6 Exclusive Scholarships for Future Teachers

About scholarships for teachers

Teachers have a vital role in the world but often face difficulties in securing their degrees due to the rising costs of college.

As a result, there are many scholarship programs for current educators and teaching students, serving as financial aid to make higher education more accessible and student debt less crippling.

Student debt crisis

As college tuition has ballooned in recent decades, so has the student loan crisis. Young educators are particularly likely to have student debt, with 65% of educators under 35 having loans as compared to 27% of those over the age of 61.

While there has been talk of forgiving the student loans of educators under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, 98% of those college graduates who applied for forgiveness have been rejected, leaving most still in debt due to their pursuit of post-secondary education.

Teachers with debt owe an average of $58,700, a hefty sum when considering that teaching isn't always the most lucrative career, with the average public school teacher earning $61,730. It's clear that many teachers are in need of financial assistance.

Effects of student debt

As a result of low salaries and high debt, many teachers struggle to get by, with some even holding second jobs. A third of young educators cite their debt as one of the reasons they're unable to buy a house, and most older educators also cite their debt as impeding their ability to save for retirement.

Why are there scholarships for teachers?

Teachers carry out an essential duty in society by broadening the minds of all of the students who pass through their classrooms and go on to pursue their own careers.

Supporting prospective teachers and making sure that current teachers have the resources they need to successfully teach is thus critical, affecting not just teachers but all of their future students.

The high costs of college have made it difficult for many future teachers to access higher education, especially those who demonstrate financial need. As a result, many donors choose to sponsor a future teacher scholarship to support the next generation of teachers and all of the minds that they'll shape throughout their careers.

How to qualify for a scholarship for teachers

Submitting a winning application requires putting time and effort into your work, especially for essay-based scholarships. With your busy life, you likely don't have any time to waste on scholarships you're not eligible for. Before taking the time to apply, follow these steps to make sure you're eligible to receive the award you're applying for. 

Be pursuing an education degree

As you may have guessed, the first step to qualifying for education scholarships is to be pursuing a teacher education program at an accredited college. Most scholarships are open to undergraduate and graduate students studying education.

Depending on the scholarship, high school students who are planning on being education majors may also be eligible, or graduates who have a teaching degree and student loans may also be eligible. Most teaching scholarships aren't specific to an area of study (e.g., early childhood education), which provides more options.

Meet any education level requirements and additional criteria

The first step in checking the rest of the scholarship criteria is to verify that you're pursuing the proper level of education for that scholarship. Some scholarships are only open to high school seniors and undergraduate students while others are open to graduate students as well.

In addition to education requirements, check all additional criteria, which will be listed in the description. These criteria can include minimum GPA requirements, volunteer experience, leadership skills, community involvement, specific field requirements, etc. Other scholarships may require you to demonstrate financial need, such as by being low-income.

Be a current educator with student loans

Most scholarships available on Bold.org are meant for current students, but there are some scholarships that graduates who have student loan debt may apply for. For these scholarships, you simply need to be a current teacher with at least one student loan to apply.

What types of scholarships are available for teachers?

There are many different types of scholarship opportunities for current and future teachers, ranging from individual need to academic achievement. Some scholarships are open to all students who are pursuing a college degree in teaching, such as an undergraduate program or a graduate degree, while other scholarships are open to high school students who are planning to pursue a career in education.

Additionally, some scholarships are geared towards students pursuing early childhood education or elementary education, while some are dedicated to future high school teachers. Certain scholarships are also looking for students to be pursuing a certain field of teaching, such as science teachers or those planning on working in special education. Here is an example of a future teachers scholarship.

How to find scholarships for teachers

When to start applying for scholarships for teachers

If you know that you want to be an educator, it's never too early to start applying. Many scholarships are open even to high school students who are planning on pursuing a career in education. High school seniors in particular will find many scholarships aiming to encourage the pursuit of teaching. Community college students, undergraduate students, and even post-graduate students should apply.

