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Scholarships
Top education scholarships for you
Find scholarships for education majors that can help you pay for college.
Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.
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Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.
What are education scholarships?
Education scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for education students. Scholarships for education majors can help students access higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach because of financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for education scholarships
Before you apply for education scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements to see if you qualify. These may include:
- Minimum GPA
- Community service experience
- U.S. citizenship
- Plans to attend an accredited program
- Leadership skills
- FAFSA® submission
Scholarship requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Keep searching for scholarships that best match your qualifications.
Are education scholarships worth my time?
If you want to get as much free money as you can for your education, then yes! You’ll find some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for, while others require more time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply for scholarships that require work (like writing an essay) which means you could have better odds of winning if you apply for one of those.
Pro tip: Don’t pass up on education scholarships that have smaller award amounts. ($) There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find education scholarships?
From your school to national organizations, there are so many places to find education scholarships that can help you pay for college.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search engines, like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”

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Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Scholarships for education majors
Ames Education Fund
Due: 10/25/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
The Ames Education Fund is open to underGraduate Studentss with junior or senior status. Applicants must be pursuing teaching licensure and must be residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
United States Senate Youth Program
Due: May 31, 2025
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$10,000
Qualified high school juniors or seniors must show demonstrated leadership by serving in elected or appointed positions in which they are actively representing a constituency in organizations related to student government, education, public affairs and community service. They must be actively serving in qualified leadership positions, enrolled in high school and living in the state (and for these purposes, the District of Columbia) that they will represent for the entire academic year. The college scholarship and attendance at the Washington Week program are one inseparable award. Delegates must participate in the Washington Week program in accordance with all program rules and policies in order to receive the financial scholarship. The USSYP scholarship is designated for undergraduate college study only at an accredited United States college or university. All students are encouraged to include history, political science or related subjects in their undergraduate program. The scholarship is designated for the specified student's education expense and must be used within four years after enrollment. Students may obtain a USSYP application through their high school principals, school counselors and social studies Teaching; or they may inquire directly to their state selection contacts online. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
William & Mary School of Education Award for Excellence
Due: May 31, 2025
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,000
The William & Mary School of Education Award for Excellence is awarded to two meritorious Graduate Studentss: one a Master's candidate and the other an Educational Specialist or Doctoral candidate. In 1989, the Faculty added a third award for excellence to recognize an underGraduate Students. The sole purpose of these awards is to bestow on the recipients recognition as outstanding students in education. Undergraduates and both part-time and full-time Graduate Studentss are eligible for consideration, and both graduate recipients may be from the same program of studies. The individual must be eligible to participate in the May Commencement ceremony. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
James Madison University Study Away/Study Abroad Endowment in the College of Education
Due: 12/1/25
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
The Study Away/Study Abroad Endowment in the College of Education is available to students participating in a College of Education Study Away/Study Abroad Program. The scholarship will be awarded to one full-time student enrolled in a teacher licensure program who resides in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Recipients will be selected at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Education, or designee, following the University's guidelines for the awarding of scholarships.
Mary Ann Graham Johnston Memorial Scholarship
Due: 6/15/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$5,000
The Mary Ann Graham Johnston Memorial Scholarship is open to undergraduate or Graduate Studentss enrolled in a Teacher Certification degree. Preference is given to Single Moms.
1967 Cross Country Champions Scholarship
Due: 2/1/26
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,000
The 1967 Cross Country Champions Scholarship is open to students enrolled in any major leading to a teaching degree, or majoring in coaching or sport management. Students must have at least one full academic year remaining at the start of the fall semester of award year. Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated financial need per FAFSA.
Viola E. Lundeberg Scholarship
Due: 2/1/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$5,238
The Viola E. Lundeberg Scholarship is open to students majoring in Elementary Education. Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education program. Students must be a graduates of a Pierce or St. Croix County high school.
Anthony S. Papalia and Ruth Wickersham Papalia Scholarship
Due: 2/1/26
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,000
The Anthony S. Papalia and Ruth Wickersham Papalia Scholarship is available to continuing students enrolled in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education major with satisfactory academic achievement and a preference for demonstrated financial need.
Becton Family Scholarship
Due: 2/1/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
The Becton Family Scholarship is available to rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have declared a major in education. This scholarship will be awarded based on academic merit and financial need.
A. Martin And Ruth Zucker Fund
Due: May 31, 2025
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
The A. Martin And Ruth Zucker Fund is available to students enrolled in the Judith Herb College of Education.
What types of education scholarships are available?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Want more tips to up your chances of winning? Check out our scholarship guide for everything you need to know about finding and winning scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for education scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
Need more money for college?
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More resources to explore

Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.

Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.

Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Ends 12/31/2025.
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FAFSA® is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.