School of Education

A good place to start is with our School of Education scholarships and other special programs, designed specifically for degree-seeking students like you. To apply, you generally need to submit one original and two copies of these materials:

• School of Education online scholarship application
• Two letters of recommendation – reference forms used for admission to graduate school are not accepted. One reference must be a faculty member from either our School of Education or a previously-attended university.
• Typed essay (see application instructions for more details)
• Transcripts

Each year during the Spring semester, all currently enrolled School of Education students will receive notice when the scholarship application process opens for submissions via the Ram Scholarship Hub.  The majority of School of Education scholarships are only available to students who have at least one semester of completed coursework as a VCU School of Education student.

School of Education students may apply for the $500 emergency fund scholarship on Ram Scholarship Hub at any time. 

Our school values the passion, knowledge and commitment of our students who are juggling responsibilities inside and outside of the classroom. If you are a parent and student, we encourage you check out:

• Pell-eligible student parents (EFC of $6206 or less) qualify for discounted child care through the VCU Child Development Center.
• Single parents scholarship through VCU University Counseling Services.

Review the resources for VCU Adult Learners.

Check out our school’s resources for Military Connected Families, as well as VCU Military Student Services, for details on financial programs, including dedicated options for those wishing to go into education.

Once admitted, visit the VCU Student Financial Services website and loans page for additional information.

VCU’s Office of Financial Aid can help fund your future. Learn how financial aid works on our Student Financial Services page. School of Education students have their own dedicated financial counselor. To reach out, contact sfmcsoe@vcu.edu.

You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) every year to be eligible for financial aid. The FAFSA and VASA priority deadline is March 1.

NOYCE
In addition to the Noyce Scholars program, prospective STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) teachers can simultaneously take advantage of other sources of financial aid. Like Noyce, some of these come with a commitment to teach in a specific setting for one or more years. In all cases, it is possible to fulfill these other obligations and Noyce’s obligation at the same time. For example, by teaching for two years in a high-needs school, you can simultaneously satisfy both your Noyce commitment (two years) and a pair of VTSLP commitments (one year each).

Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program
These state-funded scholarship-loans provide $3,720 of financial support per year. The program is open to currently enrolled students, who are nominated by School of Education department chairs. Once nominated, students are notified by our Licensure and Accreditation team to complete the application process.

For each year you receive assistance, you agree to teach for one year in Virginia in one of these settings:

• A high-needs school (with a large percentage of low-income students)
• A “critical shortage discipline” (math, science, special education, etc.)
• A rural or urban region experiencing a teacher shortage, OR
• A single school with a teacher shortage. 

The Virginia Department of Education establishes qualifying schools and content areas annually. Learn more.

AFCEA Educational Foundation
The AFCEA Educational Foundation offers $5,000 scholarships to students seeking an undergraduate degree, graduate degree or credential/licensure to teach STEM subjects at a U.S. middle or secondary school. Learn more.

Federal TEACH Grants (Teacher Education Assistance for College & Higher Ed)
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, TEACH grants provide $4,000 of financial support. In return, you agree to teach for four years in a high-needs school (serving numerous low-income students) AND in a “high-need field” (math, science, bilingual education, etc.). Learn more.

Forgiveness of Federal Stafford and Perkins Loans
Turn your student loans into scholarships by teaching in a high-needs school, which makes you eligible for forgiveness of your federal student loans: up to $17,500 of your Stafford loans for five years of service in a high-needs school, and up to 100% of your Perkins loans (15% for each of your first two years of service, 20% for your 3rd and 4th years, and the remaining 30% for your 5th year). Learn more. 

Teacher.Org
Visit Teacher.Org to learn about different teaching-specific grants, scholarships and other financial support opportunities.

New Incoming VCU School of Education Scholarship
For all accepted students starting in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025

• Application Link and Notification Steps:
  • Please note these $1000 scholarships are limited and the application will close once funds are utilized. The application opens during the fall semester and closes early spring semester. Please complete the following application to be considered for the $1,000 scholarship. Please note: Scholarship recipients will be notified two weeks before the start of the semester, latest, and awards will be distributed once students are enrolled and the add/drop period has passed.

• Criteria

  • Accepted student for any of our undergraduate or graduate VCU School of Education academic programs
  • Must be accepted, and accept your offer, into the program you have been accepted

Teachers for Tomorrow (LEAP) Scholarship
The LEAP program is open to all Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow or Educators Rising alumni who are applying, and are accepted into, one of our B.S.Ed. programs.

