scholarships for high school students majoring in education

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Scholarships for Education Majors

Do you aspire to inspire future generations of learners? Before you can realize your worthy goal of becoming an educator, you will need to focus on your own education. And that means paying for college tuition and fees. While covering those expenses can be a challenge, it needn't be a barrier. The good news: There are many college scholarships for students committed to pursuing careers in the field of education, such as being a teacher or a school administrator. Foundations and other nonprofits fund many scholarships for education majors. Others are awarded by groups affiliated with state and local governments. Common requirements to be eligible for these scholarships include academic achievement – with minimum GPA requirements often ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 – and financial need. While some scholarships for education majors require students to study at a specific school, others are made available to students enrolled in any accredited institution, including 4-year schools, community colleges and graduate schools. Find the right scholarship for your situation below.

• competition 4.0
• effort level 1.0

• Major: Study |Education| Study |Education|
• School (K-12): |Nordhoff High School, Ojai, CA| |Nordhoff High School, Ojai, CA|
• Age / Grade Level: |High school senior| |High school senior|
• effort level 4.0

• School (K-12): |Vicksburg Community High School, Vicksburg, MI| |Vicksburg Community High School, Vicksburg, MI|
• Extracurricular: |Community Service| |Community Service|
• effort level 4.5

• Major: Study |Engineering|Education|Technology|Mathematics|Science| Study |Engineering|Education|Technology|Mathematics|Science|
• School (K-12): |Preston High School, Kingwood, WV| |Preston High School, Kingwood, WV|
• Extracurricular: |School Activities|Community Organizations| |School Activities|Community Organizations|
• effort level 1.5
• competition 3.5

• Major: Study |Online Liberal Arts|Online General Studies|Online Legal Assisting|Online Information Technology|Online Business Management|Online Graphic Design|Online Elementary Education|Online Electrical Engineering Technology|Online Social Sciences|Online Health Services| Study |Online Liberal Arts|Online General Studies|Online Legal Assisting|Online Information Technology|Online Business Management|Online Graphic Design|Online Elementary Education|Online Electrical Engineering Technology|Online Social Sciences|Online Health Services|
• Age / Grade Level: |High school senior|Associate Student| |High school senior|Associate Student|

• School (K-12): Attend a |Public| Attend a |Public|
• Residence: Live in |United States|Greene, AR| Live in |United States|Greene, AR|
• Major: Study |Teaching| Study |Teaching|
• School (K-12): |Parchment High School, Parchment, MI| |Parchment High School, Parchment, MI|
• School (K-12): |Troy High School, Troy, OH| |Troy High School, Troy, OH|
• School (College): Attend an |University|Vocational-technical / Career College|Two-year|Four-year|College| Attend an |University|Vocational-technical / Career College|Two-year|Four-year|College|
• Major: Study |Political Science|Law|Nursing|Medicine|Physical Therapy|School Administration|Biology|Teaching| Study |Political Science|Law|Nursing|Medicine|Physical Therapy|School Administration|Biology|Teaching|
• School (K-12): |High School|Holly Grove Christian School, Westover, MD|Washington, MD|Crisfield, MD| |High School|Holly Grove Christian School, Westover, MD|Washington, MD|Crisfield, MD|
• School (College): |Two-year|Four-year|Accredited College|Accredited University|Accredited Technical School|accredited Trade School|Accredited Business School| |Two-year|Four-year|Accredited College|Accredited University|Accredited Technical School|accredited Trade School|Accredited Business School|

• Age / Grade Level: |Doctoral-level study| |Doctoral-level study|
• effort level 5.0

• Major: Study |Engineering|Technology|Nursing|Agriculture|Medicine|Teaching|Home Making| Study |Engineering|Technology|Nursing|Agriculture|Medicine|Teaching|Home Making|
• School (K-12): |High School|Loomis, NE|Holdrege, NE| |High School|Loomis, NE|Holdrege, NE|
• Residence: |Holdrege School District #44| |Holdrege School District #44|
• 500 - 2,000
• Major: Study |Nursing|Medicine|Special Education|Counseling|Psychology| Study |Nursing|Medicine|Special Education|Counseling|Psychology|
• School (K-12): |San Dieguito Union High School District| |San Dieguito Union High School District|
• School (College): Attend an |University|Two-year|Four-year|College| Attend an |University|Two-year|Four-year|College|
• competition 3.0
• 1,000 - 2,500
• School (K-12): |Long Beach Unified School District| |Long Beach Unified School District|
• Residence: Live in |California| Live in |California|

• Major: Study |Education|Medicine| Study |Education|Medicine|
• Extracurricular: |Community Service|Extracurricular Activities| |Community Service|Extracurricular Activities|

• Age / Grade Level: |Graduate Student|College| |Graduate Student|College|

• Age / Grade Level: |College junior|College senior|Master's-level study| |College junior|College senior|Master's-level study|

• School (College): Attend an |University|College| Attend an |University|College|
• Age / Grade Level: |College| |College|

• Major: Study |Education|Political Science|Business| Study |Education|Political Science|Business|
• School (K-12): |Wooster High School, Wooster, OH|Norwayne High School, Creston, OH|Norwayne Elementary School, Creston, OH| |Wooster High School, Wooster, OH|Norwayne High School, Creston, OH|Norwayne Elementary School, Creston, OH|
• Major: Study |Education|Public Policy|Public Administration| Study |Education|Public Policy|Public Administration|
• School (K-12): Attend a school in |Portage, MI| Attend a school in |Portage, MI|

• Major: Study |Health Education| Study |Health Education|
• Residence: Live in |United States| Live in |United States|
• School (College): |US Accredited College or University|U.S. territory| |US Accredited College or University|U.S. territory|

Related Pages

• Scholarships for Special Education Majors
• Scholarships for Secondary Education Majors
• Scholarships for Childhood Education Majors
• Scholarships for Teaching Majors
• Scholarships for Elementary Education Majors
• Scholarships for Early Childhood Education Majors
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Scholarships for Education Students

Types of Education Degrees

Teaching degrees come in all shapes and sizes. While every degree shares common characteristics, teaching programs are tailored to specific age groups and academic subjects. There are also teachers with different levels of educational attainment, from teaching certificates all the way up to doctoral degrees. The type of degree you choose will also have a large impact on how much your education costs. For example, an associate degree is cheaper than a bachelor's degree since you pay for half as many credits.

• High School Math Teacher
• High School Science Teacher
• Teaching Assistant
• Substitute Teacher
• Elementary Teacher
• Administrative Supervisor
• College Professor

Education Degree Concentrations

Education is not a one-size-fits-all degree. Prospective teachers can choose to concentrate in particular subjects or age groups, or they can choose from more specialized areas such as education research or school administration. It is important to note that the area of concentration can determine your eligibility for certain scholarships. Many organizations offer scholarships for certain education majors to help schools find highly qualified teaching candidates. For example, schools offering scholarships for special education majors hope to attract teachers to work with their special-needs students.

• Early Childhood Education: Early childhood education programs prepare teachers to work with children from preschool through the third grade. An associate degree may qualify teachers for preschool programs, though a four-year degree is needed for public school programs. Teachers learn how to help students build the literacy, math, and social skills necessary for success throughout their education.
• Math Education: School systems across the country have a need for more math teachers. Competition can be fierce to attract these mathematics specialists, not only among school systems but also from private industry. Math teachers can teach at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level. Math education students become qualified to teach anything from basic arithmetic to college-level calculus.
• School Administration: Teachers hoping to continue their careers as principals or school administrators must complete administrator certification courses that are available at the master's level. Most teachers seeking administrator licensure have worked as teachers for several years.
• Special Education: Special education teachers work with students who have a variety of developmental or physical disabilities. They also develop individual educational plans for each student and teach core academic classes. Special education teachers often have strict reporting requirements, and must possess patience and a love for special-needs children.

How Much Does an Education Degree Cost?

The cost of earning a degree in education varies and depends on the type of school chosen and how long students take to complete the degree. Tuition makes up the bulk of the cost, although some schools charge more than others. For example, it is cheaper to fulfill general education requirements at a community college than at a four-year university. According to College Board , the average cost of a degree from a public four-year school is less than a third of the cost of a private four-year school. Students must also factor in room and board, transportation, and books in the total cost of a degree program.

Financing Your Education Degree

Students entering the education field have many options available to finance their education, including scholarships for teaching. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) starts the process for receiving state or federal grants, loans, publicly funded teaching scholarships, or work-study awards. With the federal TEACH Grant , students promise to teach in a high-need subject, such as science and math, at a low-income school in exchange for funds. Many states, professional organizations, retired teacher associations, and colleges offer scholarships for education majors in the hope of attracting new talent to schools. If students do require loans, several federal loan programs offer loan forgiveness or debt cancellation after teachers complete a minimum service requirement. If loans must be taken out, it is best to prioritize low-interest government loans over private loans, which accrue interest while you are still in school.

Types of Scholarships

Many scholarships for education majors seek to reward high-performing students and recruit them to the profession. Other scholarship programs look to reward work outside the classroom, offering awards to talented athletes, musicians, or artists. Special interests, family work connections, or community involvement can all help students win scholarship awards. It is important to cast a wide net when seeking scholarships or grants to ensure students defray as much of their college costs as possible. Teaching scholarships may be merit-based or need-based, and deadlines will vary.

Academic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships, scholarships for minorities, creative scholarships, niche scholarships, community service scholarships, leadership scholarships, education scholarships, related ranking.

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50 Incredible Scholarships for Education Majors

Find your perfect school.

Key Takeaways :

• The Gates Scholarship and Horatio Alger Association scholarships are among the top scholarships available for education majors.
• Various organizations offer scholarships to support education majors, emphasizing accessibility and quality in the teaching profession.
• The list includes a variety of scholarships targeting different aspects of education, providing financial aid to aspiring educators.

The importance of accessible, quality education cannot be overstated. The good news is that there are many organizations that recognized this and are offering teaching scholarships for education majors of all stripes.

This list of 50 great scholarships for future teachers features a wide range of scholarships available from any number of sources. Professional organizations, fraternities, corporations, scholarly associations, social clubs, and more are featured on our list; all are offering financial assistance in the form of great scholarships to students majoring in education.

Featured Programs

Most of the scholarships for ed majors on our list are intended as financial assistance for undergraduate students, but there are also a good number of fantastic scholarships and fellowships offered to graduate and post-graduate students featured.

Whether for undergrad or graduate school, each scholarship is intended for very specific kinds of education majors. Some emphasize academic success in an education program while others focus on community service and leadership. Still others want to reward students who have struggled to overcome adversity in their pursuit of higher education.

Some of these scholarships exist to incentivize students to major in areas of education where there are shortages like special education, for instance, while others strive to make majoring in education more accessible to minority students.

No matter who you are, you can find a scholarship for your higher education goals on this list. And don’t neglect to check out our teaching scholarships FAQ at the end of the article! What follows is our collection of the best scholarships out there for education majors 2021 and beyond.

Top Scholarships for Education Majors

#1. the gates scholarship.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program was one of the biggest private scholarships in the United States and has now been replaced by The Gates Scholarship. This is a last-dollar scholarship for education majors, meaning when a student’s financial aid and expected family contributions are less than the cost of room, board, and tuition, this scholarship fills the gap.

The scholarship is for high-performing students of African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander, and/or Hispanic American ethnicities. Proof of tribal enrollment is required for American Indian/Alaska Native students. This scholarship is awarded to 300 high school students demonstrating financial need every year.

College students must be Pell-eligible, U.S. Citizen, national, or permanent resident, have a 3.3 GPA and plan to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program at an accredited not-for-profit university.

• Award: Last-Dollar
• Application Deadline: September 15th

#2. Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Targeted Scholarships

The targeted scholarships offered by the Horatio Alger Association all have similar requirements to the main scholarships. The difference is that these top scholarships all require college students to attend specific colleges or universities, or require a specific major in order to be eligible. One is for students who aspire to be a science teacher or teacher of other STEM subjects, for instance. There are some great opportunities here for education majors who fit the criteria, as there will be less competition and the awards are quite significant.

• Award: $10,000-$52,000
• Application Deadline: Varies by Scholarship

#3. Burger King McLamore Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship was created in memory of Jim W. McLamore, co-founder of Burger King. It’s intended to aid employees of the restaurant chain and their family members who wish to attend college. In 2018, the scholarship was awarded to over 3,400 students. With $3.7 million awarded this makes the average award $1,088.24.

