Education Scholarships

The Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program was established by the Legislature for the purpose of providing financial assistance to Massachusetts residents who are currently employed as paraprofessionals in Massachusetts public schools, but wish to become certified as full time teachers. This grant is designed to help reduce financial barriers that often become obstacles for many paraprofessionals in attaining higher education. The program is also an attempt to help address the Commonwealth's current teacher shortage. Financial need is not a requirement for the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant. However, recipients must annually file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Who Is Eligible? To be eligible for a Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant, a student must: Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts. Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen. Be eligible under Title IV Regulations and not in default of a state or federal education loan or grant. Enroll in an undergraduate degree program (full-time or part-time) leading to teacher certification in a Massachusetts Public College. Be employed, for a minimum of two years, as a paraprofessional in a Massachusetts public school. If employed less than two years as a paraprofessional, a student 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. Has not earned a bachelor's degree. Eligible Institutions For the purposes of the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant, an eligible institution is defined as a regionally accredited public or private, college or university in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that offers a teacher preparation program leading to licensure, approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education (MDOE); or a two-year public college that has a signed articulation or joint admissions agreement with such an institution for a teacher preparation program. Award Amounts The grant award under this program will vary, depending on the type of institution and the students' enrollment status (full-time or part-time).

The Career Advancement Program Tuition Waiver is designed to reward Massachusetts's public school teachers in their first three years of teaching who have passed all three components of the Massachusetts Teachers Test. It is further believed that the Career Advancement Program Tuition Waiver helps to increase the retention of new teachers during the first three years when attrition is highest; by rewarding teachers with career advancement opportunities. Eligible public school teachers receive up to three tuition-free state-supported graduate courses, one for each of their first three years of teaching. The value of the tuition waivers is approximately $300 per course. Who Is Eligible? To be eligible for a Career Advancement Tuition Waiver, a student must: Have passed all three components of the Massachusetts Teachers Test. Be a public school teacher in the year he/she using the award. Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts. Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen. Not be in default of a Federal or state loan or owe a refund on any previously received financial aid. File a current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligible Institutions The nine Massachusetts State Colleges and the four campuses of the University of Massachusetts. Award Amounts Career Advancement Tuition Waiver recipients shall be eligible for tuition for up to three state-supported graduate courses (in education or areas related to the teacher's subject matter), one for each of their first three years of teaching. Waivers must be used within two years of the year of teaching in a public school that has provided eligibility for the waiver. Individual student awards shall be up to the resident tuition rate at the participating institution. How Do I Apply? Contact the financial aid office at the institution you are attending or plan to attend for application requirements or deadlines.

The Collaborative Teachers Tuition Waiver encourages Massachusetts's public school teachers to become mentors to full-time student teachers from State colleges and universities. The program is designed to support the professional development of public school teachers in the Commonwealth. Under the agreement, the mentoring teacher receives a waiver for up to one graduate-level course for each student teacher he/she mentors. The waiver can be used for courses in education or related to the teacher's major field offered by State colleges and the University of Massachusetts. Who Is Eligible? To be eligible for a Collaborative Teachers Tuition Waiver, a student must: Agree to mentor a student teacher from a State college or university in their classroom. Be a public school teacher in the year he/she is using the award. Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts. Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen. Not be in default of a Federal or State loan or owe a refund on any previously received financial aid. File a current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligible Institutions The nine Massachusetts State Colleges and the four campuses of the University of Massachusetts. Award Amounts Collaborative Teachers shall be eligible for a tuition waiver for up to one state-supported graduate-level course for each student teacher mentored with a maximum of one student teacher mentored per semester. Collaborative Teachers can request waivers for up to two years after the completion of the mentoring relationship for which eligibility is based. Individual student awards shall be no more than the resident graduate tuition rate at the participating institution. How Do I Apply? Contact the financial aid office at the institution you are attending or plan to attend for application requirements or deadlines. You can also call the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 391-6070 to obtain more information.