• Criteria
  • Current Virginia high school senior or Virginia Community College System transfer student
  • High school GPA of at least 2.5
  • Completed Teachers for Tomorrow or equivalent program*
  • Must be accepted, and accept your offer, into a VCU School of Education program

Please complete the following application at least 30 days before the beginning of your start semester semester to be considered for the $1000 scholarship. Scholarship recipients will be notified two weeks before the start of the semester at the latest. Awards will be distributed once students are enrolled.

Roger and Amelia Flora Merit Scholarship 
For new incoming students (high seniors) who are Virginia residents demonstrating interest in math/science 

• Criteria
  
  • 3.5 GPA
  • Demonstrated interest in math/science
  • Virginia Resident
  • HS Senior (First Year)

Please complete the application least 30 days before the beginning of the semester you start your program to be considered for the $1,000 scholarship. Please note: Scholarship recipients will be notified two weeks before the start of the semester, latest, and awards will be distributed once students are enrolled and the add/drop period has passed.

The Higher Education Teacher Assistance Program aims to address Virginia’s teacher shortage by assisting undergraduate students enrolled in K-12 teacher preparation programs. Learn more.

VCU’s National Scholarship Office (NSO) can assist you in applying to national and international fellowship/scholarship opportunities – external funding beyond VCU – related to your academic and professional goals. Learn more.

You can schedule time to talk with an NSO staff member by emailing natlscholar@vcu.edu or visit this link. We recommend graduate students reach out to Jeff Wing, NSO director, or Meredith Sisson, NSO assistant director.

Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) provides hands-on experience with organizations working to create school systems that give Black and Brown children access to the educational opportunity they deserve. Fellows will learn about pressing education issues, benefit from a deeper understanding of racial equity, gain exposure to different career paths, and grow as change agents for social justice. For application information, contact seli@southerneducation.org.

Find an hourly job here in the School of Education. Pay is based on federal minimum wage standards and can vary depending on job requirements or student skills and experiences. We’ll work with you to ensure your work schedule allows you to maintain a reasonable course load during the day. Positions are open for undergraduate and graduate students.

Some SOE and other VCU departments post student worker vacancies on Talent@VCU Recruiting; job vacancies and other opportunities are available on VCU Handshake.

VCU’s Student Financial Services offers many resources – including grants, scholarships, federal work study and loan information – for you to use in paying for your degree. Learn more.

The VCU Graduate School has a number of funding resources and support opportunities for new incoming students:

Graduate School Master’s Scholarship
The Graduate School will be offering the Master’s Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year to new incoming Spring 2024 master's students. Recipients of this award must be accepted into a School of Education Master's degree program starting Spring 2024, accept their offer of admission and register for a minimum of 6 credit hours of graduate coursework, for credit. Apply here by December 1 for one of the $2,500 scholarships.

RAM Opportunity
The Recent Alumni Master's Opportunity is designed to help Ram baccalaureate graduates further their education and grow their career opportunities by pursuing a master's degree at VCU. The RAM Opportunity is available to Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 VCU baccalaureate graduates who are applying for admission to a master's program for Spring, Summer or Fall 2024. The program will offer a $70 application fee waiver and a one-time $500 scholarship (Virginia residents only).

Our School of Education offers competitive, merit-based graduate assistantships to support doctoral students and enrich their learning, research and teaching experiences. This competitive funding pool is geared toward full-time students.

Incoming students, please include the application as part of your full application.

For current students, please submit the form with updated academic information along with a new essay.

Generally, our 9-month funding package includes in-state tuition and a living stipend of about $20,000, based on that year’s funding pool.

VCU School of Education Graduate Assistantship Application

Grant funding for specialized projects at times includes funding for graduate assistantships. A graduate assistant usually receives money toward things such as tuition, fees and a stipend, in exchange for work. To apply for these positions, students should review listed opportunities and contact the lead faculty to review the requirements.

The VCU Division of Student Affairs (DSA) offers various Graduate Assistant opportunities across its many departments. The DSA encompasses departments from residence life, multicultural affairs, to student accessibility and educational opportunity (SAEO), to University Commons. 

Many of our students have direct funding or reimbursement options from their current employer. Please contact your HR specialist to identify any tuition or professional development benefits that may be available to you.

For VCU and VCU Health employees, please visit the VCU tuition waiver human resources website.