• Award: $1,000-$50,000
• Application Deadline: Dec. 15

#4. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

The Jack Kent Cooke young scholars program is designed to provide educational advising and financial support from 8th grade through high school graduation. The college scholarship program awards education majors and students planning to teach with up to $40,000/year, academic advising, networking opportunities, and college planning.

The undergraduate transfer scholarship awards up to $40,000/year for up to three years to college students seeking to complete an education degree at elite four-year colleges or universities.

• Award: Up to $40,000/year
• Application Deadline: App. Period is Fall

#5. Ron Brown Scholar Program

This scholarship for gifted and community-minded African Americans is for undergraduate students and is paid out $10,000 per year over the course of four years. The teaching scholarships are intended to aid the most promising and economically disadvantaged high school students interested in public service, community engagement, and entrepreneurship.

300 Ron Brown scholarships have been awarded over the past 24 years, meaning an average of 12.5 college students per year receive this scholarship. Early application deadline is November 1st.

• Award: $40,000
• Application Deadline: January 9th

#6. Thurgood Marshall College Fund

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund partners with a great number of corporations like McDonald’s, CVS, American Airlines, Coca-Cola, FedEx, Wells Fargo, Lowes, Boeing, Walmart, Kellogg’s and Comcast. In partnership, they award teaching scholarships to students attending historically black colleges and universities and primarily black institutions.

Scholarships and fellowships offered through the TMCF range in value from $750 in emergency funds to full-on graduate teaching fellowships worth over $40,000/year. Not all of them are available to education majors but many are.

• Award: $750-$40,000
• Application Deadline: Varies

#7. Harry S. Truman Scholarship

The Truman Fellowship competition is for college students who are pursuing higher education with the goal of becoming a force of change in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions.

Truman scholars devote their lives and careers to improving organizations that serve the public. The fellowship is open to current graduate students who are pursuing a master’s degree in one of several areas including education.

• Award: Up to $30,000
• Application Deadline: Feb. 4

#8. Ford Foundation Fellowships

The Ford Foundation awards roughly 70 predoctoral fellowships per year, each providing three years of support for graduate students earning a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree.

Recognizing the severe lack of representation from groups including Alaska Natives, Black/African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, Native Pacific Islanders, and Puerto Ricans in American higher education, the Ford Foundation considers belonging to one of these groups as a positive factor when evaluating candidates.

• Award: $27,000 3-year Stipend

#9. Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans National Scholarships

The Horatio Alger Association national scholarships are massive financial aid awards. They are awarded to 106 college students. Students must display both integrity and perseverance even as they overcome hardships in their life.

The minimum GPA for applicants for these scholarships is 2.0. Students must be high school graduates planning to earn their bachelor’s degree at public schools, private schools, or a not-for-profit college or university within the United States.

Undergraduate students majoring in education may start at a two-year college. These community college students must intend to transfer to a four-year institution to complete their degree, though.

• Award: $25,000
• Application Deadline: Oct. 25

#10. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics offers a wide range of teaching scholarships and research grants to aspiring teachers of all levels, including graduate students, those pursuing bachelor’s degrees, and community college students. Most of the scholarships are highly targeted, making it easier for education majors to decide which to apply for.

The National Council of Teachers scholarships are available to math educators and future math educators at the undergraduate through post-graduate level. This includes those high school students planning to teach at the early childhood, elementary and secondary school level.

• Award: $1,500-$24,000
• Application Deadline: Nov. 1st

#11. James Madison Memorial Fellowship

The James Madison Fellowship is available to teachers earning their master of arts, master of arts in teaching, or master of education degree with a concentration in American history, American government, political science, or government.

Students applying for this fellowship must be high school teachers of grades 7-12 committed to teaching American history, American government, or civics classes where they will be covering topics related to the U.S. Constitution. Early childhood education and elementary majors are not eligible.

• Award: $24,000
• Application Deadline: Mar. 1st

#12. Dell Scholars

In addition to the significant monetary award, the Dell Scholars program provides college students with confidential counseling, financial aid coaching, work-life solutions, and access to support staff who have similar experiences to the student.

High school graduates who are Dell scholars are 25% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree than students from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Half of Dell scholars graduate with no student debt, and those who do graduate with debt average $15,000 in loans, about half the national average.

• Award: $20,000
• Application Deadline: December 1

#13. Peters Foundation Scholarship

The Peters Foundation scholarship is for high school seniors planning to attend a Christian university and major in areas of environment, conservation and forestry, or education. The scholarship is limited to college students attending schools in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, or Colorado.

These financial aid awards are granted based on a combination of financial need and academic performance. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for these scholarships.

• Award: $10,000-$20,000 Over 4 years
• Application Deadline: April 1st

#14. Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

While not limited to college students majoring in education, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program offers a wide range of scholarships to students pursuing bachelor’s degrees. The flagship scholarship is a $20,000 scholarship awarded to 150 students per year.

The community college scholarship offers 50 $1,500, 50, $1,250, and 50 $1,000 scholarships per year to students attending community colleges.

The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise scholarship offers 200 scholarships of $1,000 each to members of Phi Theta Kappa, an honors society that helps high-school students reach their full potential, providing them with professional and leadership skills and explore career paths.

• Award: $1,000-$20,000
• Application Deadline: N/A

#15. Jewish Community Center Scholarship Programs

The Jewish Community Centers scholarships are available to Jewish college students who are working or intend to work with Jewish affiliated community centers in an educational or administrative capacity. There is a work requirement attached equivalent to six months of work with JCCs per $5,000 granted by the scholarships.

The teaching scholarships are available to graduate students and will pay up to $20,000 at a rate of $5,000 per semester towards a graduate degree. For those education professionals who decide not to meet the work requirement after graduation the scholarship converts to an interest free loan.

Scholarships are available for full-time students or part-time students working towards graduate degrees, certificate programs, and continuing education classes.

• Award: $5,000-$20,000
• Application Deadline: October 1st For Following Year

#16. Intercollegiate Studies Institute Fellowships

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute awards up to 15 graduate fellowships to students pursuing an graduate degree in the humanities or social sciences.

The one requirement is an intent to teach at the college level. This is a great opportunity for experienced teachers and education professionals who decide they want to earn their advanced degree and play a role in educating the next generation of teachers.

The awards can be used for tuition, living expenses, books, computers, software and anything else related to earning their degree.

• Award: $5,000-$15,000
• Application Deadline: Feb. 1

#17. Omega Psi Phi Scholarships

There are a great number of fraternities and sororities that offer scholarships to their members. Some of these financial aid awards can be quite significant. Omega Psi Phi was the first international fraternity founded on the campus of a historically black college. The organization offers a variety of teaching scholarships, including a scholarship competition in which all members compete.

Those college students with outstanding academic results can receive both district scholar of the year awards. Those scholars are then eligible for consideration in the international scholar of the year award.

• Award: $1,000-$15,000

#18. Elks Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship

The Elks Foundation awards 500 4-year scholarships for full time students this year. The top 20 applicants are invited to an all expenses paid leadership weekend in Chicago where they interview with national judges.

The 20 finalists compete with each other for two first place awards of $50,000, two second-place awards of $40,000, and two third-place awards of $30,000. The rest of the finalists receive $20,000 awards. The 480 other high school seniors are all granted $4,000 scholarships.

• Award: $4,000-$12,500/Year
• Application Deadline: November 5th

#19. National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind offers thirty merit-based scholarships to legally blind college students every year. The evaluators take into account academic excellence, community service, and leadership when selecting the award winners.

It is mandatory for finalists to attend and fully participate in the NFB national convention (they will receive financial assistance to cover the cost of attendance) where the award-winners will be announced.

• Award: $3,000-$12,000
• Application Deadline: Mar. 31

#20. Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans State Scholarships

The Horatio Alger Association state scholarships award teaching scholarships for full time students in all 50 states. These financial aid awards are for high school students who plan to attend an accredited, public or private, not-for-profit college or university.

College students must display academic achievement, maintain a GPA of 2.0 or greater and be a U.S. citizen. The scholarships are aimed at high school seniors who have experienced hardships but are fighting to overcome those hardships.

All applicants must demonstrate financial need (household adjusted gross income must be less than $55,000).

• Award: $10,000

#21. Pittsburgh Foundation

There are over 700 community organizations like The Pittsburgh Foundation serving their communities around the country. So, even if you don’t live in Pittsburgh, you should look for similar community organizations offering scholarships for urban teachers near you.

The $10,000 Weimann Family Teaching Scholarship is awarded for a single year but previous winners are welcome and encouraged to apply again every year.

#22. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships

This scholarship program offers funding at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including teaching fellowships and research awards at the postgraduate level. The undergraduate award is predicated on a commitment to serve as a STEM teacher in a high-need educational organization for at least two years for each year the scholarship is received.

High school seniors and college graduates with high academic achievement should consider this very interesting offering among best scholarships for education majors.

• Application Deadline: Aug. 25

#23. American Federation of Teachers Scholarships

AFT’s Robert G. Porter Scholars Program offers four post-secondary scholarships of $8,000 over the course of four years. The $8,000 financial aid awards are available to students who are dependents of members of the American Federation of Teachers and desire to enroll in a a teacher education program.

There are also 10 one-time grants awarded to AFT members that can be used for continuing education after receiving an initial teaching degree from an accredited school. The applications are open for 2020 with an April 14th deadline. Recipients must meet certain academic standards.

• Award: $1,000-$8,000
• Application Deadline: April 14th

#24. Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars

The Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars distributes two scholarships annually to Native American students. Applicants must be an enrolled tribal member, plan to work with a tribe or nation in education or social service, be enrolled or accepted into an accredited university, maintain a 3.0 GPA, and carry at least eight semester hours.

These scholarships for minority students are awarded to high school seniors based on a written statement of financial need and the past two semesters of high school coursework. Applications and scholarship renewal applications must be submitted between April 1 and June 15th each year.

• Award: $2,500-$5,000
• Application Deadline: June 15

#25. Hispanic Scholarship Fund

The Hispanic Scholarship fund awards scholarships to minority students based on merit. The financial aid award amounts are need-based. Undergraduate college students must have a 3.0 GPA and graduate students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Scholarships are available to U.S. citizens, permanent legal residents, DACA students, or FAFSA-eligible non-citizens. Preference is given to STEM majors.

• Award: $500-$5,000
• Application Deadline: Feb. 15th

#26. PDK Educational Foundation Scholarship Program

High school students wishing to apply for the PDK Educational Foundation Scholarship Program are required to be a member in good standing of one of numerous affiliated organizations. These organizations are Educators Rising, Educators Rising Collegiate, Pi Lambda Thet  a, or PDK association.

They must also intend to pursue a teaching degree through an approved teacher education program and work in public education after they graduate. Applicants for the financial aid award must be enrolled and pursuing education degrees for the fall semester of the application year. The application period opens on January 6th.

• Award: $500-$5000
• Application Deadline: April 6

#27. Union Plus Scholarships

Union Plus Scholarships was founded to help union families afford college. The scholarship is open to current and retired members of unions that participate in the program, spouses, and dependent children. The applicants are evaluated based on their academic ability, social awareness, financial need, and appreciation of labor.

Applicants should have a GPA of 3.0 or greater and the essays are worth up to half your score. The awards are not automatically recurring but college students attending an accredited school can apply for the awards every year (which also means if you don’t get it one year, you can still apply the next).

• Award: $500-$4,000
• Application Deadline: Jan. 31

#28. AFCEA STEM Teachers Undergraduate Scholarships

Both the STEM Major Scholarship and the Undergraduate Diversity Scholarships are offered to undergraduate students majoring in STEM education.

Candidates for the diversity scholarship must be a woman or minority student. The diversity scholarship also particularly encourages minority students attending historically black colleges and universities for their education degrees to apply for the financial aid award.

• Award: $2,500-$3,000
• Application Deadline: Apr. 10

#29. Hubertus W.V. Willems Scholarship for Male Students

This scholarship is available to male students majoring in engineering, chemistry, physics, or mathematical sciences. Students must be enrolled in a public or private non-profit and accredited college or university for their education degrees.

High school seniors must have a GPA of 2.5 or greater, while applicants in graduate programs must have a 3.0 GPA. 20-40 scholarships are awarded every year with a maximum value of $3,000

• Award: $3,000
• Application Deadline: May

#30. American Montessori Society Scholarships

In 2018, the American Montessori Society awarded 24 aspiring early childhood Montessori teachers $71,200 in scholarships. The application period for the 2020-2021 academic year’s scholarships opens in Feb. 2020.

