Funding Your Graduate Education

GSEHD scholarships are awarded to a competitive pool of new students at the time of admission on the criteria of academic merit, contributions to the GSEHD community, and input from a committee of reviewers, including program faculty members. GSEHD scholarships are limited and are typically one-year, nonrenewable, partial tuition scholarships.

Please note: These scholarships are managed by GSEHD. For questions or support, contact the Admissions Team at educationgwu [dot] edu (education[at]gwu[dot]edu).

Scholarship Awarding Process and Timeline

• New students must have fully completed their application for admission in order to be considered for funding.
  • You will be notified via your acceptance letter if you have received a merit scholarship.

Scholarship Eligibility

• Merit is determined based on a holistic application review.
• Whether or not you received an award in previous years has no bearing on your eligibility for future awards.
• Certificate, Post-Master’s Certificate, and Education Specialist candidates are not eligible to receive GSEHD scholarships.
• GW employees receiving employee tuition benefits are not eligible for GSEHD scholarships.
• Awardees must not have outstanding financial obligations to the University.
• Awardees must be registered for the minimum required number of on-campus credit hours per semester as outlined in the scholarship award letter they receive.

Conditions of Scholarships

• Students will only receive an award if they are enrolled in at least 6 credits for both semesters of the following academic year.
• Awardees must maintain a good academic standing.
• Scholarships cannot exceed the cost of tuition.
• Once an applicant accepts an award, they must meet and maintain the conditions specified in the award letter. If any of these conditions are not met, the award will not be posted to the Student Account or may be revoked.
   

Scholarship Awarding Process and Timeline

• Continuing Students:
  • Students must submit an application to be considered for GSEHD Summer Scholarship. (Check back next spring for the 2026 application.)
  • DEADLINE: The deadline for Summer 2025 scholarship applications has passed (February 15, 2025). Late applications will not be considered. 
  • Awards decisions will be announced beginning in mid-March.

Summer Scholarship Eligibility

• GW employees receiving employee tuition benefits are not eligible for additional GSEHD scholarships.
• Awardees must not have outstanding financial obligations to the University.

Conditions of Summer Scholarships

• Awardees must maintain a good academic standing.
• Scholarships cannot exceed the cost of tuition.
• Once an applicant accepts an award, they must meet and maintain the conditions specified in the award letter. If any of these conditions are not met, the award will not be posted to the Student Account or may be revoked.
   

If you are a current U.S. federal civilian employee or a federal employee/contractor who has been laid off since January 1, 2025, you may qualify for GSEHD's Federal Service Scholarship, which saves 20% off your tuition.

Eligible programs include (The scholarship applies to on-campus course delivery only*): 

• Curriculum & Instruction (Master's)
• Education Policy Studies (Master's)
• Elementary Education (Master's)
• Higher Education Administration (Master's)
• Individualized Program (Master's)
• International Education (Master's)
• Organizational Leadership & Learning (Master's)
• Rehabilitation Counseling (Master's)
• Higher Education Administration (Doctorate)   (*Hybrid Executive Program)
• Human & Organizational Learning (Doctorate)
• Special Education (Doctorate)

Scholarship Eligibility:

• This award is not stackable with other GSEHD scholarships.
• Previously admitted/enrolled GSEHD students are not eligible for this discount.
• GW employees receiving employee tuition benefits are not eligible for GSEHD scholarships.
• Awardees must not have outstanding financial obligations to the University.
• Active-duty military personnel and U.S. Public Health Service members are not eligible for this specific scholarship program but may qualify for military education benefits or other GW scholarships.
• Scholarships are typically multi-year, renewable awards.

Qualified applicants must complete an admissions application for fall 2025 enrollment by June 1, 2025, including proof of federal civil service employment or affected status. Please upload this documentation as part of the resume required in your application.

To learn more, contact GSEHD Admissions at educationgwu [dot] edu (education[at]gwu[dot]edu).
 