Don't worry if you're further along in your education journey and just beginning your scholarship search. There are plenty of education scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students at an accredited college, and there are even some scholarship opportunities for graduates who have student loans.

What to consider when applying for scholarships

When applying for scholarships, keep in mind best practices (you can find our tips below) as well as your unique financial needs. Remember that each scholarship's amount varies, with scholarships on Bold.org ranging from $500 to $25,000.

While all teaching scholarships can help you on your way to financing your college or university education, you may need more than one to fulfill all of your educational costs. So, don't restrict yourself to just one or two scholarship applications, but rather apply for as many as possible to maximize your chances and your winnings.

Tips for winning scholarships for teachers

Pursuing higher education is a significant investment in yourself and often comes with a high price tag. In order to maximize your chances of winning and funding your education, follow the tips below.

Find specific, narrow scholarships to apply for

The more eligibility criteria a scholarship has, the fewer eligible applicants there will be, giving you a greater chance of winning. While it can still be worthwhile to apply for larger broad scholarships, be sure to apply for more specific scholarships as well to boost your chances of winning.

Apply early and often

The more scholarships you apply for, the higher your chances are of winning one, so stick with it and keep applying! Being among the first applicants for a scholarship can also increase your chances and make your application stand out.

The deadline varies for each scholarship, so keep an eye out for new opportunities. You can filter by "newest" to find the most recently added scholarships. New scholarships are added every week so check back for new applications.

Craft a quality essay

Many scholarships will require an essay submission as part of the application, giving you a great opportunity to showcase your personality and skills. When writing an essay, be sure to stick to the prompt, answer all questions asked, include a brief conclusion, and proofread before submitting.

Make your profile stand out

In addition to any submission materials, such as an essay, video, or image, your profile can also be reviewed by donors and can help bolster your application. Having a detailed profile that showcases your talents, experiences, and goals will make you stick out, and earning bold points will also make your application more eye-catching. Your profile is especially important when applying for no-essay scholarships.

Frequently asked questions about scholarships for teachers

What are the benefits of scholarships for teachers?

Scholarships for teachers encourage the next generation of educators to pursue higher education so they can reach their goals. Scholarships act as financial aid for many college students and help many people avoid or reduce their reliance on student loans. Teachers shape the minds of the students, so helping prospective teachers afford college affects countless people.

How do I find scholarships for teachers?

To find scholarships for teachers, go to Bold.org and start browsing. You can use the filter features to search for scholarships that are right for your education level and you can also go to the "education" category to find most of the available teaching scholarships. You can also check out the list above and can click on any of the scholarships to start applying.

Why should I apply for teaching scholarships?

It's no secret that college is expensive, causing millions of students to take out significant loans in order to afford an education degree. As a result, applying for education scholarships is more important than ever and can help you on your path to becoming an elementary school teacher, secondary teacher, or even college professor.

What is a scholarship for teachers?

One type of education scholarship is a future teacher scholarship which seeks to help current college students who are pursuing an education degree. These scholarships are put directly towards tuition and course-related expenses.

Other scholarships for teachers aim to help current teachers pay back the student loans they took out while pursuing their degrees.

Do teachers get free college?

Most teachers have to pay for their college education, leaving many in difficult financial situations. There are several options to help aspiring teachers pay for school, such as the federal student aid TEACH Grant Program. However, these efforts often don't go far enough and leave many future teachers without the resources they need to pursue post-secondary education and earn a teaching degree.

Can high school seniors apply for a teaching scholarship?

High school seniors who are planning to pursue a teacher education program in college can apply for many education scholarships. However, some scholarships are only open to college students, including those pursuing a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, or a doctorate.

Are scholarships taxable income?

No matter what scholarship you win on Bold.org, it isn't considered taxable income. Scholarship money is a form of financial aid and is a gift that applicants must use for tuition, board, or other education-related expenses.