Aspiring Montessori teachers applying for the financial aid award will be evaluated based on financial need, a written personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and acceptance into an early childhood education or elementary education degree program affiliated with the American Montessori Society.

• Award: 2018 Average $2,967
• Application Deadline:

#31. AFCEA STEM Teachers Graduate Scholarship

Graduate students who are teachers majoring in STEM areas are eligible for two scholarships offered by AFCEA. Applicants to the STEM Teacher Graduate Scholarship are also considered for the Eugene C. Renzy STEM Teachers Scholarship.

College students must be pursuing an education degree for the express purpose of teaching STEM subjects in an elementary or secondary school context. Financial aid awards to graduate students are restricted to use for tuition, books, fees, supplies, and equipment related to education degrees.

• Award: $2,500

#32. Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation

Alpha Kappa Alpha offers one-year, one-time scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students. There are scholarships for education are based on merit, requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA, and scholarships based on financial need, requiring a 2.5 GPA. Scholarships are only available to full-time enrolled sophomores and beyond.

A demonstration of community service and involvement is required for all financial aid awards. Recipients must be post secondary education students enrolled full-time at an accredited university or college.

• Award: Up to $2,500
• Application Deadline: April 15th

#33. Comcast Leaders Scholarships

The Comcast Leaders Scholarship considers the applicant’s academic performance, community service, and leadership skills. This one-time $2,500 scholarship is intended to be used toward undergraduate education related expenses.

Comcast NBCUniversal has awarded over $33,000,000 in financial aid to over 30,000 students pursuing higher education since 2001.

• Application Deadline: Dec. 6th

#34. SILA Foundation

The Securities and Licensing Association Foundation offers ten $2,500 scholarships that education students can use at any accredited college or university in the continental United States. These financial aid awards are available to students pursuing a degree in one of seven different areas, including primary and secondary school education.

Education students must be enrolled full-time, or enrolled part-time while employed full-time. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Applications are accepted between April 1st-May 31st for the upcoming school year.

• Application Deadline: April 1st-May 31st

#35. NEA Jack Kinnaman Scholarship

This scholarship for education students is offered through the National Education Association is in memory of Jack Kinnaman, an educator who devoted his entire life to teaching and education. Even in his retirement, he kept serving the education community through advocacy.

One important note about this scholarship is that it can’t be applied for online. So make sure you gather all elements of your physical submission and submit it as one package with room to breathe before the deadline. This scholarship award is open to aspiring primary and secondary school educators.

• Application Deadline: Apr. 15

#36. Leon Bradley Scholarship

The purpose of this particular scholarship is to encourage minorities and persons of color to pursue teaching and school leadership through an education degree. The AASPA (American Association of School Personnel Administrators) believes that it’s important for students to have diverse role models to look up to throughout their educational experience from kindergarten to high school.

One scholarship is offered to a minority education student in the final year of teacher prep (including student teaching), another scholarship is available to a minority paraprofessional student who wants to change their career and become a full-time teacher, and the third scholarship is available to minority graduate students who are pursuing a school administrator credential.

• Award: $1,500-$2,500
• Application Deadline: May 31

#37. National Merit Scholarship

The National Merit Scholarship competition can be entered once the student has taken the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test. The must be taken prior to completion of the third year of high school in grades 9-12 or equivalent.

The questions relevant to entering the competition are asked prior to students taking the test. 1.6 million high school students enter the competition, and of those 50,000 will be recognized as national merit scholars.

Even if students aren’t selected as finalists by the national council, they can still receive financial aid from the program’s partner corporations.

• Award: $500-$2,500

#38. Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund is dedicated to rewarding high school students with fight and tenacity. Students with high financial need who have managed to earn above a 2.0 GPA or GED despite growing up in adverse circumstances.

The scholarship is designed to reward those who overcome. 79% of recipients come from single parent households, 64% are first generation college students, 77% come from households earning less than $44,000/year, 59% of students from those households are under the national poverty line.

• Application Deadline: Apr. 30th

#39. Ulman Foundation Scholarships

The Ulman Foundation’s scholarships are intended for young adults in the state of Maryland who wish to continue their education after being diagnosed with cancer or having a loved one diagnosed with cancer.

Applicants or their loved one must have been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and 39. Applications open January 13th and no specific deadline for this financial aid award is listed at this time.

#40. Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship is available to current members of the NAACP. Applicants must be under 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, currently enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college in the U.S., and demonstrate financial need. Students must be enrolled full-time and have a GPA of 2.5 or greater. The fund awards 20-40 scholarships with a maximum financial aid award of $2,000.

• Award: $2,000

#41. American Association of Physics Teachers

The Barbara Lotze Scholarship is offered by the American Association of Physics Teachers to education students who intend to teach physics at the secondary education level. This teaching scholarship for the aspiring science teacher is available only to U.S. citizens attending U.S. 2-year college, or 4-year college or university for an education degree.

The financial aid awards are granted to different numbers of students each year: six in 2017, and ten in 2018.

• Application Deadline: Dec. 1

#42. First Trust Bank Scholarships

First Trust Bank is a great example of a local community institution offering great education scholarships for residents. This kind of financial aid award can be found all over the country offered by regional companies and organizations.

First Trust offers eight $1,000 scholarships and one special $1,600 scholarship for students who plan to major in education. Local scholarships like this mean significantly reduced applicant pools and are a great source of funding for an education degree.

• Award: $1,000-$1,600
• Application Deadline: Oct. 11

#43. AAEE Critical Need Teacher Scholarship

The critical need education scholarship is designed to incentivize and reward students who want to teach high school subjects where there are current teacher shortages. These subjects include bilingual/multicultural education, chemistry, mathematics, physics, special education, and speech pathology.

Another area of shortage is languages, so these teaching scholarships are available to those who intend to earn an education degree to teach Chinese, Japanese, or German.

• Award: $1,000
• Application Deadline: Jan. 15th

#44. AAEE Teacher of Color Scholarship

The Teacher of Color Scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable education scholarship intended to aid the professional development of teacher candidates of color. Applicants must be enrolled in a teacher preparation program and intend to earn an education degree at the baccalaureate level.

This financial aid award is available to students of African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Native American origin.

#45. Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship

This SHAPE America scholarship is open to students studying health education at the graduate level. Applicants must be currently enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college or university in the U.S. or a U.S. territory.

Applicants must have a 3.0 or higher GPA in order to be considered for the financial aid award. Scholarship winners may spend the $1,000 in any way they please. They also are awarded a one-year membership in SHAPE America for free.

• Application Deadline: Oct. 15

#46. Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship

Applicants for this education scholarship must be officially recognized as a bachelor’s level health education major and enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university in the U.S. or a United States territory. The minimum GPA for consideration is 3.25. Students who win this scholarship also receive a one-year membership in SHAPE America for free.

#47. Bright Futures Scholarship for Early Childhood Education

Bright Horizons is one of the largest early childhood education companies in the world with 1,000+ child care centers around the globe and over 32,000 employees. These education scholarships offered are available to college students pursuing an early childhood education degree as it is the goal of Bright Horizons to enrich and grow the child care/education field.

Recipients of the scholarship in early childhood education are awarded funds directly (instead of through the school), and the awards are intended to help with purchasing books, laptops, covering fees, or other education-related expenses.

• Award: $250-$1,000
• Application Deadline: Deadline not Announced

#48. Nancy Larson Foundation College Scholarship

This education scholarship is available to college juniors, seniors, and graduate students for whom elementary education is a declared major. Applicants will be evaluated based on their grades, resume, and a personal narrative highlighting experiences that have led them to teaching as a career.

The last two years the Nancy Larson Foundation has awarded this scholarship to ten college students each year, including those pursuing a master’s degree.

#49. National Institute for Labor Relations Research

The Applegate-Jackson-Parks Future Teachers Scholarship is offered by the NILRR organization for students who have an interest in the organization’s research into voluntary unionism vs compulsory unionism. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to one student that meets the academic requirements. The application period opens September 1st.

• Application Deadline: January 31st

#50. Edwyna Wheadon Postgraduate Training Scholarship

This $500 education scholarship is intended specifically for English/Language Arts teachers working in public schools who want to pursue postgraduate professional development towards a master’s degree in teaching. Applicants for the scholarship complete the application form and write a personal statement of less than 500 words describing the professional development purposes for which the money will be used.

• Award: $500

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Education Students

You may have noticed that many education scholarships have application deadlines in the spring of the year. For high school students pursuing a career in education, this means you should be looking for scholarships at the beginning of your senior year of high school at the latest. Compile your list, with all the application deadlines and application open dates and maybe even pre-fill the applications so all you have to do is send them in when the application period opens. In some cases the earlier you apply the better chance you have at receiving the scholarship. Nobody has ever been denied a scholarship for applying on the first day of the application season. Ideally, you might start researching applications even earlier than the beginning of your senior year of high school. Maybe the summer before, or even the spring semester of your junior year. It’s never too early to start looking at all the funding sources available to education students. You might think competition for many scholarships will be stiff. And while that’s true for the famous scholarships like Coca-Cola Foundation or Gates Scholars, it’s often the case that many education scholarship funds for undergraduate students go almost completely untapped every year. The most important thing is to get your FAFSA paperwork filled out as soon as possible. Many private education scholarships still require this information and almost all public ones do as well. Getting that done early also puts you at the front of the queue for resources. It’s often the case that those who fill out FAFSA late receive less money than those who fill it out early. It’s also important to apply for federal student aid every year, not just your first year.

It’s incredibly important for prospective educators to maintain an awareness of all the requirements of keeping their scholarships. Many scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students require more than just a GPA. There are often community involvement and other requirements attached to scholarships that, if you do not meet them, can result in your losing the scholarship next year. Many scholarships for future teachers do not automatically renew and require renewal applications, so you should make sure to submit those on time. You also need to make sure to keep your FAFSA information updated if the scholarship requires you to resubmit that information.

This is one of the reasons it’s good to start researching scholarships in your Junior year of high school. It gives you time to focus on meeting the requirements of the scholarship. That might mean bringing your GPA up (a high GPA is quite important for many scholarships). It also might mean finding a way to get involved with local nonprofits and community agencies that offer financial aid resources to people who work with them. Many scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students alike have a general community service requirement built into them as well. Put a lot of time and effort into your personal essays for each of the scholarships. Make sure they’re polished. Find somebody else to give you advice on your essays and proof-read them for you.

It depends on the scholarship. Some scholarships for future teachers are awarded directly to you, the student, instead of through the school. This allows you to use the financial aid resources to pay tuition, but also to use it to buy books, supplies, and pay for housing and food. Supplies include basic things like calculators, paper, pencils and pens, notebooks, 3×5 cards, etc. But they also include big ticket items like laptops or tablets. So while the primary use for scholarships is tuition, if you earn more financial aid resources than your tuition and room/board amounts to, that money can go toward all sorts of education-related expenses.

Related Resources

• Best Online Colleges
• Free Online Colleges
• Great Scholarships for High School Seniors

Scholarships for Education Majors and Grad Students

Reviewed by Jon Konen, District Superintendent

If you’re thinking about earning an education degree or attending graduate school, it’s likely that cost will be a determining factor. A federal study found that more than half of young adults who attended college in 2017-18 took on some debt to pay for their education.

Fortunately, students have access to types of financial aid that, unlike student loans, don’t need to be paid back. These include scholarships, grants, and fellowships. This page offers education majors and grad students a head start in identifying these funding sources to help pay for education.

Scholarships for Education Students

Early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, special education, school administration, where to find scholarships, grants, and fellowships  .

Grants, scholarships, and fellowships are all, technically, gifts of money for education that don’t need to be paid back by the student. But although they’re similar, there is some distinction among these three terms:

A grant is usually awarded based on financial need and provided by federal or state governments as well as individual colleges. At the federal level, an example is the TEACH Grant , which is awarded to graduate students who are studying to pursue teaching in a high-need field or school.

At the state and college level, for example, a student interested in Oglethorpe University’s education degree program may qualify for a school-provided Oglethorpe Grant and a state-provided Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant , both of which are need-based. To obtain grant funding, the first step should be completing the FAFSA .