If you have at least one year of Pre K-12 teaching experience and are accepted into one of GW’s licensure-eligible Educational Leadership and Administration (ELA) programs*, you may qualify for GW’s PreK-12 Educator Scholarship, which saves 30% off your tuition.

*Eligible Programs Include:

• Master’s in Educational Leadership & Administration
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Leadership & Administration
• Post-Master's Certificate (PMC) in Educational Leadership & Administration

Scholarship Eligibility

• This award is not stackable with other GSEHD scholarships.
• GW employees receiving employee tuition benefits are not eligible for GSEHD scholarships.
• Awardees must not have outstanding financial obligations to the University.
• While Certificate, Post-Master’s Certificate, and Education Specialist candidates are typically not eligible to receive GSEHD scholarships, the PreK-12 Educator Scholarship is an exception.

Students who graduated from a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) are eligible to be considered for GSEHD’s MSI Scholarship at the time of admission. A limited number of MSI Scholarships provide a tuition discount of 20%. It is possible to be awarded additional scholarship based on the strength of the application.

To be considered, indicate in your application for admission that you graduated from a MSI and that you are interested in receiving funding.

MSI Scholarship Eligibility

• All applicants from an approved MSI are eligible regardless of race, ethnicity, or national origin.
• Master’s and Doctoral candidates are eligible for consideration.
  • Certificate, Post-Master’s Certificate, and Education Specialist candidates are not eligible to receive GSEHD scholarships.
• GW employees receiving employee tuition benefits are not eligible for GSEHD scholarships.
• Awardees must not have outstanding financial obligations to the University.
• Awardees must be registered for the minimum required number of on-campus credit hours per semester as outlined in the award letter they receive.
  • Part-time study is considered at least 6 credits.
  • Full-time study is considered at least 9 credits.

The list of external scholarships below is not a comprehensive list of all available scholarships, but it does include opportunities that have been vetted by our GSEHD staff and are available for graduate students.

Open to All Students

Scholarships that do not require enrollment in a specific program or are exclusive to a specific demographic

Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund
Program: Any Humanities or Social Sciences

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
Requirement: Must be an active or emerging organizer in progressive movements for liberation, self-determination and social and economic justice in your community
 

Specific to Area of Study

Scholarships that indicate they are specific to a program/area of study (i.e., just for students in counseling)

American Psychological Association (APA) Grants, Awards and Funding
Programs: CNSL

James Madison Graduate Fellowships
Programs: Ed Leadership

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation Military Scholarship
Program: CNSL (Master's)
Student Identity: Must live in a rural area, and commit to serve rural populations within 1 year of graduation for the duration of a minimum of at least 2 years post-graduation

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation Dr. Nicholas Vacc Scholarship
Program: CNSL (Doctoral)
 

Demographic or Identity-Specific

Scholarships that indicate they are specific to a particular demographic (women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA, first gen student, etc.) 

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Career Development Grants
Program: Education
Student Identity: Women

American Indian Education Fund (AIEF) Graduate Scholarship
Program: Any
Student Identity: American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students

National Women's Studies Association (NWSA) Graduate Scholarship
Program: Any
Student Identity: Women

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation Military Scholarship
Program: CNSL
Student Identity: Veteran or active-duty U.S. military service member or spouse of a veteran or active-duty U.S. military service member

 

Research and Dissertation Grants and Scholarships

Scholarships that support graduate student research or conference involvement, especially dissertation research

(New opportunities will be added when they become available)

We encourage you to explore additional funding opportunities. GW subscribes to a national database, Pivot, for GW graduate students. We recommend that you use specific search terms (e.g., relevant to your background, program of study, career path) when searching to narrow your results.

Outside of these databases, we recommend you utilize the various search engines below to discover funding that can support your study and goals while at GW.

• FastWeb
• GoGrad
• GW National Fellowship Search
• National Fellowship Databases
• ProFellow
• EdVisors Scholarship
• SuperCollege.com's Free Scholarship Search
   

The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) has compiled the following list of external resources for finding funding for international students. The list is not comprehensive of all available resources, but they have been vetted by GW staff.

