Contact Department of STEM Education
If you have questions or would like to support our efforts please contact us.
Financial Assistance
Internal and External Funding Sources
Outside of student loans, many other options exist for funding your education.
Arizona Teachers Academy at NAU Accordion Closed
Through the Teachers Academy at NAU, you can earn a degree in education and:
- receive a Teachers Academy scholarship to cover any remaining tuition and mandatory student fee balances in your account
- impact students at an Arizona public school with a teaching position, empowering you to make a positive difference
- kickstart your teaching career by receiving hands-on guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities
Students in all CSTL programs (NAUTeach, MAST, and MAT-S) are eligible for the scholarship. Students must commit to teaching one year for every year they receive an ATA Scholarship in an Arizona public school. Applications open in July for the upcoming academic year. See the NAU ATA website for more details.
The Noyce Scholarship Accordion Closed
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is funded through the National Science Foundation and seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. This program seeks to increase the number of highly qualified K-12 teachers with strong STEM content knowledge who teach in high-need school districts. Students in the NAUTeach and MAT-S programs are eligible.
Go to the Noyce Scholarship page for more information.
Federal TEACH Grant Accordion Closed
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program provides up to $4,000 per year in grant funds for undergraduate and graduate students who intend to teach full time in high need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low income families.
Be aware that if you receive the TEACH grant but do not fulfill the stringent requirements of the program, the amount awarded in grant money converts to a Federal Stafford Unsubsidized loan with interest (at the same rate as the federal Stafford loan) compounded from the time of the award.
Scholarships from the NAU College of Education Accordion Closed
The NAU College of Education provides a large number of scholarships each year to both undergraduate and graduate students. The application for the following academic year is open from January to mid-February. See the COE Scholarship page for more details!
Scholarships from the NAU Office of Student Financial Assistance Accordion Closed
There are several types of scholarships awarded on academic merit, financial need, and personal background.
AZ Department of Education Get SET for STEM scholarship Accordion Closed
The Arizona Department of Education wants to help teachers “Get SET for STEM!” Our Scholarships for Effective Teachers program offers Arizona educators $2,000 per year for up to three years to pursue coursework or programs that will prepare them to add a STEM area (calculus, physics, biology, etc.) or CTE Certificate and bolster their STEM teaching knowledge & skills!
NAU Foundation Scholarships Accordion Closed
Gifts from our generous donors make it possible for us to offer many NAU Foundation scholarships to Northern Arizona University students. Applications open in December and close in January for the upcoming academic year.
Ortega Scholarship Accordion Closed
This scholarship is available to NAUTeach undergraduate and MAT-S and MAST graduate students. Information on applying will be sent out annually to students in all programs. For questions, contact Jo’el Johanson or 928-523-4211.
Check out this Ortega Scholarship Flyer for more information.
Oswaldo and Rebecca Garcia Scholarship Accordion Closed
This scholarship is available to students who meet the following criteria:
Requirements:
- full-time student at NAU
- majoring in any CEFNS program
- good academic standing
- demonstrated financial need
- preference to students who have a Federal Work Study on campus
Additional External Scholarships Accordion Closed
Many external funding sources exist for science teachers and a few are listed below. We also invite you to search the web for opportunities that match your qualifications. Please let us know if you find any others we could add to this list.
- ACS— Scholarships (chemistry)
- ACS— Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship (chemistry)
- AFCEA Educational Foundation scholarships for STEM teachers (all)
- American Association of Physics Teachers (physics)
- Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation (all)
- Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (all)
- NCTM — National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (mathematics)
- Society of Physics Students (SPS) Future Teacher Scholarship (physics)
- STEM Teachers for America’s Future (all)
Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Accordion Closed
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. Under this program, if you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low-income families, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 on your Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and your Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans.
Presidential Fellowship Program (PFP) (Doctoral only) Accordion Closed
The Presidential Fellowship Program (PFP) provides generous support packages to highly qualified incoming Ph.D. students. The fellowship awards consist of a graduate assistantship stipend, a supplemental fellowship stipend, full tuition remission, major medical insurance benefits, and annual professional development funding. Awards are renewable for up to four years.
Academically outstanding students, who are considering a Ph.D. program at NAU, are encouraged to submit admission materials as early as possible to be eligible for this fellowship program. NAU faculty members may nominate top students to receive fellowships following receipt and review of an early application, an interview, and acceptance into a Ph.D. program.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowships Program (Doctoral only) Accordion Closed
The NSF GRFP is a highly competitive award that recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 to the institution. Applications open in early August and are due in October. See the site for details.