The biggest teaching scholarships for 2026-27 are service-based: the federal TEACH Grant (up to $4,000/year), NC Teaching Fellows (up to $5,000/semester), Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (up to $23,000) and Connecticut's Aspiring Educators Scholarship (up to $5,000/semester). Open deadlines run from November 5, 2026 to March 1, 2027.
Hand-checked teacher scholarships and service grants for education majors, career changers and future elementary, special-ed and STEM teachers. Every deadline below was read from the sponsor's own page on November 3, 2026.
| Program | Award | Deadline | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal TEACH Grant U.S. Department of Education | Up to $4,000 / year | Rolling: via FAFSA + school each award year | Undergrad, post-bacc, grad in TEACH-eligible programs; 4-year high-need teaching service or it becomes a loan |
| Connecticut Aspiring Educators Scholarship CT State Dept. of Education | Up to $5,000 / semester (tuition) | Spring 2027: Nov 5, 2026 | CT public HS graduates (or CT GED) in an approved CT educator prep program; must teach in CT |
| Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship (CSUSM) Cal State San Marcos / NSF Noyce | Amount UNKNOWN (see page) | Nov 22, 2026 (Spring 2027); Apr 18, 2027 (Fall 2027) | Future math & science teachers at CSUSM; interview; teaching commitment |
| Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Golden Apple Foundation / ISAC | Up to $23,000 total support | Priority Dec 1, 2026; final Mar 1, 2027 | IL high school seniors and college freshmen/sophomores; teach in IL schools-of-need |
| Fulton Education Scholarship Fulton Public Schools (MO) | $6,000 + guaranteed job | Jan 8, 2027 | Undergrad education majors; priority to Callaway County / local K-12 grads; 4 years teaching in Fulton |
| North Carolina Teaching Fellows UNC System | Up to $5,000 / semester (forgivable loan) | Feb 14, 2027 (early action closed Nov 1, 2026) | Elementary ed, special ed or STEM majors at 10 partner NC universities; 1 year NC teaching per year funded |
| Colorado Educator Recruitment & Retention (ERR) Colorado Dept. of Education | Up to $7,500 | Closed Sept 30, 2026 — next cycle expected ~July 2027 (UNKNOWN until announced) | Enrolled in CO educator prep program and working as para, alt-route or CTE in CO public schools; 3-year service |
"UNKNOWN" means the sponsor page did not state it when we checked. Amounts and dates change; confirm on the official page before applying.
Most money for education majors is not a no-strings gift. State fellowships and the TEACH Grant pay you now in exchange for a promise to teach later, usually in a shortage subject or a high-need school. North Carolina asks one year in an NC public school for every year funded; Connecticut asks you to certify and teach in the state; Fulton, Missouri asks four years in its district. Break the promise and the award converts to a loan, often with interest back-dated to each payment. That trade is excellent if you already plan to teach where they need you, and risky if you might move or switch careers.
Elementary majors qualify for the broadest set of programs. NC Teaching Fellows names elementary education as a priority field alongside special education and STEM. Golden Apple in Illinois takes high school seniors and early college students headed into any grade band, then places them in schools-of-need. If you are outside those states, check your own state page: California, Texas, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Connecticut, Missouri and Colorado.
The NSF-funded Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship runs through individual universities, so each campus sets its own amount and deadline. CSUSM's current cycle closes November 22, 2026. If you are a STEM major considering teaching, search "Noyce scholarship" plus your university name, and see our STEM scholarships list for non-teaching awards you can stack.
Writing help: our scholarship essay guide and state scholarships guide. First in your family to go to college? See first-generation tips.
A teaching scholarship pays part of the cost of an education degree or teacher-prep program. Many of the largest ones, like the federal TEACH Grant and NC Teaching Fellows, are service-based: you agree to teach in a set place or subject for a number of years, and if you don't, the money turns into a loan you repay.
It works like one. The TEACH Grant gives up to $4,000 per year to students in eligible teacher-prep programs at participating schools. You must teach full time for at least four years in a high-need field at a low-income school, within eight years of finishing, or it converts to an unsubsidized loan. You apply through the FAFSA and your school, not a separate essay.
Yes. NC Teaching Fellows specifically funds future elementary education, special education and STEM teachers in North Carolina public schools, at up to $5,000 per semester. Golden Apple Scholars in Illinois and state programs like Connecticut's Aspiring Educators Scholarship also cover elementary majors.
As of November 3, 2026: Connecticut Aspiring Educators (Spring 2027 deadline November 5, 2026), CSUSM Noyce Scholarship (November 22, 2026), Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (priority December 1, 2026; final March 1, 2027), Fulton Education Scholarship in Missouri (January 8, 2027) and NC Teaching Fellows (February 14, 2027). Always confirm on the official page.
Most state and federal teacher programs do. NC Teaching Fellows asks one year of NC public-school teaching per year funded; Connecticut requires certification and teaching in the state; Fulton requires four years in Fulton Public Schools. Private scholarships usually have no service requirement, so read the terms before you sign.
Older listings below may show a closed deadline; many recur each year.
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