• African Students: The Clinton Global Initiative
• Education USA
• EduPass: The SmartStudent Guide to Studying in the USA
• International Financial Aid College Scholarship Search
• International Scholarships for International Students
• International Education Institute
• MPOWER Financing
   

The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) has compiled the following list of external resources for finding funding for undocumented students. The list is not comprehensive of all available resources, but they have been vetted by GW staff.

• Resource Guide from the Department of Education
• Scholarships for Undocumented Students
• Financial Aid and Undocumented Students
   

Endowment awards allow the best and brightest students to attend GW, regardless of financial situation, and provide students the freedom to pursue the career of their choice after graduation.

Though GSEHD endowments are competitive, students from all backgrounds and from around the world may receive scholarships. Many return the favor, building a legacy of support that spans generations. Awardees are encouraged to meet or write a letter to their donor.

Continuing students may be considered for up to three (3) endowment funds each academic year. A list of available endowments is provided below. Some endowments are available to all GSEHD students, while others are awarded to students in specific fields of study.

Selection of awardees may consider:

• Endowment's relevance to student's experience;
• Articulation of need, which can describe any hardships faced;
• Student's professional commitments and interests reflecting maturity and self-awareness;
• and Potential contributions to the chosen field of study.
   

Endowment Eligibility

• Certificate, Post-Master’s Certificate, and Education Specialist candidates are not eligible to receive GSEHD merit scholarships.
• GW employees receiving employee tuition benefits are not eligible for scholarships.
• Awardees must not have outstanding financial obligations to the University.
• Awardees must be registered for the minimum required number of credit hours per semester as outlined in the award letter they receive.
  • Part-time study is considered at least 6 credits.
  • Full-time study is considered at least 9 credits.

Conditions of the Award

• Awards are granted for both the fall and spring semesters. Funds cannot be used in one semester only or extend into subsequent semesters.
• Students should only apply if they plan to be enrolled in at least 6 credits for both semesters of the following academic year.
• Awardees must maintain a good academic standing.
• Endowment awards cannot exceed the cost of tuition.
• Once an applicant accepts an award, they must meet and maintain the conditions specified in the award letter. If any of these conditions are not met, the award will not be posted to the Student Account or may be revoked.
   

• To be considered for endowment awards, students must submit an application for each individual endowment award they wish to be considered for. The maximum number of awards an individual student can apply for is three (3) endowment awards.
• DEADLINE: The deadline for 2025-2026 endowment award applications has passed (February 15, 2025). Late applications will not be considered. 
• Awards decisions will be announced beginning in mid-April.

The Angeline E. Anderson Scholarship Fund
Eligible Programs of Study: School Counseling, Secondary Education or Special Education

Established in 1990 by a gift from Angeline E. Anderson (BA '41, MA '44), to assist outstanding future classroom teachers. Ms. Anderson, the recipient of a scholarship to attend GW, enjoyed a career that included university and secondary school teaching and counseling. The scholarship in her name perpetuates her devotion to assisting students who can improve the quality of classroom teaching. The Fund is used to support full-time or part-time students in financial need who plan teaching careers in U.S. schools.

The Corey Hansen Scholarship Endowment
Eligible Programs of Study: Secondary Education

Established in 2000 by Walter Hansen and Marilyn Jackson. The Fund is a memorial to Mr. Hansen's son, Dr. Corey James Hansen, a School alumnus and GW secondary education faculty member and program director. This fund is used to support secondary education students who exemplify Dr. Hansen's values and dedication to the field of teaching and administration.

The Dr. Dorothy A. Moore Graduate Scholarship Endowment for International Education
Eligible Programs of Study: International Education

Established in 2002. The income from this fund awards scholarships to GSEHD students pursuing degrees in international education. The award is merit based.