A scholarship , on the other hand, usually has some additional requirement beyond need (though need may be part of the criteria). Students may need to demonstrate merit through high grades, personal or professional experience, affiliation with a group, selection of a major or career path, or a combination of these. Scholarships are usually offered by private foundations or organizations (non-profit or for-profit), though states and colleges may offer them too. Usually, scholarships have their own applications, though they may also require a FAFSA.

A fellowship is a type of grant that funds the pursuit of certain short-term professional development opportunities. Fellowships can be very competitive and are offered to a small number of students. They often come with some sort of commitment, such as a graduate degree program, length of service, or completion of a research study.

Another distinction is that they are usually (though not always) offered to post-graduate students as opposed to undergraduates. Sometimes applications require interviews, presentations, or even nominations from peers.

Government entities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and schools all are sources to explore when you’re seeking financial awards. Here are some tips for where to start looking for these funding sources:

• Start by submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . This document is what the federal government uses to determine your eligibility to receive a grant, and for how much. Many scholarship and fellowship programs also make their award decisions based on the information in your FAFSA application.
• If you’re an incoming college freshman, take advantage of your high school guidance counselor. These professionals make it a priority to collect college funding information and work with students to find scholarships and grants that are a good fit.
• Talk to the financial aid office at your prospective college about awards that may be available to you. If you’ve already chosen a major, individual departments at the college may also have info about scholarships for that subject area.
• Consider organizations you may be involved with or affiliations you may have. Many businesses, foundations, professional associations, and community organizations offer scholarships.

Wherever you begin your search, remember that you should never pay for scholarship information — money should flow to you, not the other way around.

How to Win Scholarships

While grants are typically awarded by schools and governments and are based mostly on need, scholarships often involve some other special qualification. A high grade point average (GPA), membership in a particular group, or a demonstrated talent are all common reasons to win scholarships.

There’s no way to guarantee you’ll receive a scholarship, but here are 10 tried-and-true tips that can work in your favor:

• Be thorough and accurate. Scholarship sponsors may receive thousands of applications. If your application doesn’t have all the information and documentation in order, it will be tossed aside before they’ve even read it.
• Double check spelling and punctuation. Even slight errors could be a reason to eliminate you.
• Apply for as many as you can. The more scholarships you apply for, the better the odds that you’ll win one.
• Don’t discount small awards. If you submit a lot of applications, those small awards could add up. They may also have fewer applicants competing against you.
• Think local. National organizations are likely going to have more competing applicants than, say, your hometown’s community foundation.
• Distinguish yourself with an essay. Many students get lazy and avoid scholarship applications requiring essays. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your passion, your interests, and the distinctive qualities that can help you to shine.
• Write what you’re asked to write. If the question asks for three examples, don’t give two or four.
• Have someone proofread the essay to be sure it doesn’t contain mistakes.
• Stay within the prescribed word count; going over actually may disqualify you.
• Make the most of your education and experience. Take every opportunity to enroll in challenging courses, participate in community service, gain career training, receive mentorship, or otherwise show initiative and leadership.
• Join a professional association, which may offer scholarships or fellowships. For example, Educators Rising , a division of Phi Delta Kappa International, and the National Education Association’s NEA Aspiring Educators program are both student organizations for future teachers that offer scholarships or information about affording college.
• Never lie. Most scholarship applications undergo a thorough screening process. Even small exaggerations could be enough to rule you out.

Grants and Fellowships for Education Students

How to win grants and fellowships.

The first step to receiving a grant is completing your FAFSA as soon as possible; it’s available starting October 1st for the following school year. Though students have until June 30 to complete the form, many states and colleges have earlier deadlines. States and colleges may also have additional applications for you to complete.

To win financial aid grants, you must demonstrate need. However, there’s another type of grant that graduate students may seek. Like grant monies provided to nonprofit organizations, some grants may be available from private foundations or organizations that support research, community service, or professional activities.

Graduate students wishing to receive fellowships or grant funding may find these tips helpful:

• Find as many opportunities as you can to apply for. Securing a fellowship isn’t a task to be taken lightly. Conduct in-depth research through your school’s fellowship or financial aid office or career services center, and be sure to speak with faculty in your program about possible opportunities.
• Take a workshop or class on grant writing. These courses can help you to strengthen your writing and use language that appeals to awards committees.
• Take the time necessary to complete your fellowship application. This is not something to rush through. Some fellowships are designed to serve as an annual salary; there is an expectation that you will work as hard for this as you will to obtain a job (and sometimes it’s much harder). Don’t expect to cram it into a weekend.
• If you’re proposing a research project, you’ll need to sell it to selection committees , who may not be as familiar with the field as you are. You must be able to clearly articulate the goals, that the work is needed, that it has real-world applications, and that you are the person to perform the work.
• Remember that the grant or fellowship would support you , not the program or research product. In other words, you must show on your application that you have the qualities necessary to perform the research or other activities involved. Skip the generic platitudes about how “children are our future.” Instead, demonstrate what you bring to the table. Your application should showcase your background, skills, professional experience, goals, and passion that make you uniquely

Finding scholarships, grants, and fellowships can be a lot of work, but the reward of receiving money to pursue your chosen profession and embarking on a career in education are sure to make it worth the effort.

The Best Scholarships for High School Students with Upcoming Deadlines in 2024

Apply below right now to Scholarships for High School students. Exclusive Scholarships found only in Bold.org!

Sallie Mae No-Essay Scholarship

By: Sallie Mae

Elevate Women in Technology Scholarship

Thomas mashig foundation scholarship, eligibility criteria:.

• Education Level : High school or current/future trade school student
• Financial Status : Financial Need

Anthony McPherson Memorial Automotive Scholarship

• Field of Interest : Automotive
• Education Level : High school or undergraduate student

Ashanti McCall Life & Legacy Scholarship

• Background : Has a parent who is/was incarcerated

Fishers of Men-tal Health Scholarship

• Field of Study : Mental health
• Education Level : Undergraduate or graduate student
• Background : Religious and/or spiritual

Matthew E. Minor Memorial Scholarship

• GPA : 3.0 or higher
• Education Level : High school senior

Grassroot Heroics Scholarship

Joseph a. monachino memorial scholarship.

• Financial Status : Financial need
• Education Level : High school student
• State : Nevada

Dr. Edward V. Chavez Athletic Memorial Scholarship

• Background : Has lost one or both parents
• Passion : Sports

Brandon M. Greber Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school junior or senior or undergraduate student
• Background : Plans to enter the military

Chris Struthers Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school, undergraduate, or graduate student
• Field of Study : Graphic design

Walking In Authority International Ministry Scholarship

• Education Level : High school senior or undergraduate
• Experience : Volunteering
• GPA : 2.5 or higher

Nursing Student Scholarship

• Field of Study : Nursing

Jason David Anderson Memorial Scholarship

• State : New Jersey
• GPA : 3.0 GPA or higher
• Background : Has been affected by addiction (personally or through a loved one)
• Field of Study : Healthcare or rehabilitation

Sewing Seeds: Lena B. Davis Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school or four-year undergraduate student
• Identity : Underrepresented minority
• Field of Study : Psychology, social work, counseling, or other mental health-related fields

Curtis Holloway Memorial Scholarship

• Background : Has lost a parent or lives in a single-parent household

Robert Lawyer Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school, undergraduate, trade school, or graduate student
• Background : First-generation college student
• Identity : Non-traditional college student

Ken Larson Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school senior or four-year undergraduate student
• Field of Study : Public services or law

Make Your "Truth" Your Own Scholarship

• Background : Former Jehovah’s Witness

Joseph Lipovits Memorial Aviation Scholarship

• Field of Study : Aviation/flying

Billy Downey Memorial Agriculture Scholarship

• Field of Study : Agriculture
• Background : Volunteering experience

Jeff Stanley Memorial Scholarship

• Field of Study : Theater or performing arts

Gussie Lynn Scholarship

• Major : Childcare, early childhood education, or child development

Craig Huffman Memorial Scholarship

• Field of Study : Aviation
• Education Level : High school student, undergraduate, graduate student, or trade school student

Al Luna Memorial Design Scholarship

• Field of Study : Art or design
• Identity : Underrepresented minority student

Etherine Tansimore Scholarship

• Background : Low-income
• Field : Medical

Pet Pals Pack Compassion Award

• Career Field : Veterinary

Mendoza Scholarship

• Heritage : Born in Central America or has at least one parent of Central American descent

Catherine (Kay) Williams Memorial Arts Scholarship

• State : Florida
• Field of Study : Art
• Gender : Female
• GPA greater than or equal to : 3
• Financial Status : Low-Income

About Scholarships for High School Students

It is important for high school students to start looking for college scholarships early. In 2023, student loan debt reached about $1.7 trillion, with the average student loan debt being $37,693 . By starting to find ways to save for college, high school students can ensure that they can attend college without worrying about debt.

86.4% of first-time, first-year undergraduate students receive financial aid in some form . While some colleges offer private scholarships and grants, financial aid doesn’t cover the costs of college for everyone, with 58% of 2 023 graduates holding student debt. Bold.org is committed to fighting this issue by eliminating the need for student loans in order to make higher education more accessible.

Despite the costs, college is an important step for students to take. College enrollment rates have declined by an average of 1.67% per year since 2010, but higher education offers opportunities to explore what you are passionate about and even allows you to prosper later in life. Employees holding a bachelor's degree, a four-year college degree, take home an average of 66% more income than those with a high school diploma.

For high school students who wish to attend college but don't know how they can afford it, there are plenty of options for you . While there are many federal grants and loans that you can turn to, another option is scholarships.

Over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually, but only 7% of college students receive a scholarship. Many scholarships are left unclaimed due to lack of access, but by applying early, high school students can ensure that they are able to get an undergraduate degree without the stress of paying back student loans. Scholarships are a key component of affording college or graduate school and Bold.org is here to help.

On Bold.org, high school students can start early and apply for plenty of scholarships. While a majority of scholarships are for college or graduate students, there are also lots of scholarships for high school students.

To find scholarships on Bold.org, you can go to the list of scholarships and switch the education level to "High School" or you can take a look at this list of exclusive scholarships for high school students categorized be grade.

Discover High School Scholarships by Grade

Scholarships for high school freshmen.

If you are a high school freshman , there are some scholarships that can help you start saving for college. Although many high school scholarships cater exclusively to upperclassmen, there are plenty of scholarships for younger high schoolers.

Freshman year can be a great time to start thinking about finding and applying for scholarships for high school students, because freshmen usually have a lighter workload than upperclassmen, making it easier to get a head start on securing financial aid.

By applying for scholarships early, you can guarantee that you are able to apply for scholarships without the additional stress of college applications. There are some scholarships for high school students that allow you to get started early, including the list below.

• Bold Memories Scholarship
• Bold Climate Changemakers Scholarship
• Robert Welchman Mental Health Scholarship
• Paige's Promise Scholarship
• Bold Love Yourself Scholarship
• My Brother's Keeper Scholarship
• "Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship
• Devin Chase Vancil Art and Music Scholarship
• Bold Financial Literacy Scholarship
• Andrew Perez Mental Illness Suicidal Awareness Education Scholarship
• Bold Learning and Changing Scholarship
• Bold Community Activist Scholarship
• Robert Lee Sr. and Bernice Williams Memorial Scholarship
• Wisegeek Women in Stem No Essay Scholarship
• Haiti Rising Christlike Scholarship

For more freshman scholarships, you can look at Bold.org's list of 16 Exclusive Scholarships for High School Freshmen

Scholarships for High School Sophomores

If you are a high school sophomore, there are some scholarships that you can apply for. As noted above, many scholarships cater to high school juniors and seniors, but there are still some scholarships which include underclassmen.

By finding and applying for scholarships early, high school sophomores can guarantee that the college admissions process will be less stressful. Since high school sophomores typically have more free time on their hands than high school seniors and college students, they should start applying for scholarships as soon as possible. You can find some examples of these scholarships below.

For more scholarships, you can also look at Bold.org's list of Exclusive Scholarships for High School Sophomores with Upcoming Deadlines .

Scholarships for High School Juniors

If you are a high school junior , you may be just starting to think about college admissions. Juniors have to worry about standardized test scores and challenging honors and AP classes, but with college around the corner, it is also important to think about how you can fund your college education.

If you are a high school junior, you may be considering college admissions. Juniors worry about standardized test scores, AP classes, and participating in extracurricular activities. Still, with college around the corner, it is also essential to think about how you can fund your college education. While there are more scholarships available for high school seniors, many scholarship awards include high school juniors in their description, including the list below.

