Finding Education-Related Scholarships and Fellowships
As future educational leaders, students in education and human services are often required to obtain master’s degrees in their fields. Knowledge is power, and rigorous studies as well as hands-on training are crucial in preparing educators to work with the next generation of students. While most education majors are comfortable in the classroom, one challenge may cause students to hesitate before pursuing higher education: Four to six years of college is expensive! Paying for an education degree is an investment and often requires creativity, initiative, and hard work on the part of the student. To help students wondering how to pay for their degree, here are some tips and tricks for finding education-related fellowships and scholarships:
Start with Your School
When beginning your scholarship search, an accessible and trustworthy resource is your university’s website. The Graduate School at Binghamton dedicates an entire page to financial aid and funding including assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, and employment opportunities. Special opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds as well as research and travel funding are also highlighted.
In addition to your graduate school’s homepage, your specific academic department may also have financial resources available. The Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership department at Binghamton features several financial resources including a substitute teaching program, grants, assistantships, and work-study opportunities. For example, students in the Substitutes with a Purpose (SWAP) program spend two days per week in the classroom, for which they receive both educational credits and paid compensation.
Ask for Help
Sorting through scholarship opportunities can be overwhelming. The good news is that your school likely has professionals dedicated to helping you navigate the world of financial support. Binghamton’s Financial Aid office takes 15 minute appointments which can be scheduled here. During these appointments, experts in college funding can walk you through searching and applying for scholarships, as well as other finance-related topics such as financial literacy and financial hardship.
Broaden Your Scope
After exploring the opportunities featured by your school, try finding scholarships through some of these other resources:
- CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and currently lists over 8000 awards
- InfoEd Spin
Binghamton partners with InfoEd Spin to offer its students special access to the organization’s global scholarship database
- The National Endowment for the Humanities
For Education and Human Services students, the National Endowment for the Humanities provides a niche database of grant opportunities including fellowship awards of up to $60,000
For more opportunities, visit Binghamton’s list of external funding resources here.
Paying for school can be expensive, but an incredible amount of resources exist for those who know how to find them. Education and Human Services professionals are our country’s future leaders, and both individuals and organizations are looking to help you reach your career goals. By exploring opportunities through your school and beyond, you can begin financially preparing for your education today.