The Eaves-Carden Scholarship Fund
Eligible Programs of Study: Elementary Education

Established in 1993 with gifts from the estate of Ruth Anderson Eaves and from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wendell Eaves, Jr. The Fund honors the memory of family members who attended GW: Robert Wendell Eaves (MA '33, EdD '40), Ruth Anderson Eaves, Samuel Poe Carden (BA '18, MA '29), and Mary Stuart Anderson Carden (BAE '35, MAE '45). This distinguished family of educators leaves a lasting legacy by supporting outstanding students entering elementary school administration. The Fund helps support a student pursuing a graduate degree with an elementary school administration emphasis.

The James Harold Fox Scholarship Fund
Eligible Programs of Study: Elementary Education, Secondary Education or Special Education

Created in 1984 by a gift from Angeline E. Anderson in honor of James Harold Fox, Dean of the School of Education from 1938 to 1963. Ms. Anderson and Dr. Fox were dedicated to improving the quality of the classroom experience. The Fund is to be used for scholarships for full or part-time educators planning careers in public or private school teaching. Students with disabilities and financial need are given preference.

The Mary H. Futrell Scholarship Fund
Eligible Programs of Study: Classroom instructors and counselors

Honors Dr. Futrell (MA '68, EdD '92), for her service in a precedent-setting six-year term as President of the National Education Association (NEA). The Fund recognizes her many contributions to human rights and public service. Colleagues and NEA chapters across the nation contributed to the Fund. This scholarship is for full- or part-time students with modest resources pursuing or continuing careers as classroom teachers or counselors.

The Vest Family Fellowship Fund
Eligible Programs of Study: Higher Education Administration, Education Policy Studies, Curriculum & Instruction, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, or School Counseling

Created in 1996 by a gift from Edward N. Vest (BA '59, MA '65, EdD '72), distinguished educator and school administrator, to honor his parents, Edward Harrison and Mildred Grimes Vest, and his wife Lucia Johnson Vest and himself, provides tuition scholarships for educators preparing for, or engaged in, a career in administration, teaching, or counseling in public schools.

The Griffith Family Scholarship Fund

Created in August 2000 by a gift from the estate of Lera Evelyn Griffith (AB '52, MA '55), elementary teacher and school principal, and by gifts from Griffith family descendants and their families to honor the family members who were GW alumni. Interest from the Griffith Family Endowment will provide need-based support for students planning a career in education.

The Mary-Margaret Cashell Kellogg Scholarship Fund

Established in 1997 by Mrs. Kellogg to provide tuition assistance for a Graduate School of Education and Human Development degree candidate with financial need. Her father and nephew both received GW medical science degrees, and she earned an M.A. in education in 1955. A private school teacher and dean of students at Dickinson College, she serves on Simon's Rock College (MS) Board of Overseers.

The Mildred Green Scholarship Fund

Created in 1959 by a gift from the GW Chapter of Pi Lambda Theta, a professional education sorority, to honor Ms. Green, the Chapter's founder and first president. She created the national school-crossing guard program which is credited with saving the lives of countless school children. This fund is used to recognize an educator with great potential.

The National Council for Education and Human Development Endowed Scholarship Fund

Available to any Graduate School of Education and Human Development student.

The Ruth Ann Parker Wells Scholarship (Wells 1)

Established by a gift from Mrs. Wells in 1996. She and her mother both graduated from The Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Her mother taught business courses at Hine Junior High School and she worked for the Electric Institute of Washington, demonstrating the use of electric equipment, which helped revolutionize the way housework was done.

The Ruth Anne Parker and David Leonard Wells Scholarship (Wells 2)

Available to any Graduate School of Education and Human Development student.