• Janey Mae Memorial Scholarship
• Dr. Rajesh Aggarwal Scholarship for Scientific Studies
• Isaac Yunhu Lee Memorial Arts Scholarship
• Expand Your Horizons Scholarship
• HSINTELLIGENCE Minority / Indigenous Nurse Leader Scholarship

For more scholarships, you can also look at this list of 17 Exclusive Scholarships for High School Juniors (2022) .

Scholarships for High School Seniors

If you are a high school senior, you're in luck! There are many scholarships that cater specifically to high school seniors who are preparing for college and searching for financial aid. In the last year of high school, many students struggle with submitting their college applications and making decisions about their college education while keeping up with challenging classes.

Although high school seniors are extremely busy, it is still important that students take some time to apply for scholarships. There are plenty of scholarships on Bold.org that graduating high school seniors can easily apply for , including some of the scholarships below.

• Ace Spencer Rubin Scholarship
• Carol S. Comeau Environmental Scholarship
• Loxy Burckhard Love is Kind Memorial Scholarship
• Richard Neumann Scholarship
• Dark and Light Scholarship
• Cardel Love Scholarship
• Shine Your Light High School Scholarship
• Tony Alviani Memorial Scholarship
• Tanya C. Harper Memorial SAR Scholarship
• Jolynn Blanton Memorial Scholarship
• Graduate Debt-Free Scholarship
• BTL Athletes Scholarship
• Young Women in STEM Scholarship
• Tyrell Terry "Challenge and Opportunity" Scholarship
• Melaninwhitecoats Podcast Annual Scholarship
• Latinas in STEM Scholarship
• Stephanie Ann Cronin Make a Difference Scholarship
• Eleven Scholarship
• Carlynn's No-Essay Coming to America Scholarship
• Environmental Impact Scholarship
• Rita's First-Generation Scholarship

For more scholarships, you can also look at Bold.org's list of Top 23 Scholarships for High School Seniors with Upcoming Deadlines .

Frequently Asked Questions

There is an abundance of scholarships available to high school students on Bold.org. Many opportunities require scholarship essays or other application materials in order to apply, but there are also plenty of quick and easy no-essay scholarships as well. Simply use the scholarship search to find the perfect scholarship for you. In addition to filtering scholarships for high school students by education level, you can also browse scholarship categories to find scholarships related to your field of study, such as mental health scholarships, awards for applicants with an entrepreneurial spirit, STEM scholarships, and plenty of other scholarships as well.

Many scholarship opportunities are open to all or most high school students and some have more specific requirements, such as only being open to minority students. In addition to scholarships for high school students with financial need, other opportunities include merit scholarships (e.g., those based on a minimum GPA, etc.). These scholarships are open to students who have demonstrated leadership, strong academic performance, or other skills.

The big question is when can high school students start applying for scholarships? In addition to the extra requirements discussed above, scholarships always require applicants to be at least fourteen years old and in high school or some form of higher education. As soon as you meet these requirements, you can start applying and jump ahead of other students in the search for scholarships. We encourage all high school students, especially current high school seniors, to start applying.

• Home > Scholarships by Subject > Teaching and Education

Sit Down and Listen!

Available scholarships for teachers.

Grants, loans and especially scholarships are administered based on a wide range of variables. Qualifications attached to financial aid are sometimes broad, but can also be very specific.  For example, general need-based aid requires only that an applicant exhibit financial need during college, which opens eligibility to almost everyone with a tuition bill.

On the other hand, some financial aid funds are reserved for specific functions, like helping certain groups succeed, or encouraging academic excellence in specific areas.  Minority scholarships and grants, for instance, target select groups to receive tuition assistance for college.

When the supply of well-trained professionals isn’t meeting the demand, financial aid is used to encourage students to go into certain fields.  Targeted aid of this type is attractive to students who have not chosen a major, and to those who are already working toward degrees in high-demand fields.

Currently, college students pursuing teaching degrees are rewarded with privileged access to unique financial aid opportunities .

Elementary and secondary schools that enroll primarily low income children are suffering from shortages of competent teachers.  As a result, pro-education efforts – including college tuition assistance - are originated at federal, state and local levels.  Now, more than ever, undergraduates and graduate students are awarded career-specific college financial aid to pursue teaching credentials.

As an aspiring teacher, you are eligible for general financial aid too, but your pool of resources is instantly deepened by concerted efforts to bring qualified graduates to the profession.  Government sources, professional associations and other private entities provide funding for grants and scholarships that serve education majors.

Teacher aid varies from performance based scholarships, to tuition-for-service agreements that require teaching commitments following graduation.  Generally, grants are need-based and free of performance indicators.  Scholarships, on the other hand, are often attached to eligibility standards like GPA.  Both are free-money aid that doesn’t get paid back, so your bottom-line impact is the same.

State and Local Teaching Scholarships

Consult with your school’s financial aid office for up to date information about specific teaching scholarships in your area.  If you’re just getting started in college, don’t overlook aid offered by your school or state. And if you’re nearing graduation, ask about scholarships that can be used to pay living expenses during your student teaching assignments.

While local teaching scholarships are often less rich than national awards, smaller applicant pools make them less competitive. Combine these smaller awards with larger scholarships to piece together your financial aid package.

• Milwaukee Area Teachers Scholarship  - Marquette university supports working teachers with this tuition credit.  If you are employed as a Wisconsin teacher, Marquette pays for half of a college class you take each semester.  The flexible award does not require degree candidacy or other enrollment requirements, and is an example of one type of continuing education incentive available to teachers.
• West Virginia college students are eligible for  Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarships , which can amount to $5000 annually.  This example of tuition-for-service financial aid requires each recipient to work within the West Virginia school system for a period of two years for each year the scholarship is received.  The teaching commitment is reduced to one-year, provided the teacher is employed at a high-need shortage-area school.
• Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, through its T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Wisconsin , is in the business of granting tailor-made tuition solutions to deserving, committed Wisconsin education professionals.  The association has doled-out over 7000 scholarships since 1999, to aid professional development in early childhood education.
• Teachers of Tomorrow is a New York City Department of Education program devoted to recruiting qualified staffers to teach in the city’s most challenging schools.  Tuition reimbursement and other incentives are used to bring qualified professionals to faculty positions at New York’s highest-need schools.
• Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority offers college aid to full-time, resident students pursuing teaching credentials within the state.  Students who are juniors and beyond are eligible for up to $2500 each semester, under this program.  When funding permits, freshmen and sophomores also qualify for scholarships.
• Corporate sponsors generously fund college scholarships for students studying primary and secondary education.  The Coca-Cola Foundation  supports education at international universities through its Coca-Cola Scholars initiative.  Schools like Emory University use Coke dollars to fund scholarship programs for would-be teachers.

National Teaching Scholarships

National scholarships for education majors target future teachers, sometimes showing preference toward candidates studying in specific subject areas. These scholarships include:

• The Federal Government is the largest source of general financial aid, but Uncle Sam also runs programs targeting specific vocational pursuits.  The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant  (TEACH) is a government initiative aimed at recruiting college graduates to teach in under-served areas..  Individual states run similar tuition-for-service programs that require students who receive assistance to work in specific jobs following graduation.  TEACH recipients are each eligible for up to $4000 annually, in exchange for a four-year teaching commitment at a school that serves low-income students.
• AFCEA is an international organization dedicated to the ethical exchange of information.  This IT and communications association provides scholarships annually, to students earning an education in the field of teaching.  Each year, 50 students who pursue STEM-related teaching degrees are awarded scholarships valued at $5000 each.  Graduate and undergraduates are considered for the scholarships, which require a 3.0 GPA.
• Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship  is administered as an institutional program that provides funding to colleges, which they in turn distribute to worthy candidates pursuing education degrees. The awards specifically target K-12 educators teaching in math and science disciplines.
• Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Education Advancement Foundation furthers the sorority’s mission to promote educational excellence through several scholarship programs for member-students.  The foundation devotes a certain portion of its scholarship funding to students who are education majors.
• The Phi Delta Kappa International Education Foundation awards scholarships of up to $1,000 annually, to high school seniors and current undergraduates pursuing careers in elementary or secondary education. PDK sponsors the Future Educators Association , administering more than 30 scholarships each year – exclusively for future teachers.
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers its own scholarships for teachers .  in many cases, awards are funded by private enterprise, including Liberty Mutual insurance, Boeing and Chase.
• Montessori is a teaching philosophy and educational movement dedicated to a core set of teaching principles.  Students who wish to become Montessori teachers are encouraged by the American Montessori Society , through a series of education scholarships for attending AMS schools.  Awards vary, but the society’s Zell Scholarship is worth $1000 annually.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the world’s leading provider of employer-sponsored early care, offers four Bright Futures Scholarships worth $2,500 each, for full-time students currently pursuing degrees in early childhood education. Applicants must each submit an essay, resume, transcript, and letters of recommendation.

Diversity Scholarships

Teachers act as role models for a diverse student body, so qualified educators must be drawn from a wide cross-section of cultures and social groups.  Some teaching scholarships specifically promote diversity by offering incentives to minorities and other groups that are under-represented in the field of education.

• The Hispanic Scholarship Fund partners with corporations and other donors to break down educational barriers for Latino students.  Wells-Fargo and other big-name benefactors work with HSF to promote Hispanic education through scholarships and other initiatives that support education.  HSF scholarship applications are submitted online.
• NAACP issues education scholarships to teaching students.  Awards change periodically, but the organization recently awarded Sutton Education Scholarships worth $1000 to undergraduates, and $2000 to master’s degree candidates.
• The Siemens Foundation has partnered with the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the United Negro College Fund to award scholarships to undergraduate and graduate education students attending historically black colleges and universities. Preference is given to applicants pursuing math and science teaching credentials.
• The National Federation of the Blind Educator of Tomorrow Scholarship is worth $3,000 to a blind recipient planning a career in elementary, secondary, or post-secondary teaching. The scholarship is awarded based on the applicant’s record of scholastic excellence, financial need and community involvement.

Scholarships are bundled with other financial aid, including grants for teachers and student loans. And if you are a would-be teacher, who is also female, you might be eligible for women’s scholarships and grants .

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College is a big financial investment, with many going into debt to afford college tuition and books. Fortunately, there are several forms of financial assistance available through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and private organizations and donors.

It’s important for high school students to start their college financial planning early to prevent unexpected financial surprises or missing out on possible financial assistance. In fact, high school juniors are encouraged to start researching scholarships to alleviate some of the pressure their senior year. 

Scholarships can help students achieve their academic goals and allow them to focus more on school and less on how to pay for their education. Scholarships also don’t have to be repaid, allowing students to borrow less in student loans. This article will discuss some of the best high school scholarship opportunities available to students and how to take advantage of them.

• Why All High Schoolers Should Apply for Scholarships

Current high school students have many scholarship opportunities available to them depending on their interests, desired field of study, test scores, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, or disabilities. Certain scholarships are also only available to low-income families. 

From sports to academic scholarships, there are many scholarship opportunities available to those wanting to attend university, a trade school, or a community college. Scholarships can greatly alleviate the financial burden of the cost of attendance and help students focus on their studies.

• Best College Scholarships for High School Students

Below are some opportunities to help you with your scholarship search and get you one step closer to achieving your higher education goals. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a career in culinary arts, journalism, or chemical sciences, there are many types of scholarship funds available for any degree program. 

Some are no-essay merit scholarships based on academic achievement, while others are essay scholarships that require a written response based on a given prompt, and some could be a combination of both. All scholarship application requirements look different and need to be followed closely to prevent disqualification. Here are a few examples.

• AAC Culinary Scholarships

The American Culinary Federation (ACF) Education Foundation offers a limited amount of scholarships annually to students, with the support of the American Academy of Chefs (AAC). To be eligible for these scholarships, students must maintain a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.75 and provide proof of enrollment at the academic institution with a major related to food service. 

Scholarship applications will be evaluated by the scholarship committee based on a point system, which can be earned through culinary volunteer activities, participation in culinary activities, ACF involvement, and the student’s academic GPA. Students will be notified whether they’ve been awarded a scholarship or not within 30 days of applying and are encouraged to reapply in future years if they still need the scholarship. 

Students can apply for AAC Culinary Scholarships directly on the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation website . 

