Graduate Scholarships and Resources for Education Students

ACS-Hach Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Scholarship

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

American Indian Education Fund

• Organization: Partnership With Native Americans
• Amount: $500-$2,000
• Annual Deadline: April-May
• Eligibility: Applicants must be American Indian, Alaska Native, and/or Native Hawaiian. The applicants must attend an in-person, accredited university or college and hold a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship

• Organization: Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE)
• Amount: $1,000
• Annual Deadline: October 15
• Eligibility: Health and physical education graduate students are eligible for this scholarship from SHAPE America. Funds can be spent however the recipient desires. 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.

Beinecke Scholarship

• Organization: Sperry Fund
• Amount: $35,000
• Annual Deadline: Last Friday in March
• Eligibility: Applicants must attend one of 135 participating universities and be nominated by their school. Applicants should be in their junior year and have a declared study in the field of arts or humanities with plans to enter a research-focused master’s, doctoral, or MFA program.

BHD Endowed Scholarship For Teachers

• Organization: Central Scholarship
• Amount: Up to $2,500
• Annual Deadline: April 1
• Eligibility: Applicants must be Maryland residents attending any accredited U.S. college or university and planning to teach in the Maryland public school system. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in a subject other than teaching and a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The application includes an interview, financial need analysis, and essay.

Career Development Grant

• Organization: American Association of University Women
• Amount: Up to $20,000
• Annual Deadline: Mid-November
• Eligibility: Applicants must be or identify as women who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents whose last degree was received before June 30, 2017. Candidates must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree or certification in education, health and medicine, science, technology, engineering, math, or social sciences. Preference will be given to those who have overcome challenges beyond their control or who were the first in their family to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Preference also will be given to applicants who reside or will matriculate at a school in Arkansas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee, or Indiana.

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

• Organization: Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
• Amount: Up to $15,000
• Annual Deadline: April 1
• Eligibility: This scholarship is need-based and is for candidates involved with movements for progressive social change. 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.

Donald L. Landry Graduate Scholarship

• Organization: Massachusetts Reading Association (MRA)
• Amount: $1,000
• Annual Deadline: February
• Eligibility: Applicants must attend an accredited college in Massachusetts, be a member of the MRA, and participate in the annual MRA conference. The application requires a 350-word essay.

Dr. Marc Hull Special Education Leadership Scholarship

• Organization: Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
• Amount: $1,500
• Annual Deadline: February
• Eligibility: 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.

Educational Administration Scholarship

• Organization: AASA, The School Superintendents Association
• Amount: $2,500
• Annual Deadline: September 30
• Eligibility: 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.

Elementary Mathematics Specialist Scholarship

• Organization: The Math Learning Center
• Amount: $2,000
• Annual Deadline: June 15
• Eligibility: Applicants must have three years of full-time teaching experience and plan to become elementary mathematics specialists.

Ferrell Scholarship

• Organization: Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Amount: $1,000
• Annual Deadline: Spring
• Eligibility: This award is for those studying for a career in the field of services to persons who are blind or visually impaired. The scholarship is awarded every other year, in even years.

George Bornoff Memorial Scholarship

• Organization: Foundation for the Advancement of String Education and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
• Amount: $1,000
• Annual Deadline: October
• Eligibility: Applicant must be an ASTA member and actively working as a string teacher for no more than eight years. 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.

Isabel M. Herson Scholarship in Education

• Organization: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority National Education Foundation, Inc.
• Amount: $500-$1,000
• Annual Deadline: February 1
• Eligibility: Applicants submit three letters of recommendation, an official transcript, documentation of community service activities, and an essay discussing their educational goals and aspirations. Zeta Phi Beta members should be enrolled in a graduate degree program in either elementary or secondary education.

Leon Bradley Scholarship Program

• Organization: American Association of School Personnel Administrators
• Amount: $3,500
• Annual Deadline: May
• Eligibility: Up to two scholarships will be given to assist candidates seeking their teaching certification endorsements. Applicants must be in their final year of completing certification/endorsement requirements, which can include student teaching.

