2,000
• April deadline
• Applicants must be American Indian, Alaska Native, and/or Native Hawaiian students. The applicants must be attending an in-person accredited university or college and hold a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Description: This scholarship provides support to Native American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian students.

Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship

• Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE)
• $1,000
• October deadline
• Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and be enrolled in a school-based health education program at an accredited college in the United States or a U.S. territory.

Description: Health and physical education graduate students are eligible for this scholarship from SHAPE America. Funds can be spent however the recipient desires.

Beinecke Scholarship

• Sperry Fund
• $34,000
• Annually, the second Wednesday in February
• Applicants must attend one of 135 participating universities and be nominated by their school. Applicants should have a declared study in the field of arts or humanities with plans to enter a research-focused master’s, doctoral, or MFA program.

Description: This program seeks to encourage highly motivated students to study arts, humanities, and social sciences.

BHD Endowed Scholarship For Teachers

• Central Scholarship
• Up to $2,500
• April deadline
• Applicants must be Maryland residents attending any accredited U.S. college or university. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The application includes an interview, financial need analysis, and essay.

Description: This scholarship is for graduate students planning to teach in the Maryland public school system who have an undergraduate degree in a subject other than teaching.

Career Development Grant

• American Association of University Women
• $2,000-$20,000
• November deadline
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents whose last degree was received before June 30, 2015.

Description: This grant provides funding for women holding a bachelor’s degree who are studying education, STEM, or social sciences. Primary consideration is reserved for women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree.

Charles Dillman Scholarship

• American Foundation for the Blind and the American Council of the Blind
• $2,000-$7,500
• February deadline
• Applicants must submit proof of legal blindness with the application.

Description: This award is for those studying education or disability rehabilitation.

Davis-Putter Scholarship

• Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
• Up to $15,000
• April deadline
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in or already accepted to an accredited university or college or a trade school or technical program awarding college credits. Candidates must be able to explain their involvement with a social justice or economic justice progressive movement.

Description: These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are actively championing social and economic justice in the United States.

Donald L. Landry Graduate Scholarship

• Massachusetts Reading Association (MRA)
• $1,000
• February deadline
• Applicants must attend an accredited college in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, be a member of the MRA, and participate in the annual MRA conference.

Description: Open to certified teachers enrolled in a master of education program and working toward reading specialist licensure.

Dr. Marc Hull Special Education Leadership Scholarship

• Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
• $1,500
• February deadline
• Applicants must be residents of Vermont seeking a license in special education with demonstrated community involvement and service. You must also have a minimum 3.0 GPA at an accredited school.

Description: Honoring former Vermont commissioner and educator Dr. Marc Hull, this scholarship is dedicated to creating equal learning opportunities for all students, especially those with disabilities.

Educational Administration Scholarship

• AASA, The School Superintendents Association
• $2,500 (amount varies)
• September deadline
• Applicants must be recommended by the chair of their school of education to be considered for this scholarship. Only one application per college or university campus is considered.

Description: This scholarship benefits seven top graduate students who intend to become school superintendents.

Elementary Mathematics Specialist Scholarship

• Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators
• $2,000
• June deadline
• Applicants must have three years of full-time teaching experience.

Description: Elementary education is the focus of this scholarship. Recipients must work toward specialization in mathematics knowledge and teaching.

George Bornoff Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Foundation for the Advancement of String Education and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
• $1,000
• December deadline
• Applicant must be an ASTA member and must have been actively working as a string teacher for no more than five years.

Description: Graduate students returning to school for a music education degree are eligible for this scholarship. Funds are used toward registration at the annual ASTA National Conference.

Hach Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Scholarship

• American Chemical Society
• $6,000 for full-time students, $3,000 for part-time
• May deadline
• Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in chemistry or a chemistry-related discipline and less than one year of work experience.

Description: Future high school chemistry teachers earning their graduate degree in education can benefit from this scholarship. The funds can be used toward a master’s degree in education or a secondary chemistry or science certification. Recipients also receive support and mentoring for a three-year period.

Isabel M. Herson Scholarship in Education

• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority National Education Foundation, Inc.
• $500-$1,000
• February deadline
• Applicants will need to submit three letters of recommendation, an official transcript, documentation of community service activities, and an essay discussing their educational goals and aspirations.

Description: Zeta women enrolled in a graduate degree program in either elementary or secondary education may benefit from this scholarship.

Leon Bradley Scholarship Program

• American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA)
• $3,500
• May deadline
• Applicants must be in their final year of completing certification/endorsement requirements, which can include student teaching.

Description: The AASPA aims for all students to see diversity among their educators. To further that goal, two minority candidates seeking their teaching certification endorsements receive this annual scholarship.

