Teaching is a field that is constantly in demand, with young minds all over the nation in need of some shaping. While specialty fields like special education tend to do a little better in job security and demand, overall, teaching is a stable and fairly secure career bet. Students can get started on learning their classroom skills at the university of their choice with a little help from numerous state, university and organization funded scholarships.

Requirements for teaching scholarships usually focus on financial need and academic achievement, though students may receive funding if they agree to teach in unprivileged and in need areas after graduation. Awards are available to those working towards a wide variety of specializations including special education, administration and K-12 teaching. Applications may require students to submit essays, statements of purpose, or official transcripts.

Scholarship money for teaching students comes from a number of sources. Students can find funding through the school they are enrolled with, through teaching associations, and from private organizations. Students should also note that while some scholarships are offered on a national level, many are state and community specific. National scholarship programs may be more competitive, but in general they offer a higher monetary compensation that state and local scholarships. Those pursuing a specialty can also find scholarships from related organizations that will help them to enter the field of their choice.

Because teaching often requires students to go without employment for a few months while they are doing student teaching, many in the field need a little financial assistance. Both secondary and primary school teachers are awarded scholarships which they can put towards taking care of some of their living expenses and educational costs. Recipients of scholarships are at both the undergraduate and graduate level, depending on the type of award.

Teacher Scholarships

• StraightForward Media Teacher Scholarships: $500 is awarded every 4 months to one student majoring in a teaching related field.
• National Federation of the Blind Educator of Tomorrow Award: $3,000 is given to a blind student planning a career in elementary, secondary, or postsecondary teaching.
• The Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the State Farm Companies Foundation Scholarship: $2,500 to 20 Hispanic college students who wish to pursue teaching careers.
• Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund: $4,000 awarded each year to minority undergraduate student majoring in education.
• AKA Educational Advancement Foundation Merit Scholarship: $1,000 awarded each year to one undergraduate student majoring in education.
• NAACP Lillian and Samuel Sutton Education Scholarship: $1,000 to $2,000 is given to a varied number of minority undergraduate and graduate students who are members of NAACP and majoring in education.
• Isabel M. Herson Scholarship in Education: $500 to $1,000 awarded each year to varied number of undergraduate and graduate students majoring in education.