In 2016, college graduates had over $35,000 in student loan debt, on average. This amount has increased from previous years. That’s a lot of debt for anyone to take on, especially a first-year teacher. So, what can you do to decrease the amount of money that you need to borrow? Try the following options for teaching degree grants to help you.
Federal and State Programs
The federal government created the TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grant. This offers up to $4,000 per year for college students working to become teachers in high-need fields. Grant recipients promise to work in areas with low-income families for at least 4 years. Other grant programs through the government include the Federal Transition into Teaching Program, National SMART grants, and Academic Competitiveness Grant. Find out if there are other teaching grants offered in your state, too.
Colleges and Universities
Depending on which college or university you attend, there may be additional teaching degree grants available to you. Check with the institutions’ financial aid office to learn more about opportunities. If you’re still in the process of choosing which school to attend, take a minute to learn more about the grants that you’re eligible for at schools you’re interested in attending. Get an early start on the application process for the grants, so you can stand out to the people choosing who will receive the grants.
Professional Organizations
There are several other corporations and charitable organizations that offer teaching degree grants. Most of them target disciplines that stand in need of more teachers. To learn more about the grants and how to apply for them, check out the following organizations:
- The American Council of Learned Societies
- Citigroup’s Smarter Schools and Smarter Classroom Grant
- Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers (Fellowship for aspiring teachers of color)
- American Federation of Teachers
- National Council of Mathematics Teachers
- American Association of Physics Teachers
It takes time to apply for each grant. However, the more grants that you apply for, the greater chance you have at receiving money to help you pay for college. Take your time to complete the applications and write any necessary essays. Show the committees that you deserve the money, so you can become a teacher who will make a difference in the lives of your students.
Have you had any luck with teaching degree grants? How did you find the opportunity? Share your experience in the comments below.
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