Scholarships For Teachers College Students: Who Gets Them?

Teachers College at Columbia University offers a variety of scholarship awards to Master's and Doctoral students. The college offers institutional scholarships, grants, fellowships, and assistantships to its students. While the college aims to support its students' learning and success, the funding is competitive and limited, and not all students will receive awards. To qualify for scholarships, students must opt-in for financial aid consideration when completing their application for admission. Additionally, students can explore external scholarships and grants offered by other institutions.

Scholarship eligibility criteria

Teachers College, Columbia University offers a range of financial aid options to make a degree more affordable for students. These include federal aid, institutional (or TC-specific) aid, and external or private funding resources.

To qualify for Teachers College scholarships, you must opt-in for financial aid consideration when completing the Application for Admission.

For the Teachers' Future Award Scholarship, the following eligibility criteria apply:

• Incoming first-year student at Teachers College
• Not a full-time Teachers College or Columbia University employee
• Master’s Program with Teacher Certification
• U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
• Renewable for up to two years if you meet academic standards
• Up to $15,000 per academic year

For the Doctoral Fellows program, all newly admitted Doctoral students are automatically considered. The program provides a partial or full tuition scholarship and an apprenticeship allowance of $30,000 per year for up to three or four years of study.

Additionally, Teachers College offers endowed and special scholarships, grants, and other awards. These may have specific eligibility criteria related to academic programs or interests.

For example, the Dean's Grant for Student Research is a competitive grant of up to $2,000 awarded to students enrolled in a Master's or Doctoral program who are working on projects that advance education and scholarly inquiry.

The Doctoral Dissertation Grant is another example of a grant with specific eligibility criteria. It is awarded to current Doctoral students who have defended or will defend their dissertation, recognising outstanding doctoral work.

Teachers College also offers external scholarships and grants from institutions other than Teachers College, Columbia University. These may have their own unique eligibility criteria.

It is important to review the specific eligibility criteria and application processes for each scholarship and grant opportunity.

Funding for Master's students

Funding for Master's Degree Students

All newly admitted Master’s students at Teachers College, Columbia University are automatically considered for TC’s Master’s student scholarship programs. Scholarships for Master’s students are granted for one or two years and are applied directly to the cost of tuition.

Founders' Award

You will be considered for the Founders' Award to help support your first year of graduate study.

Teachers' Future Award Scholarship

You may qualify for a Teachers' Future Award Scholarship to help cover the tuition costs for up to two years of graduate school at Teachers College. The scholarship is worth up to $15,000 per academic year and is renewable for up to two years if you meet academic standards. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a Master’s Program with Teacher Certification and be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.

Dean's Grant for Student Research

You may qualify for this grant if you are enrolled in a Teachers College Master's program. If selected, you will receive up to $2,000 for a project that advances education and scholarly inquiry at Teachers College. This is a competitive grant program, with between five and eight grants awarded each year.

Graduate Scholarships for District 5 & 6 Elementary School Teachers

Columbia University offers partial scholarships of between 6 and 18 credits per year to qualified elementary school teachers to earn a Master’s degree from Columbia University or Teachers College.

Assistantships

Assistantships are paid positions that enable you to gain valuable research, teaching, or other work experience. With an assistantship, you will receive a salary or hourly wage and/or wage credits towards your tuition expenses in exchange for your work on research, teaching, or administrative projects.

Federal Aid

If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, you can use federal aid to help pay for graduate school at Teachers College.

Funding for Doctoral students

Teachers College at Columbia University offers a variety of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities to support Doctoral students in their studies. Here is some detailed information on funding options for Doctoral students:

Doctoral Fellows Program

The Doctoral Fellows program is Teachers College's flagship scholarship initiative for Doctoral students. All newly admitted Doctoral students are automatically considered for this competitive program. Each year, a select group of students is chosen by the faculty to receive a partial or full tuition scholarship, along with an apprenticeship allowance of $30,000 per year for up to three to four years of study. Doctoral Fellows are expected to engage in apprenticeship training through research, teaching, or other experiences.

Tuition Scholarships

Teachers College aims to provide full or partial funding packages in the form of tuition scholarships to all admitted Doctoral students. These scholarships are available to students in their first, second, and third years of study. The scholarship funds are deposited directly into the recipients' bursar accounts to cover the cost of classes.

Lin Lougheed Doctoral Fellowship in Language & Technology

The Applied Linguistics & TESOL program offers the Lin Lougheed Doctoral Fellowship in Language & Technology. This 4-year fellowship is awarded to a student researching AI technologies in language learning or language assessment. The fellowship covers tuition and provides a stipend for students in good academic standing.

Dean's Grant for Student Research

The Dean's Grant for Student Research is a competitive grant program open to Doctoral students enrolled in a Teachers College program. It provides up to $2,000 for projects that advance education and scholarly inquiry at Teachers College. Five to eight grants are awarded each year.