The Vincent De Angelis Scholarship Fund
Eligible Programs of Study: Any - with special consideration for applicants with previous study or experience in the Physical Education field

Created in 1983 by a gift from Eleanor V. De Angelis in memory of her husband, Vincent J. De Angelis, an outstanding athlete, GW administrator and faculty member, mentor of students and Department Chair in Physical Education. Eleanor De Angelis has taken many leadership roles in Columbian Women and at the University. Through lifetime contributions to GW, the De Angelis's typify those special members of the GW community whose lives continue to benefit students and enhance the School and the University. This fund is used for GSEHD full-time or part-time master's or doctoral students. Preference is given to those students who have earned an undergraduate degree in Physical Education.
 

AmeriCorps Matching Award - For incoming students who are recipients of an AmeriCorps Award.

Grad2Grad - For talented graduating GW seniors who want to continue their studies at GW by providing a 10% reduction in tuition.

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships - Provides "New Americans" (either naturalized citizens, children of naturalized citizens, or green card holders) with a maintenance grant of $20,000 and a half-tuition award for graduate study in the United States. Candidates should possess creativity, originality, and initiative; commitment to and capacity for accomplishment; and commitment to the values expressed in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Phi Delta Gamma Scholarship Fund - Current GW graduate students who have completed at least 9 credits in a graduate degree program based on the Foggy Bottom campus.

Scottish Rite Fellowships - For graduate students affiliated with the Scottish Rite except law and M.D. students.

Walter Green Fellowships - For graduate students who intend a career in public service or government and will be working in a job or internship, paid or unpaid.
 

The Ronald E. McNair Graduate Fellowship is only available for students who were McNair Scholars as undergraduates at other universities, and are accepted for graduate study at GW in CCAS, ESIA, GSEHD, GWSB and SEAS. Students in GWSPH, SMHS, and Law are not eligible. Online degree programs and executive programs are also not eligible. Students should hold a minimum 3.0 GPA.
 
Candidates are prospective first time doctoral students. Current master’s students who were McNair Scholars and were not previous GW McNair Award recipients will also be considered. Master’s nominees should have demonstrated plans to continue in a doctoral program after completion of their master’s degree.

Expected Awards for the Academic Year

• Doctoral awards: Inclusive of up to 18 credits in tuition and a $25,000 stipend for full-time study. Awards are renewable for up to two years (for a total of three years ). These awards do not cover summer sessions. Doctoral McNair Fellowships should be supplemented with School/College graduate assistantships (GA or GRA) for two additional years (beyond the three year McNair award).
• Master’s awards: Inclusive of up to 20 credits in tuition for full-time study. These awards do not cover summer sessions and are non-renewable.

Application Process

Candidates must be nominated by the school/college via email to elavellegwu [dot] edu (elavelle[at]gwu[dot]edu) with:

• A ranked list of up to 3 applicants (doctoral and/or master’s)
• Student’s Application for Admission
• Nomination letter from the chair of department or director of the program (or designee) supporting applicants preparation for success in graduate study and specifies that doctoral nominees will receive two additional years of support (assistantship/fellowship)
• master’s applicants plan of study and/or expressed intent demonstrates expectation to pursue a doctoral program
   

Dissertation Research:
National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program
For students conducting research relevant to the improvement of education. Deadline to apply: October 3, 2024

The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) is the best place to start to learn more about available fellowships. Learn more about internal fellowship opportunities and external fellowships. 

The George Washington University has two graduate assistantship (GA) options, which are: graduate assistantships (GA) and graduate research assistantships (GRA). GA and GRA positions vary in terms of payment and duties. Academic departments within the schools and colleges make appointments for these positions. These positions are limited, highly competitive and not available in all departments. Interested candidates will want to indicate their interest in a GA position on their admissions application, if applicable. New GSEHD doctoral candidates are automatically considered for available GSEHD Graduate Assistantships and will be contacted directly if the faculty see alignment of research interests and skills. Learn more about assistantships >
 

Graduate students have opportunities to engage in part-time or full-time work to fund their studies. Be sure to take note of the time and hours a given job requires, as many positions may not be compatible with full-time graduate level study or class schedules. Please note that international students are typically restricted from working more than 20 hours per week, and may not be eligible for some job opportunities that require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.

