Because special education teachers are in such high demand, scholarships and grants are readily available to help you get the education you need to work in this field. While you can get started as a special educator with just a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree allows you to qualify for a wider ranger of positions at a variety of schools. Most of the top positions in the special education world require at least a master’s degree.

Special Education Scholarships

Scholarships are available for students based on talent, skill, or merit. At the master’s degree level, they are typically called fellowships, and these funds often come attached to extra responsibilities in the areas of research or assisting with teaching duties. Scholarships (or fellowships) available for students studying in special education are available directly from schools, from private organizations and companies, and from government resources. Some places where you can begin your scholarship source include the U.S. Department of Education, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and Coca-Cola.

Special Education Grants

Grants are comparable to scholarships in many respects, but they’re based on financial need rather than merit of some kind in most cases. Some of the places where you can begin your search for grants to pay for a masters in special education program include the National Inclusion Project, the Special Education Foundation, the National Education Association, and Qwest Foundation. Grants are also commonly available directly from colleges, either from the school in general or from the special education department.

Loan Forgiveness

Along with scholarships and grants, special education teachers also have a unique opportunity to have their student loans forgiven in some cases. Most teachers qualify for up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness from the government by working at high-need schools, but as a special education teacher, you could qualify for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness as long as you work for at least five consecutive years. This is a great opportunity for teachers to have a huge bulk of their loans forgiven. In addition to loan forgiveness, if you already work as a special education or general teacher, your school district or private employer may have funds available to pay for you to get your master’s degree.