Even though teaching is one of the most important professions, there can be many financial roadblocks to becoming a teacher in the United States. Getting a master’s or other advanced teaching-related degree can be very expensive, and many entry-level teaching positions do not pay enough to make these degrees feasible.

Luckily, there are programs out there to help relieve this burden, such as scholarships for teachers and teacher loan forgiveness. Whether you are a current teacher looking to further your education, or a recent graduate looking for scholarships for another education program, we’ve gathered the best scholarships for teachers to help you make your teaching dream come true!

• Top scholarships for teachers
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary of scholarships for teachers
• Upcoming scholarships

Top scholarships for teachers in 2021

Keep on reading to learn more about the top scholarships for teachers to apply for this year!

$1,000 BIPOC Educators Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) students who are pursuing or are interested in pursuing a major in education
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: April 1, 2021

Teacher.org Inspire Our Future Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students aged 18 or older with a minimum 3.5 GPA with an intent to use their degree in an education-related career, including teachers and administrators. Current students and teachers who plan on going back to school to further their career are both welcome
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 1

A. Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Scholarship

• Eligibility: National Association for Gifted Children members who are teachers of gifted students in grades K-12 looking to further their education. See website for nomination instructions
• Amount: $4,000
• Deadline: April 1, 2021

National Association for Gifted Children Master’s and Specialist Award

• Eligibility: Must be more than half-way through a graduate (non-doctoral) program on the education of gifted & talented students or have graduated within one year prior to the NAGC Convention in November. See website for additional qualifications
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: April 1, 2021

College Pays Tennessee Minority Teaching Fellows Program

• Eligibility: Minority Tennessee residents who are college juniors, seniors, or graduate students pursuing teacher certification with a minimum 2.5 GPA and must not yet hold teacher certification. Undergrad students must be enrolled full-time while graduate students must be at least half-time
• Amount: $5,000 per year
• Deadline: April 15, 2021

Voya Unsung Heroes Awards

• Eligibility: Educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff employed full-time by accredited K-12 public or private schools in the United States
• Amount: $2,000 to $25,000
• Deadline: April 30, 2021

Mathematics Education Trust Program of Mathematics Study & Active Professionalism Grant

• Eligibility: Teachers currently teaching mathematics for at least 3 years and teaching at least 50% of the time in classrooms at the PK–6 level who are looking to further their mathematics education through advanced coursework
• Amount: Up to $24,000
• Deadline: May 1, 2021

Mathematics Education Trust Professional Development Scholarship Emphasizing History, Number Theory, or Discrete Mathematics

• Eligibility: Must have taught school mathematics for at least three years, have an intention to continue teaching, currently be teaching mathematics to students grades 6 – 12 for at least 50% of the school day, and be intending to complete coursework relevant to the history of mathematics, number theory, or discrete mathematics
• Amount: Up to $3,000
• Deadline: May 1, 2021

AFCEA STEM Teacher Graduate Scholarships

• Eligibility: Students actively pursuing a graduate degree or credential/licensure for the purpose of teaching STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) subjects at a U.S. school in grades K-12. Students must currently be in at least their second semester of graduate school and taking at least two semester-equivalent courses per term
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: May 31, 2021

Zippia’s Teacher Dream Job Scholarship

• Eligibility: Aspiring teachers who write an essay about their teaching hopes and dreams, and their plan for attaining them. Candidates can be enrolled in high school or any form of higher education
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: December 31, 2021

Knowles Teaching Fellowship

• Eligibility: Early-career, high school mathematics and science teachers who earned a content degree in the past 10 years and a teaching certificate / license. Must be entering first or second year of teaching during the year the fellowship begins
• Amount: Comprehensive set of benefits, including funds for classroom programs, professional development, and debt repayment. See site for details
• Deadline: Early 2022 (Sign up now for updates on the 2022 application)

Federal TEACH Grant

• Eligibility: US Citizens enrolling in a TEACH-certified program preparing them to teach in a high-need field. TEACH funds can go towards bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, or post baccalaureate programs. Recipients must commit to teach at least four full academic years out of the eight years after they leave their program
• Amount: Up to $4,000 per year
• Deadline: Varies – see website

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

• Eligibility: AmeriCorps alumni who have enrolled in the AmeriCorps Service Trust
• Amount: Varies based on Pell grant amount for that year and amount of AmeriCorps service performed. Can be used to repay student loans or towards future educational expenses
• Deadline: Rolling

Frequently asked questions about scholarships for teachers

Are there scholarships for teachers?

There are many scholarships for teachers, both federal and private. The Federal TEACH Grant is a great example of a federal scholarship for teachers, while the Voya Unsung Heroes award is a great private scholarship for teachers.

What is the Teach Grant?

The TEACH Grant is a federal program which helps pay for the education of aspiring teachers who plan to teach in a high-need field. For more information on the grant, click here.

How long is teacher loan forgiveness?

Teacher loan forgiveness falls under the category of Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which takes 10 years of working in public service and making payments. Borrowers must have made 120 payments in order to qualify for teacher loan forgiveness. For more information, visit the federal student aid website.

Summary of teacher scholarships

1. $1,000 BIPOC Educators Scholarship
2. Teacher.org Inspire Our Future Scholarship
3. A. Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Scholarship
4. National Association for Gifted Children Master’s and Specialist Award
5. College Pays Tennessee Minority Teaching Fellows Program
6. Voya Unsung Heroes Awards
7. Mathematics Education Trust Program of Mathematics Study & Active Professionalism Grant
8. AFCEA STEM Teacher Graduate Scholarships
9. Zippia’s Teacher Dream Job Scholarship
10. Knowles Teaching Fellowship
11. Federal TEACH Grant
12. Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

Upcoming scholarships for teachers

James Madison Awards

• Eligibility: Individuals aspiring to teach the constitution in secondary schools who either have a bachelor’s or who will have it by August 31 of the year in which they apply. Funding goes towards a master’s degree, and after graduating, recipients must commit to teach American history, American government, or civics in grades 7-12 for one full year each academic year of funding received under a fellowship, preferably in the state from which the recipient won the fellowship.
• Amount: $24,000
• Opens: September 2021

Fund for Teachers

• Eligibility: Current teachers who submit a proposal for a grant to further their ability to educate. These opportunities are flexible; they can be to conduct specific projects, attend summits or conferences, or a wide variety of other programs
• Amount: Varies
• Opens: October 2021

National Weather Association Sol Hirsch Education Fund Grants

• Eligibility: Teachers, program directors, school district supervisors, and other individuals or groups proposing to improve the education of K-12 students in meteorology. Funds can be used towards classroom supplies or activities, or towards attending conferences or courses that are related to meteorology
• Amount: Up to $750
• Opens: Spring 2021