The GW Jobs site, maintained by GW Human Resource Management and Development, provides information about full-time and regular part-time positions. The University offers faculty, staff, and research personnel in a benefit-eligible position (both full- and part-time) an outstanding benefit that covers a portion of tuition expenses. The tuition benefit is available to employees enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, as well as non-degree-seeking employees. Under the benefit, up to 90 percent of tuition and expenses are paid, with no repayment obligation, for eligible employees. Furthermore, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children also receive substantial remission coverage, which increases with tenure.

Graduate students employed full- or part-time on a research grant may use their tuition benefits immediately if they begin their employment before the first day of classes.

For additional information, please contact the GW Benefits Call Center.
 

Student Employment is an option for students to work in a part-time position in which the student earns an hourly wage. Review current students job openings on the GW Student Employment portal.
 

The Federal Work Study Program is a federally-funded work program that allows students who qualify to earn money while working at a pre-approved organization: GW departments, local nonprofits, government agencies, and community service employers. The university does not place students in specific jobs but assistance is available from the Center for Career Services. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for questions about Work-Study.
 

Current undergraduate students at the George Washington University (GW) may be eligible to participate in the Grad2Grad program to continue graduate study (master's and graduate certificate programs) at GW. Students eligible for Grad2Grad who are admitted to GSEHD will receive a 10% reduction in the cost of your tuition. It is possible to receive additional funding from a GSEHD’s Merit Scholarship based on the strength of the application.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships at gradfellgwu [dot] edu (gradfell[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-6822.
 

GW recognizes that there are times during which a student will need emergency support, whether for personal expenses, textbooks or additional Campus Cash for meals. The University offers a number of funds, in the form of loans and grants, to help address emergencies that arise. Learn more about emergency funding >

For students who have a hold for tuition charges between $1,000-$2,000:

The University has three emergency loan funds which can be used to reduce a student’s account balance by up to $1000. This will enable a student to have a hold lifted so that he or she may register for the next semester. They are:

• Jessie B. Martin Emergency Loan Fund
• Peter and Doris Firsht Student Loan Fund
• Barney Plotnick, MD, Student Loan Fund

Submit Application >

If you have questions, please contact uselfgwu [dot] edu (subject: Application%20and%20Promissory%20Note) (uself[at]gwu[dot]edu).

Once the student completes the application, the monies are applied directly to the student accounts bill. This does not reduce the debt that the student owes to the University, but redistributes it, giving the student the ability to register.

For repayment, funds are charged to the applicant’s student account once the student has registered for the desired semester or after 30 days, whichever comes first. Charging the funds back increases the balance to the original amount owed. This loan fund does give the student some extra time to come up with the funds to pay the student account balance down to zero.

The George Washington University is committed to providing our student veterans, dependents, and military personnel with both student support services and student administrative services. The Office of Military and Veteran Student Services can assist and answer questions related to both Post 9/11 and Yellow Ribbon awards. GW will match Yellow Ribbon awards that are made.

Active duty military personnel may also use the Department of Defense (DOD) Tuition Assistance (TA) Program at GW. Students should confer with the education office of their service branch for information on TA procedures.
 

Loans

• Federal Direct Loans
• Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loans
• Private Alternative Loans for Graduate and Professional Students
• Private Alternative Loans for International Students

If you are applying for federal student loans, you will need to complete the GW Graduate Loan Questionnaire in addition to the FAFSA. 

GW’s Office of Student Financial Assistance should be your main point of contact for all questions related to the FAFSA and loan process.

Loan Forgiveness

• You may be able to cancel some of your loan debt if you meet certain requirements:
  • Employed by a government or not-for-profit organization
  • Teaching in a low-income school
  • Income-Based Loan Repayment (IBR): This plan caps your required monthly federal student loan payments at an amount intended to be affordable based on your income and family size. Under the IBR requirements, you might be eligible for the ten-year Public Service Loan Forgiveness