How to Pay for Your Teaching Degree: Best Scholarships for Future Educators

Whether you're pursuing a degree in elementary education, prepping for a secondary teaching career, or working as a tutor, you are stepping into one of the most impactful roles a person can hold. By choosing to teach, you aren't just sharing knowledge; you are shaping the future by touching the lives of countless students, sparking their curiosity, and providing the guidance they need to succeed. If you're an education major in college or a high school student planning to major in education, there are teaching scholarships and grants, like the federal TEACH Grant, to help you pay for your teaching degree.

Top 2026 Scholarships for Education Majors and Teachers

Graduate from college with fewer student loans by applying for the scholarships for teachers and education majors below.

Jack Kinnaman Scholarship

The Jack Kinnaman Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a career in education. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 4/15/26
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $3,500

McCarthey Dressman Student Teaching Scholarship

The McCarthey Dressman Student Teaching Scholarship is available to student teachers in their final year of study at New Mexico State University, the University of California, Santa Cruz, the University of Texas at Austin, or Stephen F. Austin State University. You must be specializing in elementary or secondary education and be willing to work with a trustee of the McCarthey Dressman Foundation during your student teaching. Deadline: 4/15/26
Available to: College Seniors
Award Amount: $6,000

Dr. May Hope Wilkins Legacy Scholarship

The Dr. May Hope Wilkins Legacy Scholarship is available to HBCU undergraduate students. You must be majoring in the field of education to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 4/25/26 Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $500 - $12,000

Brown MAE Education Scholarship

The Brown MAE Education Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students of Black/African American, Native American/American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander descent. You must be pursuing a degree in healthcare, teaching, or education, and have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 4/30/26
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies

AFCEA STEM Majors Scholarship

The AFCEA STEM Majors Scholarship is available to graduate students who are pursuing a degree or credential / licensure to teach science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 5/1/26
Available to: Graduate Students
Award Amount: $2,500

Leon Bradley Scholarship

The Leon Bradley Scholarship is available to minority students who are enrolled in the final year of a teacher preparation or school leadership program. Deadline: 5/15/26 Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $3,500

Myra L. Austin Taylor Memorial Scholarship

The Myra L. Austin Taylor Memorial Scholarship is available to students who are currently attending or will attend an HBCU. You must be majoring in education / elementary education or be a current member of your institution's band, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and provide proof of 90 hours or more of community service to be eligible for this award. A 500 - word essay is also required. Deadline: 5/23/26 Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $500

Dr. Emma Lerew Scholarship

The Dr. Emma Lerew Scholarship is available to students pursuing a career in education. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 6/30/26
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $10,000

Mrs Prindables Future Educator Scholarship

The Future Educator Scholarship is available to incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students. You must be pursuing a degree in education to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 8/1/26
Available to: High School Seniors through College Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000

Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Physics Teachers

The Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Physics Teachers is available to high school seniors and undergraduate students who are pursuing a career in teaching physics at the high school level. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 12/1/26
Available to: High School Seniors through College Seniorss
Award Amount: $3,000

Innovation in Education Scholarship

The Innovation in Education Scholarship is available to high school and college students. You must have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others to be considered for this award. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. Deadline: 12/20/26 Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $500

Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant

The Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant is available to undergraduate students who are legal residents of Massachusetts. You must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program leading to teacher certification in an eligible Massachusetts public college and have been employed for at least two years as a paraprofessional in a Massachusetts public school. You must also be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, not be in default of any state or federal education loan or grant, and have not earned a bachelor's degree to be eligible for this award. If you have been employed for less than two years, you may qualify for the grant only if the undergraduate course of study will lead to teacher certification in high need disciplines: math, science, special education, foreign languages, or bilingual education. Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: $7,500

Golden Apple Scholars Program

The Golden Apple Scholars Program is open to high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores who are pursuing careers as teachers. You must be a resident of Illinois, Michigan, or New Mexico and be attending, or planning to attend, a partner university to be eligible for this award. Recipients of this award are required to teach for five years in a partner school within seven years of graduation. Deadline: Coming in 2026: Check back for the next application window.
Available to: High School Seniors through College Sophomores
Award Amount: $15,000 - $23,000

Teach For America Program

The Teach For America program is open to college juniors, seniors, and recent graduates. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible to apply. Once accepted into the program, you must commit to teaching for at least two years in a low-income community served by the organization. Students are eligible to receive forbearance and interest payment on qualified student loans during their two years of service. Additionally, those who have not previously received AmeriCorps awards may receive an education award of around $5,815 at the end of each year of service. Deadline: Coming in August 2026: Check back for the next application window.
Available to: College Juniors & Seniors
Award Amount: $5,815

Paid and Unpaid Teaching Internships for Education Majors

Teacher Resource Center: Curriculum Development and Design Internship

The Teacher Resource Center: Curriculum Development and Design Internship is available to graduate students studying education. Intern duties may include evaluating and updating materials in the Teacher Resource Center, developing ocean science curriculum, developing ocean-related activities, and other duties as needed. You must have a strong interest in curriculum development, strong organizational skills and knowledge or willingness to become familiar with the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Frameworks in order to be considered for this internship.