• ACS Scholars Program

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program has scholarships available to undergraduate students majoring in chemistry-related disciplines who want to pursue chemistry-related careers. The program seeks to help minority students from historically underrepresented groups and awards up to $5,000 per academic year for selected students and has helped 3,500 students to date. The scholarship awards are renewable. 

The eligibility requirements for the ACS Scholars Program include being a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident; African American, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian; graduating as a high school senior or being a college freshman, sophomore, or junior (college seniors can apply for their fifth year); and having a 3.0 GPA or higher. For more information on the application process, students can visit the ACS website and apply from there.

• AFSA High School Senior Scholarship Contest

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) created a scholarship program to help students with their education and training pursuits while also educating them about the life-saving properties of automatic fire sprinklers. Scholarship recipients aren’t selected based on demographic criteria, GPA, or financial need; the scholarship is open to high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or aliens legally residing in the country. 

The scholarship contest application deadline is midnight on April 1, 2022. Ten scholarship recipients will be chosen at random through a computer-generated drawing, and each winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship. The scholarship money is directly paid to the educational institution, which must be a two- or four-year university/college/career/technical/online school based in the U.S. and must have completed and received accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. More information on the eligibility requirements and application process can be found on the AFSA scholarship website .

• AFA Teens for Alzheimer’s Awareness College Scholarship

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has an annual essay contest for high school seniors wanting to go to college. To enter, students are asked to write a 1,200- to 1,500-word essay describing the impact of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness on themselves, their family, or their community and what they’ve learned in light of coping with the brain disorder. 

The first-place winner receives $5,000 and finalists receive between $400 and $3,500. More information can be found on the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America website .

• Actuarial Diversity Scholarship

The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship offers an annual scholarship program to promote diversity within the profession. The scholarship program is available to Latinx, Native North American, Pacific Islander, and Black/African American students. The award amount ranges from $1,000 to $4,000 for full-time undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree that may lead to a career in the actuarial profession. 

Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, must be entering their freshman year of college, and must have an SAT math score of 620 or an ACT math score of 28. Students must have the intention of pursuing a career in the actuarial profession. More information on the application process and eligibility requirements can be found on the Actuarial Foundation website . 

• Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship

The Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship helps Asian American students pursue a major in the performing arts, visual arts, journalism, or mass communications. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity, be a U.S citizen or legal permanent resident, have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and must be a high school senior or a full-time, degree-seeking college student enrolled at an accredited U.S. education institution pursuing a major in the visual or performing arts. 

A scholarship winner will be selected based on five major categories, including academic performance, letters of recommendation, a committee interview in-person or over the phone, the quality of the student’s content submission, and leadership or community service contributions. The funds will be directly disbursed to the institution in the student’s name. More information on the eligibility requirements and selection criteria can be found on the Against the Grain Productions website . 

• Air Force ROTC Scholarships

The U.S. Air Force ROTC offers merit-based scholarships to meet U.S. Air Force officer needs. Students pursuing a technical or foreign language major may receive priority in the selection process, but all majors are welcome to apply. 

High school students applying for an Air Force ROTC scholarship must be accepted into the program, as well as the academic major indicated on their student scholarship application. Students applying for pre-med, nursing, or other medical-related majors will compete for a nontechnical scholarship and aren’t guaranteed that specialty upon commissioning. 

High school applicants must either be U.S. citizens or must obtain citizenship by the last day of the first term of their freshman year (for four-year offers) or the first term of their sophomore year (for three-year offers). They must also pass a U.S. Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) medical exam and complete the Physical Fitness Assessment. 

Students must have a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 3.0 and an SAT composite of 1240 or an ACT composite of 26. For more information on the scholarship types, requirements, or eligibility, students can visit the U.S. Air Force ROTC website . 

• Alliance Pipeline Scholarship

The Alliance Pipeline Scholarship provides financial assistance to Indigenous youth to help prepare them for employment in the oil and gas industry. The Alliance Pipeline Indigenous Student Awards Program provides scholarships to help Canadian Indigenous students pursue postsecondary education. 

Applicable programs include but aren’t limited to instrumentation, engineering, geological sciences, environmental sciences, and business administration. Scholarship recipients can receive up to $2,000. More information on eligibility and the application process can be found on the Alliance Pipeline website . 

• Learn More About Scholarships and Paying for College at CollegeFinance.com

CollegeFinance.com provides up-to-date information to help high school graduates currently in the college selection process and college graduates trying to pay off their student debt. 

If you’re in the process of filling out college applications and are looking for in-depth resources to learn more about student loans, financial aid, financial planning, or other financing options to help you pay for college, be sure to visit CollegeFinance.com to get started planning your successful future.

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12 California Scholarships for High School Students

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What’s Covered:

California scholarships for high school students, tips for applying to scholarships.

Scholarships are an excellent way to help fund your college tuition and attendance — and even better, unlike loans, you don’t have to pay them back.

Often, the more niche the scholarship, the better chance you have of winning it. That’s why we’ve rounded up 12 great scholarships for California students.

NB: These scholarships are open to California residents only. 

1. ACWA Scholarship

Amount: $3,500

Deadline: N/A

Eligibility: attend an accredited University of California or California State University at the start of the academic year covered by the scholarship, commit to full-time enrollment for the scholarship year, pursue a degree in a field listed below

Application Requirements: two letters of recommendation, official college transcripts, essay

The Association of California Water Agencies offers two scholarships to students pursuing an undergraduate degree in a water resources-related field related to engineering, agricultural and/or urban water supply, environmental studies, or public administration at the start of the academic year covered by the scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based on motivation, scholastic achievement, and application materials.

2. Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing

Amount: up to $1,000

Eligibility: high school senior or graduate of a public or private high school in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County planning to enroll in a four-year college or university full-time, must demonstrate creative writing ability or be majoring in creative writing

Application Requirements: two writing samples, personal statement, financial need documentation, two letters of recommendation, transcripts

Established in 1995, this scholarship honors the late author Bobette Bibo Gugliotta. Up to two on-time scholarships are awarded to creative writers who want to pursue writing as a major or career. Recipients must demonstrate financial need.

3. California Assn. of Collectors Educational Scholarship Foundation

Amount: $2,500/$2,000/$1,500

Deadline: June 30, 2022

Eligibility: current high school juniors and seniors enrolled in a CA high school and planning on attending any accredited public or private college, university, or trade school within 12 months of graduation

Application Requirements: essay

CACESF offers first, second, and third-place awards to students who are able to describe the importance of establishing and maintaining good financial credit during your college years. Semifinalists attend the CAC’s annual meeting and read their essays in front of a panel of judges, who will determine placement.

4. California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation

Amount: varies

Deadline: March 6, 2022

Eligibility: must have a parent or legal guardian employed by a California wine grape grower during the current or past growing season, graduating high school seniors

Application Requirements: N/A

Annually, the CAWGF awards several scholarships:

• two 4-year scholarships of $8,000 for four-year school attendees
• four 2-year scholarships of $2,000 for two-year school attendees
• one Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship of either $500 (Alan Hancock College) or $1,000 (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo)

Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, demonstrated scholastic ability, community involvement, leadership and/or work history, and determination to succeed.

5. Central California Asian Pacific Women

Eligibility: must be from Asian or Pacific Islander, woman-identifying, from a county listed below, entering or continuing undergraduate or graduation or re-entry to college/university

CCAPW provides scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, or Tulare to help fund their college education. Applicants are evaluated based on criteria like academic achievement, first-generation status, diversity, and contributions to the API community. You may receive a special award if you’re planning on studying business and/or health.

6. eQuality Scholarships

Amount: $6,000

Deadline: January 31, 2022

Eligibility: graduating high school seniors, community college transfer students, medical students, residents of northern or central California

Application Requirements: varies by level of education/program

For over 30 years, the eQuality Scholarship Collaborative has honored students for their service to the LGBTQ+ community, with a cumulative awards amount surpassing $1,700,000 in 2021. Applicants of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. This year, eQuality awarded 11 scholarships.

7. Golden State Minority Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: varies

Eligibility: must be an underrepresented ethnic minority, must be a full-time student at a four-year college or university, minimum 3.0 GPA

Application Requirements: varies

The Golden State Minority Foundation, though not the granting institution, provides programmatic services that support education for underrepresented students. These awards are given to students who qualify as underrepresented minorities who demonstrate community service.

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8. Good Tidings Community Service Scholarship

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: November 12, 2021

Eligibility: high school senior residing in a county listed below

Application Requirements: application, letter of recommendation

The Good Tidings Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors residing in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, SanMateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, or Yolo. The scholarship is aimed at helping students committed to community service achieve their dreams, regardless of financial status, ethnic background, religion, or gender. 

9. Honmyo Nguyen Family Trust Scholarship

Amount: up to $1,500

Deadline: May 4, 2022

Eligibility: must reside in Santa Clara County planning to attend a four-year California public university, minimum 3.3 GPA

Application Requirements: application packet and financial documentation

This fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation awards up to two annual scholarships to students who plan to address the most challenging problems and improve the quality of life in Silicon Valley. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic leadership, and academic excellence. Applicants should be committed to addressing the most challenging problems and improving the quality of life within Silicon Valley.

10. LA Clippers Stay in School Scholarship

Amount: $4,000

Deadline: February 15, 2022

Eligibility: residents of greater LA area, seniors planning on attending a four-year college

The basketball team the Los Angeles Clippers (LA Clippers) assists college-bound students by offering six scholarships to Los Angeles area residents. Recipients must plan on attending a four-year institution in the fall after the scholarship is awarded.

11. Larry Acterman Public Education Award

Deadline: N/A (opens in January 2022)

Eligibility: high school senior, intention of enrollment in full-time four-year degree program at a public college or university in California, graduating from Long Beach Unified School District

Application Requirements: transcript, essay, three letters of recommendation

This award honors late teacher and mentor Larry Acterman, who was an advocate for public education. The scholarship is meant to encourage and support students who intend to pursue a career as a public school teacher in California. Selection is based on a commitment to teaching and a demonstration of academic achievement.

12. Ralph Hale and Martha L. Ruppert Educational Scholarship

Amount: up to $10,000

Eligibility: must have a maximum 3.3 GPA, demonstrate financial hardship, show academic promise and continuous GPA improvement, graduating senior or graduate of a public or private high school in San Mateo County, San Francisco County, or Santa Clara County

Application Requirements: personal statement, financial need documentation, two letters of recommendation, transcript

This scholarship was created to help young people who are “late bloomers,” meaning they have shown academic promise in late high school or early college but have low GPAs because of earlier academic difficulties. Up to 30 scholarships are awarded to students who are planning to enroll or are already enrolled in a two- or four-year university, college, or vocational school, and previous recipients may reapply.

13 (Bonus). CollegeVine Scholarships

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: Quarterly

Eligibility: high school student and US resident

Application Requirements: create a free CollegeVine account or fill out chancing profile if you already have an account.

CollegeVine provides a quarterly, no-essay scholarship of $2,000. All you have to do is sign up for a free account, which allows you to see your chances of acceptance at 1,600+ schools, get your essays reviewed by a peer, ask questions in our community forum, and more. If you already have an account, just make sure your chancing profile is filled out.

Awards will be paid out directly to students to help them cover any educational costs. Learn more about the CollegeVine scholarships .

Applying for scholarships takes time and effort, but when you receive your awards, it will be well worth it. To maximize your chances of success, follow these tips.

• Research each scholarship to ensure you meet the requirements and understand the application. Then you can put your best foot forward!
• Apply to many scholarships for which you qualify, including niche ones geared toward different demographics. If the pool of applicants is smaller you have a better chance of getting the scholarship. 
• Have someone else proofread your application before you submit. A second pair of eyes is critical. 
• Create a spreadsheet with deadlines, required materials, and other information.

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Top 24 Special Education Scholarships in August 2024

Sawyer Hiton is a former scholarship and financial aid writer with Scholarships360. Previously, Sawyer worked with the nonprofit College Possible, supporting high school juniors in beginning their college plans and applications. Sawyer graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in Philosophy.

Learn about our editorial policies

There is high demand for special educators, and thankfully plenty of money available for people who want to become them. In this article we will explore the world of special education scholarships. We’ll first look at private scholarships, then explore a few of the best programs for special education, each of which offer their own financial aid. We’ll also take a look at some resources for aspiring special education teachers. We hope this will help you in actualizing your goal to become a special educator!