NACA Foundation Graduate Scholarships

• National Association for Campus Activities
• $300
• March deadline
• Only the first 75 applications will be considered. Scholarships cover various regions; applicants should designate which region they are in when applying.

Pi Lambda Theta Graduate Student Scholar Award

• Phi Delta Kappa International
• $500-$4,000
• April deadline
• Applicants must be members of Pi Lambda Theta and be full-time graduate education students at a university or four-year college.

Description: Students who stand out in their specific educational disciplines and are active in their community are the best applicants for this scholarship.

State University Grant (SUG) Program

• The California State University
• $3,588 per semester
• March deadline
• Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application to be considered.

Description: California residents are eligible to receive this need-based grant to go toward tuition expenses.

TEACH Grant

• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
• $4,000
• Varies
• Applicants must be enrolled in a program eligible to accept the TEACH Grant and maintain a 3.25 GPA.

Description: To receive this grant, you must sign a TEACH grant agreement to serve as a full-time teacher for four years at an elementary or secondary school or educational service agency serving low-income students. This requirement must be completed within eight years of graduating. If this qualification is not met, the grant is converted into a student loan that must be repaid with interest.

Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship

• National Collegiate Athletic Association
• $24,000
• January deadline
• Applicants should be members of a varsity team and hold a 3.5 GPA. Applicants must be graduating seniors or be enrolled full-time in graduate study at an NCAA member institution.

Description: Student-athletes with superior character and leadership are recognized with this annual, renewable scholarship for their success in sports and their ability to achieve national distinction for their achievements.

American Fellowship—Dissertation Fellowship

• American Association of University Women
• $25,000
• November deadline
• Funds are available to female students in all fields of study. Applicants are eligible to use these funds after completing all coursework, passing all preliminary exemptions, and receiving approval for their research proposals. The funds should be used during their final year of writing the dissertation.

Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
• $28,000
• December deadline
• Applicants should be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or individuals with current status under the DACA program. Applicants must show evidence of superior academic achievement and be committed to a career in teaching and research at the university level.

Future Immersion Teacher Fellowship

• French Dual Language Fund
• $10,000
• June deadline
• Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree with an intent to pursue a master’s degree and teaching credential to become a teacher in the French dual language program. Alternatively, applicants may also be current French teachers pursuing a specialized certification to become trained in dual language and immersion pedagogy.

Hoosier STEM Academy Academic Fellowship

• Purdue University, Ball State University, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
• $30,000
• June deadline
• Applicants must have majored in a STEM subject or have 30 or more college-level credits in the STEM field for their bachelor’s degree. Candidates must also commit to teaching a STEM subject in an underserved Indiana secondary school for three years.

Humane Studies Fellowship Graduate Sabbatical Grants

• Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University
• Up to $15,000
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and should be submitted at least four months before the semester begins.
• Applicants must be enrolled in an MA, PhD, or post-doctoral program and have published previously or have an article currently under review.

James Madison Graduate Fellowship

• James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
• Up to $24,000
• March deadline
• Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in 12 credits per semester of Constitutional study. Recipients of the scholarship must be willing to teach American history in a secondary school for at least one academic year.

Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) Texas Relay Residency

• Relay Graduate School of Education and KIPP Public Schools
• $100,000+
• Deadline TBD
• Applicants for this fully paid two-year residency should be working toward a master of arts in teaching. Residents are placed in elementary or secondary math, science, social studies, and/or English classes in Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio.

Knowles Teaching Fellowship

• Janet H. and C. Harry Knowles Foundation
• Up to $150,000
• January deadline
• Applicants should have a degree in a major related to mathematics or science that they intend to use to teach in grades 9-12 no later than September 2023. Candidates should also be in their first, second, or third year of teaching during the 2023-2024 school year.

Math for America Master Teacher Fellowship

• Math for America (MƒA)
• $60,000
• April deadline
• Applicants should have at least three years of math or science teaching. Candidates should be teaching math or science for at least 60% of their schedule in a New York City public school. Previous fellows are not eligible.

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

• Paul & Daisy Soros Foundation
• Up to $90,000
• October deadline
• Applicants qualify as “new Americans” if they are resident aliens who hold a green card, have been naturalized as a U.S. citizen, or are the child of two parents who are both naturalized citizens. Candidates should have or be working toward their bachelor’s degree and may not be in their final year of study in a graduate program.

Academic Coaching

Harvard’s academic coaches help students set short- and long-term goals, manage anxieties, and adopt a growth mindset to help them succeed in their graduate program.

Accountability Groups

Social support is key in accountability groups like those organized by Harvard’s Academic Resource Center. Surrounded by like-minded students, you can set goals, work alongside one another, and report your progress regularly.

Graduate School Writing Centers

Schools like the University of Maryland offer writing groups, workshops, and writing and oral consultations for all levels of student coursework.