Doctoral Dissertation Grant (DDG)

The Doctoral Dissertation Grant supports current Doctoral students who have defended or are in the process of defending their dissertations. The grant offers $6,250 to Ed.D. students, with an additional $1,500 award available for Ph.D. students to cover tuition during the semester of their dissertation defense. Selections are based on merit.

Karen Baldwin Research Dissertation Grant in Women's Health

This grant is available to current Doctoral students with an approved dissertation proposal focused primarily on Women's Health, including sexuality and gender studies. Applicants must be in good academic standing and maintain that standing throughout the grant period.

Provost’s Grant for Conference Presentation and Professional Development

The Provost's Grant reimburses costs for students who wish to present their research at professional conferences, providing an opportunity for Doctoral students to share their work and gain valuable exposure.

Assistantships and Fellowships

Teachers College also offers a limited number of Research and Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships that provide a salary and tuition exemptions. Additionally, qualified AL and TESOL students may be invited to teach as Master Teachers in the Community Language Program, receiving a salary and tuition exemption benefits.

Endowed and special scholarships

Teachers College at Columbia University offers a variety of endowed and special scholarships to Master's and Doctoral students. These scholarships are highly competitive and not all students will receive awards. To qualify for scholarships, students must opt-in for financial aid consideration when completing their Teachers College Application for Admission.

The Abby O'Neill Fellowship is one such scholarship that can help cover a significant portion of tuition costs for students enrolled full-time in an elementary or secondary teacher education Master's degree program. Fellows are required to teach in the New York City public school system for at least two years within five years of completing their degree.

The Lemann Fellowship is another example, which provides financial assistance to Master's degree students who are current or former residents of Brazil and are committed to addressing the country's developmental challenges.

The City Year Scholarship, in partnership with the education-focused nonprofit organization City Year, is available to City Year or AmeriCorps members or alumni who have completed at least one term of service.

The Posse Foundation Fellowship provides funding for Posse alumni who enrol full-time in a Master's degree program, covering tuition costs for up to two academic years.

The Arthur Zankel Urban Fellowship is designed for students who want to work with underserved students in urban areas.

The Evalyn Edwards Milman Literacy Fellowship supports students interested in gaining professional experience in literacy or music education while reducing graduate school costs.

The Provost's Dissertation Research Award is a fellowship for Ph.D. students who are on track to receive their dissertation proposal approval by the end of the school year. This award can be used to support tuition, living costs, research, or travel expenses.

The Education Policy Dissertation Research Fellowship is open to Doctoral students in any Teachers College department whose research has the potential to improve educational opportunities and address societal challenges.

The CPET Morse Fellowship for Digital Learning is offered to Doctoral students interested in mentoring and developing new teachers through the Center for Professional Education of Teachers (CPET).

The Klingenstein Center Inaugural Dissertation Fellowship provides a $10,000 award for one TC student whose dissertation focuses on independent and international education.

The Morse Fellowship for Supporting New Teachers is available to Master's and Doctoral students who wish to assist the New Teacher Network, a part of CPET, in supporting new teachers in high-needs schools.

The Postsecondary Education Applied Research (PEAR) Fellowship trains Ph.D. students for careers in applied postsecondary education research using advanced scientific methods.

Grants and other awards

Teachers College, Columbia University offers a variety of grants and other awards to support both Master's and Doctoral students.

Dean's Grant for Student Research

The Dean's Grant for Student Research is a competitive grant program that awards between five and eight grants of up to $2,000 each year to Master's or Doctoral students enrolled at Teachers College. The grant is for projects that advance education and scholarly inquiry at the College.

Doctoral Dissertation Grant

The Doctoral Dissertation Grant provides $6,250 to Ed.D. students to recognise and support outstanding doctoral work. Additionally, Ph.D. students may qualify for an extra $1,500 award to help cover the tuition fees for the semester in which they defend their dissertation.

Karen Baldwin Research Dissertation Grant in Women's Health

The Karen Baldwin Research Dissertation Grant in Women's Health is available to current Doctoral students with an approved dissertation proposal primarily focused on Women's Health, including sexuality and gender studies.

Provost’s Grant for Conference Presentation and Professional Development

The Provost's Grant supports students who wish to present their research at professional conferences by reimbursing their costs to attend and share their work.

Teacher Opportunity Corps Grant

The Teacher Opportunity Corps Grant is funded by the NYS Department of Education and is available to students enrolled in a teacher certification program at Teachers College. The grant is designed to increase the number of teachers from underrepresented backgrounds in New York State.

External Grants and Awards

Students at Teachers College can also apply for external grants and scholarships from institutions other than the College. These include grants and scholarships from government entities, private foundations, community organisations, employers, or other organisations.

Frequently asked questions