Why choose Scholarships360

We helped over 4 million students find scholarships in 2023

We've spent over 4,000 hours reviewing 3,000 scholarship programs

13+ years of experience helping students make smart education decisions

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.

Federal TEACH Grant

Offered by United States Department of Education

If you are a college or university undergraduate or graduate student planning on becoming a teacher, you might consider applying for a Federal TEACH Grant.… Show More

If you are a college or university undergraduate or graduate student planning on becoming a teacher, you might consider applying for a Federal TEACH Grant. This renewable grant is open to aspiring teachers who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is funded by the US Department of Education, which strives to recruit highly skilled teachers to teach low-income students in high-need fields. If you’re passionate about teaching and are looking for some help funding your education, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

BigFuture $40k Essay-Free Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The College Board

Open to US-Based high school students in the class of 2025 — no essay, minimum GPA, test score, or citizenship requirements.

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

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

Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship

Offered by National Center for Learning Disabilities

Do you have a documented learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD and plan on enrolling in a postsecondary program? If so, consider applying for the Allegra… Show More

Do you have a documented learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD and plan on enrolling in a postsecondary program? If so, consider applying for the Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship! The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is open to graduating senior high school students who will enroll in a two-year community college, a technical/vocational program, or a specialized program for students with (LD) and/or ADHD. The scholarship is offered by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, a non-profit organization that provides leadership, public awareness, and grants to support research and innovative practices to assist those with learning disabilities. Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 over two years ($2,500 each year) to help one (1) lucky student pay for their college costs. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, 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, juniors and seniors.

Anne Ford Scholarship

Do you have a documented learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD and plan on obtaining a bachelor’s degree? If so, consider applying for the Anne Ford… Show More

Do you have a documented learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD and plan on obtaining a bachelor’s degree? If so, consider applying for the Anne Ford Scholarship! The Anne Ford Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors with a documented learning disability or ADHD who will enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program for the upcoming fall. The scholarship is offered by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, a non-profit organization that provides leadership, public awareness, and grants to support research and innovative practices to assist those with learning disabilities. Each year, their Anne Ford Scholarship awards $2,500 to help one lucky student pay for their college costs. This scholarship can be renewed up to three times, totaling $10,000 over the course of a four-year bachelor's program. If you have a learning disability or ADHD and want help funding your bachelor's degree, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Virginia PTA Scholarships

Offered by Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers

Virginia PTA annually awards $500 scholarships to graduating Virginia high school students who are members of an active PTA/PTSA in good standing. There are four… Show More

Virginia PTA annually awards $500 scholarships to graduating Virginia high school students who are members of an active PTA/PTSA in good standing. There are four types of scholarships offered: the College/University Scholarship for students enrolled in a four-year academic degree program, the Technical Scholarship for students enrolled in a two or three-year approved technical, vocational, and associate degree program, the Fine Arts Scholarship for students enrolled in school of arts, college of design or institute of the arts degree program, and the Special Education Scholarship for students with a current Individual Education Plan-IEP who are entering an approved technical, vocational, associate degree or a four-year academic program. The scholarships are awarded based on a demonstrated commitment to, and engagement in, volunteerism and community service. If you're a college-bound high school senior and PTA/PTSA member from Virginia, 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.

Whelan Foundation Scholarship Program

Offered by The Whelan Foundation

The Whelan Foundation Scholarship Program is open to graduating high school seniors from Long Island who are enrolling as a full-time student at an accredited… Show More

The Whelan Foundation Scholarship Program is open to graduating high school seniors from Long Island who are enrolling as a full-time student at an accredited college/university in the United States, or continuing education to pursue a degree in the field of special education, occupational therapy, speech pathology, or other behavioral-focused majors. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and have completed at least 80 hours of volunteer work in the area of special education during high school. If you're a college-bound high school senior from Long Island with a passion for education or behavioral science, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Lucile Hope Special Education Scholarship

Offered by The Alaska Community Foundation

Are you a rising college upperclassman who will be enrolled in a K-12 special education-related major for the upcoming academic year? Further, have you graduated… Show More

Are you a rising college upperclassman who will be enrolled in a K-12 special education-related major for the upcoming academic year? Further, have you graduated from an Alaskan high school or home school program? If so, consider applying for the Lucile Hope Special Education Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards up to $2,000 to one rising college junior or senior from Alaska who is pursuing a degree related to special education and is enrolled full-time in their program. Preference will be given to residents of Matanuska-Susitna Valley, but students from anywhere in Alaska may apply. This scholarship was established in honor of Lucy Hope upon her retirement from the Mat-Su School District where she taught special education for many years and guided the administration of the special education program. If you wish to honor Lucy's legacy and are an Alaskan student currently pursuing a special education degree, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. 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

Dr. Nathie Marbury ASLHS Scholarship

Offered by American Sign Language Teachers Association

The Dr. Nathie Marbury ASLHS Scholarship annually awards $1,500 to three (3) current and incoming undergraduate students who are studying ASL, Deaf Studies/Education, or related… Show More

The Dr. Nathie Marbury ASLHS Scholarship annually awards $1,500 to three (3) current and incoming undergraduate students who are studying ASL, Deaf Studies/Education, or related fields at a university. Deaf undergraduate students pursuing any field of study are also eligible to apply. However, all applicants must be current members of an active ASLHS chapter at their university. This scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Nathie Marbury, an incredible instructor, linguist, and researcher in ASL, and a pioneer at heart. If you're passionate about deaf studies or are deaf yourself and pursuing your postsecondary education, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

NAJA Graduate Scholarship Program

Offered by National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, Inc.

Are you a graduate student interested in working directly with children to address their special needs? If so, consider applying for the NAJA Graduate Scholarship… Show More

Are you a graduate student interested in working directly with children to address their special needs? If so, consider applying for the NAJA Graduate Scholarship Program! The program is open to students pursuing graduate-level studies for one year in fields that address the special needs of children and youth. Some such needs may include counseling, mental health, special education, speech pathology, exceptional children, remedial skills development, and gifted and talented. To help address these needs, the scholarship program was created by the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA). Since 1962, the Junior Auxiliary Project has served to help children and make a difference in their lives by providing support, resources, and education for its programs. Each year, multiple scholarships of varying amounts are awarded to help pay for the education of students planning to work with children. If you are interested in working with children and attending to their special needs, 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.

Alexis Kate Special Education Teacher’s Scholarship

Offered by Eden Autism

The Alexis Kate Special Education Teacher’s Scholarship awards a one-time payment of $750 to a worthy college student, in their sophomore year or beyond, who… Show More

The Alexis Kate Special Education Teacher’s Scholarship awards a one-time payment of $750 to a worthy college student, in their sophomore year or beyond, who has declared a special education major and has also demonstrated extracurricular commitment to the field. Graduate students in the field of special education are also eligible to apply. Applicants must be a resident of New Jersey and enrolled in a New Jersey college or university. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details. Show Less

Jump ahead to:

Top special education programs

How to win special education scholarships, resources for special educators, frequently asked questions, other scholarships to explore.

While the previous scholarships are specifically for aspiring special educators, don’t hesitate to search for scholarships for general educators too.

Many large universities have special education programs. Each offers their own financial aid packages, which can be combined with the scholarships listed above. The following is a list of some of the top programs. 

• Vanderbilt University ( Peabody ) ranks as US News’ top special ed program. The school offers both need-based and merit-based financial aid. All applicants are automatically considered for these benefits. In addition, Vanderbilt partners with a list of external scholarships, available by application to its students. 
• Kansas University also hosts a top-ranked special education program, which offers both need-based and merit-based financial aid. It also offers scholarships available by application .
• University of Oregon hosts both undergraduate and graduate programs in special education. Both types of students qualify for need-based, merit-based and application-based scholarships.

If you’re an undergraduate, don’t forget to look for standard education programs, as you will be able to specialize later. We wish you luck on your educational journey!

One of the best things you can do to boost your chances of getting a scholarship is to write a strong essay. Scholarship committees read tons of applications, so it’s important to write a unique essay that stands out from the crowd. 

Demonstrate your passion for special education by writing about why you want to pursue a career in your field, what you’re currently doing to reach that goal, and what you hope to accomplish in the future. 

For more specific guidance on how to craft your essay, check out our guides on how to write a winning essay and how to write an essay about yourself . Here are some other helpful guides worth exploring: 

• How to write a 250 word essay
• How to write a 500 word essay
• Overview of common scholarship essay prompts
• How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)
• How to end a scholarship essay

If you’re an aspiring special education teacher, you’ll be glad to know there are a variety of organizations dedicated to supporting students in your position. Here are a few worth exploring: 

National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)

This national membership organization is devoted to meeting the needs of special education teachers and students preparing for a career in the field. Members get access to a range of benefits including professional development, career connections, and learning opportunities. 

Intervention Central

This organization provides free resources for teachers working with special needs students. Resources include videos, training workshops, articles, and more. 

Learning Disabilities Online

This website is a great resource for special education teachers who want to learn more about their field. LD Online features hundreds of articles, expert interviews, videos, columns by noted experts, and first-person essays.

To learn more about resources for special education teachers, check out this excellent post from University HQ to learn more 

Top Easy Scholarships of August 2024

$10,000 “no essay” scholarship.

June 30, 2025

Jun 30, 2025

Easy scholarship open to all US-based high school, college, community college and graduate students.

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

August 31, 2024

Aug 31, 2024

Easy $2,000 monthly scholarship. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school!

Niche $25,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

September 30, 2024

Sep 30, 2024

Are there scholarships for students studying special education?

While there are scholarships available for students studying special education, you should expand your scholarship search to include general education as well. You’ll find a larger variety of scholarships if you widen your scope. For example, the Federal TEACH Grant is open to all students planning on becoming a teacher.

What is the easiest scholarship to get?

The easiest scholarships to win are typically the ones offered on a local level. The competition is less stiff for local scholarships (as opposed to national scholarships), meaning you have a higher chance of winning. Check out our guide on how to win local scholarships to learn more.

• Top education scholarships
• Top scholarships for women
• Top writing and essay scholarships
• Top easy scholarships to apply for
• Top scholarships for college students

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3 reasons to join scholarships360

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26 Colorado High School Students Awarded Flight Training Scholarships

Each scholarship winner will receive $12,000 for the pursuit of a private pilot certificate in either a single-engine airplane or a glider., meg godlewski.

Each of the 26 Wings Over the Rockies scholarship winners will receive $12,000 for the pursuit of a private pilot certificate. [Courtesy: Wings Over the Rockies]

Wings Over the Rockies, with the help of the Ray Foundation, is making it possible for 26 high school students to pursue their aviation dreams. The students are this year's winners of the Wings Flight Training Scholarship.

Wings Over the Rockies is a Colorado-based, nonprofit organization that supports educational programming at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum .

This year's scholarship winners will receive $12,000 for the pursuit of a private pilot certificate in either a single-engine airplane or a glider. The awards are made possible by the Ray Foundation , an organization that "provides grants for programs and educational organizations primarily in aviation that develop life skills such as honesty, worth ethic, self-confidence, and self-discipline."

Scholarship applicants were subjected to a rigorous evaluation and interview process conducted by representatives from Wings Over the Rockies, the Captain Jeppesen Foundation , and other partner organizations, including Daedalian Flight 18 , the Colorado Pilots Association , and the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA).

This year 119 students applied, and more than 50 made it to the interview process. Each scholarship recipient was assigned a mentor to guide them through the training process, which included both flight time and a thorough study regime to help them reach certification.

"Our future is bright with the up and coming students who want to pursue a career in aviation,” said retired U.S. Air Force Major General John Barry, president and CEO of Wings Over the Rockies. “We hope to continue to expand this scholarship program in the future and are incredibly grateful to the Ray Foundation for making this scholarship program available to Colorado’s future pilots.”

Since the program was launched in 2019, 150 high school students in Colorado ages 15 to 19 have received more than $1.3 million in scholarship awards. 

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Study BS in Nursing at Azusa Pacific University

You’ll graduate distinct in your ability to provide effective, compassionate health care in your nursing career. You’ll gain hands-on experience through diverse clinical opportunities, benefit from a cohort-based model, and build experience with state-of-the-art technology—including simulators and virtual patients. You’ll discover how to provide evidence-based care for individuals, families, communities, and people groups across the lifespan.