National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Foundation Graduate Scholarships

• Organization: NACA
• Amount: Varies
• Annual Deadline: March 31
• Eligibility: Scholarships cover various regions; applicants should designate which region they are in when applying.

Pi Lambda Theta Graduate Student Scholar Award

• Organization: Phi Delta Kappa International
• Amount: $500-$4,000
• Annual Deadline: April
• Eligibility: Applicants must be members of Pi Lambda Theta and be full-time graduate education students at a university or four-year college. Candidates apply for multiple scholarships with a single application.

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

• Organization: AmeriCorps
• Amount: Varies
• Annual Deadline: You have seven years after completion of your AmeriCorps term to apply.
• Eligibility: AmeriCorps alumni can use the award to pay current educational expenses at eligible schools and veterans’ programs.

State University Grant (SUG) Program

• Organization: The California State University
• Amount: $3,588 per semester
• Annual Deadline: March
• Eligibility: California residents are eligible to receive this need-based grant. Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application to be considered.

TEACH Grant

• Organization: Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
• Amount: Up to $4,000
• Annual Deadline: Varies
• Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a program eligible to accept the TEACH Grant and maintain a 3.25 GPA. Grantees agree to serve as a full-time teacher for four years at an elementary or secondary school or educational service agency serving low-income students.

Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship

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

American Fellowship—Dissertation Fellowship

• Organization: American Association of University Women
• Amount: $25,000
• Annual Deadline: November 15
• Eligibility: 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 their dissertation.

Boren Fellowship

• Organization: National Security Education Program
• Amount: $12,500-$30,000
• Annual Deadline: January
• Eligibility: This award funds research and language study in regions of the world that are critical to U.S. interests. Study ranges from 12 to 52 weeks and includes an option for additional summer intensive language study.

Future Immersion Teacher Fellowship

• Organization: French Dual Language Fund
• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Annual Deadline: June
• Eligibility: 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.

Humane Studies Fellowship Graduate Sabbatical Grants

• Organization: Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University
• Amount: Up to $15,000
• Annual Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and should be submitted at least three months before the semester begins.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD or post-doctoral program and are expected to complete a significant milestone, such as finishing large portions of a dissertation, completing and submitting material for publication, or presenting at a major conference.

James Madison Graduate Fellowship

• Organization: James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
• Amount: Up to $24,000
• Annual Deadline: March
• Eligibility: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in 12 credits of Constitutional study per semester. 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

• Organization: Relay Graduate School of Education and KIPP Public Schools
• Amount: Varies
• Annual Deadline: Undetermined
• Eligibility: 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 Austin, Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio.

Knowles Teaching Fellows Program

• Organization: Janet H. and C. Harry Knowles Foundation
• Amount: Up to $150,000
• Annual Deadline: January
• Eligibility: Applicants should have a degree in a major related to mathematics or science that they intend to use to teach in grades 9-12. Candidates should also be in their first, second, or third year of teaching.

Math for America Master Teacher Fellowship

• Organization: Math for America (MƒA)
• Amount: $60,000
• Annual Deadline: April
• Eligibility: Applicants should have at least three years of math or science teaching experience. 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

• Organization: Paul & Daisy Soros Foundation
• Amount: Up to $90,000
• Annual Deadline: October
• Eligibility: 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 succeed in their graduate programs.

Accountability Groups

Social support is key in accountability groups such as 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 including the University of Maryland offer writing groups, workshops, and writing and oral consultations to help you master graduate-level writing.

Peer Tutoring

Through Harvard’s Academic Resource Center, students 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 Resources Information Center (ERIC)

The ERIC database is a searchable, full-text source for education research and information. It’s sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences, which is part of the U.S. Department of Education.

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 1.8 million members including teachers, paraprofessionals and other school personnel, and higher education faculty. AFT offers Share My Lesson, with 420,000 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

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.

Educators Technology

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

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.

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 such as 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 such as 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 specific examples of your work and work ethic, your achievements, and 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 college 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 as if it’s 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.