Who Is Eligible? To be eligible for an Incentive Program for Aspiring Teachers, a student must: Be in his/her third and/or fourth year of college and enrolled in state approved teacher education program field with teacher shortages. Have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average in general education courses. Commit to teaching for two (2) years (one year for each year of full or partial tuition waiver received) in a public school in the Commonwealth upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree from the college or university and the appropriate certification pursuant to section 38G of Chapter 71 M.G.L. Be deemed eligible by the institution. Complete an agreement regarding service and/or repayment (including interest). Achieve a 3.0 grade point average in the third year in order to receive the tuition waiver for the second year (senior year). Be a permanent resident of Massachusetts for at least one year prior to the opening of the academic year. Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen. Be in compliance with applicable Selective Registration requirements. Not be in default of any federal or state loan or owe a refund on any previously received financial aid. Be maintaining satisfactory academic progress in accordance with institutional standards. File a current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligible Institutions The nine Massachusetts State Colleges and the four campuses of the University of Massachusetts. Award Amounts Students eligible for the Incentive Program for Aspiring Teachers will be entitled to a tuition waiver equal to the resident tuition rate at the State College or participating University campus at which they are enrolled for two years. The tuition waiver for the second year of eligibility (senior year) is contingent upon the student earning a 3.0 grade point average in the third year. Forfeiture of Tuition Waiver Award Persons who participate in the program but do not complete their college education within four years of entering the certification program or who fail to complete their two-year teaching commitment within four years following graduation from college, shall be obligated to pay the Commonwealth the full amount of the tuition waivers granted through the Incentive Program for Aspiring Teachers, prorated according to the fraction of teaching not completed, with interest, as determined by the Board of Higher Education. How Do I Apply? Contact the financial aid at the State College or University that you are attending or plan to attend for application requirements and deadlines. You can also contact the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 391-6070 to obtain more information.

Eligibility requirements: Legal residents of Delaware. U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Full-time students enrolled at a Delaware college in an undergraduate program leading to teacher certification. High school seniors must rank in upper half of class and have a combined score of 1570 on the SAT. Undergraduates must have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA. Awards may be provided for programs of study not available in Delaware or prorated for part-time students. Preference is given to applicants planning to teach in a critical need area as defined by the Delaware Department of Education. Award: Loan not to exceed cost of tuition, mandatory fees, and other direct educational expenses. Renewable for up to three additional years with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 Loan forgiveness provision at a rate of one year of teaching in a Delaware public school for one year of loan.

The mission of the South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program is to recruit talented high school seniors into the teaching profession and to help them develop leadership qualities. Each year, the program provides fellowships to up to 200 high school seniors. Awards: Up to $6,000 yearly scholarship for four years, including $300 a year for summer enrichment. Eligibility: Written and oral application process, high academic achievement, a history of service to the school and community, and a desire to teach South Carolina's children.

The NSHSS Foundation provides STEM scholarships for underrepresented groups in order to help reduce financial barriers for those with academic and leadership potential and the desire to pursue STEM careers. We recognize that in order to increase diversity in the technology workforce, we must increase diversity in undergraduates. The Foundation awards scholarships to applicants who are pursuing a degree in, or closely related to, one of the following STEM disciplines: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Biosciences/Pre-med/health-related fields Chemical Engineering Chemistry Civil Engineering Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences Computer and Computational Sciences, including Statistics and Accounting Electrical Engineering Geosciences Information Sciences Materials Science and Engineering Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Nuclear Engineering Oceanography Operations Research Physics Teaching in STEM areas

Awarded to undergraduate students whose parental income is too high to qualify for other aid, yet not sufficient to afford to pay for all of their children’s tuition. The family must have more than one child to educate and their income must be between $25,000 and $50,000. Applicants and parents must be residents of Massachusetts.

The Lula L. Axson and Evelyn L. Johnson Education Scholarship is awarded to students matriculating in a 2 or 4 year college/university in Massachusetts and have declared their major in any discipline in education. Scholarships are to be applied to cost of tuition, fees, and room and board at an accredited college or university in Massachusetts. The scholarship may provide a $1,000 non-renewable award for students who are pursing school full-time from accredited vocational/technical school, community college, or college/university in pursuit of a certificate, diploma or degree in any discipline in education. Scholarships will be applied to the cost of undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board, and other college expenses.