Peer Tutoring

Through Harvard’s Academic Resource Center, students can connect with trained peers for help in specific classes or get assistance developing a study strategy.

Skill-building Workshops

Harvard offers organized workshops to encourage students to build and strengthen skills such as time management, semester planning, self-care, note-taking, and problem-solving.

Center on Reinventing Public Education

Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College provides up-to-date research about student expectations, systems in schools, politics of change in education, and school-related innovations.

Directory of Open Access Journals

Searching within the “Education” section on this site gives you access to journals and articles related to your specific topic.

Education Alliance at Brown University

The Education Alliance works to advance equal education opportunities in the 21st century for students from all backgrounds. This website is a compilation of resources to help educators create a supportive environment.

Library of Congress Classroom Materials

Students can easily incorporate primary sources into their presentations or instruction with these accessible materials.

National Center for Education Statistics

A one-stop shop for research regarding education on all levels. This website reports data and scientific evidence directly from the U.S. Department of Education.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

Founded in 1916, the AFT has 1.7 million members including teachers, paraprofessionals and other school personnel, and higher education faculty. AFT offers Share My Lesson, with 400,000 free activities and lessons.

International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement

National research institutions, governmental research agencies, scholars, and analysts come together to share and conduct large-scale comparative studies of education to inform teachers and policymakers.

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

This elite certification is created by teachers, for teachers to recognize high standards and notable accomplishments in the classroom.

National Education Association (NEA)

As the largest labor union in the United States, the NEA represents over three million public education professionals through affiliate organizations in every state.

National School Boards Association

This association aims for excellence and equality in public education via the school board leadership throughout the United States.

Academic Society for Grad Students Facebook Group

Discuss with and learn from fellow graduate students on topics ranging from organization and time management to specific class resources.

Diigo

Using a Diigo educator account, teachers and students can organize, share, and discuss relevant online content on a variety of subjects in one place. Using highlight tools, tags, and outlines, you can communicate ideas with your students or fellow educators.

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

This group shares resources including safe and informative YouTube channels, printable materials, tips for student engagement, and approved apps for common topics in the classroom.

Scholastic Teachers

The official Facebook page of the popular Scholastic.com website provides educators with resources, book recommendations, and literacy tools for all grade levels. There is also an Instagram and Twitter community.

Teaching Resources by Laura Candler

Retired elementary educator Laura Candler provides helpful teaching resources and solutions on this Facebook page. She also offers free-to-print materials.

TED

The TED Facebook page and website help educators engage with their students through topics like handling emotions and creating lasting change in the classroom.

A top-notch application is about more than just your GPA. To be a top candidate, you’ll need to show off your accomplishments outside of the classroom, too.

The extracurriculars that look best in your scholarship application include leadership positions, community service, and academic clubs. Volunteering experience is also impressive because it shows that you care about making a difference in your community. If you’re particularly passionate about a subject like art or sustainability, make these activities a focal point of your application and let them help convey your interests and personality.

Letters of recommendation should be written by professionals in your life who are familiar with your work, including professors in your field of study or workplace supervisors. The letters should discuss distinct examples of your work and work ethic, your achievements, and any specific details to set you apart from other applicants.

Prior to sending a recommendation request, have a discussion with the authors about the scholarship and about specific accomplishments they could mention in their letter. Allow plenty of time for them to write high-quality letters, and don’t forget to send them a thank-you note afterward.

Essay prompts vary from general inquiries into your upbringing or expertise to specific questions regarding your subject of study. Always aim to be personable and specific in your response to an essay question. Add details and be thorough to keep the reader engaged from start to finish.

For a jumping-off point, research the essays written by past scholarship recipients to get clues on what each scholarship committee is looking for. Consider the structure and points made in those essays and expand upon that with your own experiences.

It’s wise to get an extra set of eyes on your essays before submitting them. Visit your local writing lab or ask professors for feedback, and allow yourself plenty of time to make edits and modifications before you submit the finished product.

Submitting your scholarship application early has several benefits. Not only are you less stressed about the deadline, but you also will appear more put-together than the students submitting applications at 11:59 p.m.

To prepare for scholarship season, create a schedule of all the applications you want to complete. The earlier you get those applications in, the less stressed you’ll be and the more you can focus on the next application on the list.

Treat each scholarship application like the final exam for your hardest class. Before you submit your application, double-check the grammar in your essay, ensure all the materials are in order and easily accessible, and review the requirements one last time. Generally once you hit “submit,” if you realize you left out an important document or forgot to include something there’s nothing you can do.

Present all your information professionally and completely so it’s easy for the committee to review your submission. The more organized you are, the better you’ll feel about the review process and the more likely it is the committee will pick you as their scholarship recipient.