See Admission Requirements

Program at a Glance

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APU One Day

• March 8, 2024

Application Deadline

• November 15

Program Information

• Program Units: 69-71
• Azusa (Main Campus)

Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly School

Gain Hands-on Experience

• Take part in firsthand clinical experiences across a variety of healthcare settings.
• Study in a cohort and progress through the program together.
• Examine the intersection of faith and your nursing career.
• Learn directly from experienced faculty-practitioners.
• Provide compassionate health care to diverse populations.

By the Numbers

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Avery Burn ’24: Sharing God’s Love Through Nursing

Avery Burn ’24 came to APU to both attend the top-tier nursing program and learn within a Christ-centered community as she pursues her calling in healthcare.

Read More About Avery

Program Details

The Traditional BSN program is based on a cohort model. All coursework assigned to a specific semester is prerequisite for progression to the next semester. Students in the Traditional BSN program begin their nursing coursework either in the fall or spring semesters and continue in sequence for two consecutive semesters per school year. 

Browse the tabs below—if you have questions, visit the  Student Services Center  page, and we’ll make sure you get the info you need.

General Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Select an option below:

• First-time Freshman
• International

School of Nursing Admission Requirements

Admission to the university does not guarantee admission into the School of Nursing. Students interested in being considered for admission into the  nursing major  must indicate their desire on their application to the university.

Applicants will first be reviewed by the  Office of Undergraduate Admissions  for general admission to APU. If an applicant meets the minimum requirements for consideration for the BSN program, they will then be reviewed by the School of Nursing Admissions Committee for possible admission into the BSN program.

Determinations will be made by March 1, and letters will be sent to applicants who met minimum requirements and were reviewed by the School of Nursing Admissions Committee, indicating whether they have been accepted into the BSN program. Once accepted into the program, students must remain in that program for the duration of the nursing program.

The BSN program is designed with a specific course sequence; when a student is accepted into a program, a progression schedule is reviewed by the student and the advisor. Since the traditional BSN program is based on a cohort model, all coursework assigned to a specific semester is prerequisite for progression to the next semester. Students admitted from high school to the traditional BSN program will be placed in either a fall (4½-year program) or a spring (4-year program) cohort.

Applicants who are not accepted into one of the School of Nursing BSN programs may still be admitted to the university. These applicants may consider coursework in preparation for application to the Entry-Level Master’s in Nursing program (ELM) designed for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree in another major but are interested in pursuing a career in nursing.

Nursing Major Requirements

Applicants interested in the traditional nursing program must meet the following admission requirements:

• Copies of all transcripts.
• The name and email address of a person who is able to provide a professional recommendation on your behalf. This should be an employer or community leader for whom you have worked or volunteered.
• A one-page statement of professional goals in nursing.
• A résumé or list of activities reflecting volunteer plus work experience within the past three years. Include leadership positions in volunteer organizations, community service, and/or employment where applicable.
• One year of high school chemistry (or CHEM 101 Introduction to Chemistry);
• One year of high school biology (or BIOL 101 Fundamentals of Biology);
• Three years of high school math with a grade of B- or better (algebra or geometry). A math placement assessment is required unless the placement assessment is waived. For more information about how to waive the college algebra requirement, visit the ALEKS assessment page .
• Writing 1: The Art and Craft of Writing. Students will take an online survey before course registration to learn about the different course options for this requirement.
• Submit proof of achieving the minimum high school, college, or university cumulative grade-point average of 3.5.
• Successful completion of anatomy with lab (4 units) and organic chemistry with lab (4 units), with no lower than an overall  B-  (2.7) grade-point average, and no lower than a  C  in each course. Note: A student is allowed only one opportunity to repeat a single science course to try to raise his/her grade prior to beginning nursing (UNRS) courses. Students must maintain a  B-  (2.7) average in all subsequent science coursework or be placed on academic probation.
• Credit or waiver for college algebra.
• A current full physical examination clearance done within the past 12 months. This report is to be submitted the APU Student Health Center.
• Current two-step TB test, Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, and Tdap (evidence must be submitted either from a current immunization record or from recent titer results. The School of Nursing highly recommends that all students receive quantitative titers for proof of immunity.).
• A current background check.
• Ability to meet physical sensory technical standards required for safe and competent performance of the duties and skills needed for the nursing profession.
• Current CPR with AED certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support for Health Care Providers for adults and children from the American Heart Association.

International Students

Note: International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa are not currently eligible to apply for the 2+2 program, but may apply to the Traditional BSN program.

International students are required to meet the same academic and admission requirements as other students, as well as the following:

• Completion of Writing 1: The Art and Craft of Writing and one of the four required sciences taken at an accredited U.S. university with a minimum grade of  C  (2.0), and achievement of a cumulative grade-point average of  B  (3.0) in all college courses completed at Azusa Pacific University after two semesters of full-time enrollment.
• The admission requirement for international students with English as a second language (ESL) is a minimum TOEFL score of 80 iBT. For more information about other ways to provide proof of English proficiency, view the  English proficiency requirements .

Note: Check with the  Office of Undergraduate Admissions  regarding residency requirements prior to application.

You might think that a private college education is beyond your reach, but  there are many financial resources available to help make an Azusa Pacific education a reality . APU students may take advantage of three basic types of financial aid: scholarships and grants, education loans, and student employment.

Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships   and   grants   are considered “gift aid” and do not require repayment. They can come from federal, state, or private sources. Scholarships are typically merit-based, meaning they are awarded depending on demonstrated academic ability or other specific talents.

Scholarships are often available from sources outside of APU. You can search for these scholarships through websites such as   finaid.org   or   fastweb.com . The Student Services Center is sometimes notified of scholarships available through APU departments or local organizations, and can provide information about any available scholarships on request.

Education Loans

Education loans   are usually repaid after graduation, may be deferred until after graduate school, and often have very low interest rates.

Military Benefits

Military members—and in some cases their spouses and dependents—qualify for   financial assistance   covering tuition, housing, and books. Azusa Pacific is a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School, so you can be confident that you’ll receive the benefits and flexibility you need to complete your education.

Student Employment

On-campus   student employment   is available for students needing additional income to pay for education-related expenses. APU students also find work off campus in the surrounding community.

Net Price Calculator

We’re committed to helping families understand early in the college search process the value of the APU experience and options for affordable financing of a top-tier Christian university education.

Now that you’re familiar with the financial aid opportunities available to APU students, it’s time to estimate what your true cost may be to attend Azusa Pacific. Remember, estimations are only as accurate as the information you provide. Click on the Net Price Calculator button below to begin.

To view specific requirements and coursework information, visit the current academic catalog:

Program Requirements

• Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). 
• The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice at Azusa Pacific University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. 
• The traditional baccalaureate nursing program, upper-division transfer (2+2/LVN to BSN) programs, entry-level master’s program, and the nurse practitioner program are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Career Outlooks and Outcomes

APU School of Nursing Receives $4.4 Million in Grants from HRSA

APU’s School of Nursing, the third largest producer of nurses in the state of California, received two grants totaling $4,396,200 from the Health Resources and Services Administration to help students afford a nursing education.

Read the Article

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• Inland Empire

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

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How to make friends in college: 8 tips from real students

Is one of your biggest concerns how to make friends in college? You aren’t alone. Every college student wants to find their people who they can comfortably confide in and enjoy spending time with. Keep reading to learn from some real University of Northern Iowa students about their experiences making friends in college.

How to make friends in college

Have a positive outlook on making friends.

If you go into your college experience believing you can’t make friends in college, you may find it more challenging to foster new connections. But if you believe that you will make friends and you put in the proper effort, you’ll be more likely to leave your time in college with fulfilling relationships.

“When I was a freshman, I was very nervous to make friends here at UNI,” said William Palma, a third-year student majoring in computer science. “I had the belief, however, that I would find meaningful people, and I was able to meet great people with this positive mindset.”

Even if you didn’t have a lot of friends in high school, have the belief that college will be different. “This is a fresh start for you, and you have the ability to control your college experience,” said Meggan Barrow, a third-year student majoring in comprehensive secondary science education.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly scrolling on your phone. This is especially true while you’re in a classroom waiting for a lecture to begin. Challenge yourself to be in the moment and off your phone. For Carissa Demings, a senior accounting and business analytics student, this is one way she has figured out how to make friends in college. Even while she is walking to class, she tries to avoid being on her phone. “People are more likely to approach you or talk to you before class if you aren’t occupied with your phone,” she said.

Remember you aren’t alone

‌ Whether a person is introverted or extroverted, the thought of making new friends in college will be a little nerve-wracking. “I remember feeling very nervous about how I might be perceived if I was the first to start a conversation with someone new,” said Samantha Robinson, a senior majoring in communication sciences and disorders. “What helped me to overcome that feeling was knowing that EVERYONE is feeling nervous about the same thing. I quickly learned that most people starting college are looking around, hoping for someone else to start the conversation. By knowing that everyone is nervous about the same thing, it made me feel a lot better about putting myself out there and making new friends.”

Leave your comfort zone

Perhaps the most important advice you can take when it comes to thinking about how to make friends in college is to be willing to take risks. That may mean getting involved with a group where you don’t know anyone or showing up to a sporting event even though you don’t know all the rules. Put yourself out there! “Leaving your dorm room or apartment to get involved is the first, easiest step to making friends, even when you may not feel like it,” said Robinson. 

“Be open to meeting new people and don’t hesitate to introduce yourself with someone new,” said Lizbeth Garcia Tellez, a senior majoring in strategic public relations. “Embrace the chance to connect with others!”

Put in the work

Friendship is a two-way street. It takes time and effort on the part of both parties to create a lasting relationship. Organize get-togethers with new connections such as movie nights or coffee meet-ups. Even if you aren’t in the same classes, asking someone to study with you is also a great way to further a connection. “Collaborating on study sessions gives us a chance to spend more time together and support each other academically, which deepens our connection,” said Garcia Tellez.

“With being so involved, it’s hard to block off time to make friends or even hang out,” said Barrow. “I have overcome this by allowing myself more breaks in my schedule and not going to everything possible.”

Be the friend you want

It can be hard to make the first move in a friendship by introducing yourself to someone new. But you can’t always be expecting other people to introduce themselves to you first. In general, you will make more friends if you treat others the way you would like them to treat you. “Even if you’ve found your group, be open to it growing,” said Madison Duong, senior majoring in marketing: advertising and digital media. “Invite others to join you when your friends hangout. The small action of including someone in your plans makes all the difference.”

Let your friends increase your connections

Often, when you make a friend, you will have the opportunity to meet their friends, too. This will multiply your connections in college. Don’t be afraid of mixing your friend groups or asking your friends to introduce you to more people. When everyone is helping each other foster community, knowing how to make friends in college gets a lot easier!

Be yourself

Whether you’re conversing with your dorm neighbor or meeting your intramural teammates, make sure you are always your authentic self. “I tried to be someone I wasn’t my freshman year,” said Caleb Brothers, a senior majoring in interactive digital studies and graphic technology. “I had to realize that if people didn’t want to know me for who I really was, what was the point? Don’t be afraid to be who you truly are. The friends will come, so there’s no need to hide behind a mask or a facade.”

Where to make friends

There is no shortage of places where you can make friends at college. According to students, some of the best places include:

• Orientation  - Orientation is really your first chance to start making friends at college. Because it can be overwhelming, it might be a good idea to focus on just one or two people you could become friends with.
• Welcome Week activities   - The first week at UNI is filled with all kinds of events for students. Take advantage of these opportunities.
• On-campus jobs   - Whether you work in an office on campus or the dining centers, jobs are a great way to spend an extended period of time with other students.
• Classes  - Try to converse with your classmates before and after class. It’s usually pretty easy to ask them if they’d like to study for an upcoming test together.
• Campus events - Keep an eye out for events happening on campus throughout the school that you can go to and meet more people. Read your weekly Panther Experience emails, check out the  UNI Calendar and look for flyers and sidewalk chalk signs across campus. You can also follow various departments and student organizations on social media.
• Student organizations - Get involved with student groups right away. These are a great place to find people with common interests.
• Residence halls - Leave your door open whenever possible and look for other open doors on your floor. Don’t be afraid to stop by and say “hello.”
• Dining centers - Ask others in the dining center if you can sit with them, or if you see someone eating alone invite them to sit with you.

Make lifelong friends at UNI

Hopefully, these tips will help you flip your mindset from “I can’t make friends in college” to “I CAN make friends in college.” Remember that making friends gets easier with practice, so if you don’t feel like you’ve made friends in the first few days on campus, just keep trying! It will get better.

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