Elementary Education
Undergraduate Student Scholarships

The scholarship is renewable at the discretion of the Elementary Education Scholarship Committee.

Criteria

  • students in elementary education who are enrolled in 12 credits or more
  • preferably a graduate of an accredited high school in the state of Indiana
  • funding to be used for tuition and fees

Criteria

  • full-time sophomore, junior, or senior
  • major in elementary education at Ball State
  • demonstrated financial need
  • minimum GPA of at least 3.0 overall
  • resident of Indiana at the time of the award

Criteria

  • Full-time Undergraduate Student
  • Elementary education major, with preference for kindergarten/primary education
  • Possess a passion to work with younger children
  • Minimum GPA 3.0 on 4.0 scale
  • Resident of Indiana

Criteria

  • junior
  • at least a 3.2 GPA overall on a 4.0 scale

Apply

The Departmental Honors Committee selects the students who receive the award.

Criteria

  • major in elementary education
  • from Daleville or Middletown, Indiana

This scholarship is renewable at the discretion of the scholarship selection committee.

Criteria

  • major in elementary education

The award shall be renewed for each succeeding undergraduate year so long as the recipient maintains the minimum GPA necessary to remain enrolled at Ball State, with maximum renewal period equal to four academic years or eight semesters

Criteria

  • graduate from Franklin County High School or its successor high school
  • show interest in pursuing an elementary education degree at Ball State
  • demonstrate best potential as a future elementary teacher

Evidence of financial need is not necessary and shall not be considered.

If there is a year in which there are no qualified recipients, the interest shall be accumulated for future years.

Criteria

  • Undergraduate or graduate students pursing a degree in elementary education
  • GPA 3.0 or higher on 4.0 scale
  • Demonstrates financial need
  • Madison County, Indiana residents

Criteria

  • full-time student enrolled at Ball State
  • either completing junior status in their undergraduate studies and majoring in one of the certification programs offered by the Department of Elementary Education OR
  • enrolled in a graduate program in elementary education, early childhood education, or reading
  • demonstrated dedication and enthusiasm to enriching children's lives through reading and children's literature by: enrollment in reading, language arts, and children's literature courses; interest in
  • completion of an endorsement in reading; dedicated efforts through volunteer involvement, class work, or faculty recommendation
  • of high moral character
  • minimum GPA of 3.3 in major

This scholarship is renewable at the discretion of the Department of Elementary Education providing the student meets the stated criteria.

Criteria

  • undergraduate or graduate student (undergraduate recipient(s) can be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or transfer student)
  • major in elementary education
  • preferably have demonstrated financial need, but both merit and need shall be factors used to select a recipient

Criteria

  • major in elementary education

Criteria

  • major in elementary education

The scholarship can be renewed provided the recipient continues to meet the stated criteria and demonstrates a financial need.

Criteria

  • single parent who has legal and financial responsibility for a child under the age of 18
  • full or part-time student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in the Department of Elementary Education

Criteria

  • resident of Cass County, Indiana
  • major in elementary education

Criteria

  • major in elementary education
  • preferably enrolled in the EDEL-O England International experience
  • minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale
  • financial need may be considered
  • demonstrated interest in personal and professional growth through international experiences

Recipient(s) should give a written report on their experience to the Department of Elementary Education upon completion of the experience.

Criteria

  • completed at least 45 credits, but not more than 95
  • demonstrate outstanding improvement of cumulative GPA since matriculation
  • earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Criteria

  • committed to the field of elementary education
  • demonstrate intellectual ability, academic achievement, and high personal standards

Two scholarships shall be awarded each year, one student for the fall semester and a different student for the spring semester.

Criteria

  • demonstrate financial need
  • major in elementary education

Note: This scholarship is also available for graduate students.

Graduate Student Scholarships

Criteria

  • Undergraduate or graduate students pursing a degree in elementary education
  • GPA 3.0 or higher on 4.0 scale
  • Demonstrates financial need
  • Madison County, Indiana residents

Criteria

  • full-time student enrolled at Ball State
  • either completing junior status in their undergraduate studies and majoring in one of the certification programs offered by the Department of Elementary Education OR
  • enrolled in a graduate program in elementary education, early childhood education, or reading
  • demonstrated dedication and enthusiasm to enriching children's lives through reading and children's literature by: enrollment in reading, language arts, and children's literature courses; interest in
  • completion of an endorsement in reading; dedicated efforts through volunteer involvement, class work, or faculty recommendation
  • of high moral character
  • minimum GPA of 3.3 in major

This scholarship is renewable at the discretion of the Department of Elementary Education providing the student meets the stated criteria.

Criteria

  • undergraduate or graduate student (undergraduate recipient(s) can be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or transfer student)
  • major in elementary education
  • preferably have demonstrated financial need, but both merit and need shall be factors used to select a recipient
Scholarships

The David Meeks Memorial Scholarship was established in June 1993 by the family and friends of David M. Meeks. Realizing that attending college is expensive and can present a financial hardship to students and their family, this scholarship is designated to support incoming freshmen with a $1,000 scholarship freshman year, split between fall and spring semesters with the opportunity to renew for 3 additional years at $500 per year, split between semesters.

Award Amount

One award in the amount of $500.00

Criteria

  • Must have fewer than 31 credit hours the semester of application
  • Declared major in Early Childhood Special Education, Mild disabilities, or Deaf Education (preferred)
  • Exhibit outstanding achievement as reflected by a high school GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Involved in some form of service to the community or participating in activities involving individuals with exceptional needs
  • Be a full time student both fall and spring semesters
  • Express financial need
  • Completed the FASFA

*This award requires an application essay and specific steps for renewal

How to Apply

All applications for incoming freshman are due July 7 each year. PDF Applications are available in spring semester by request directed to Dr. Penny Craig via email at pcraig@bsu.edu. Please submit completed applications and required materials to 00arplassman@bsu.edu.

Terri Reed graduated from Ball State University in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. In 1989, she earned a master’s degree in Special Education from Ball State. She has spent 30 years in public education as a teacher of special needs students. One half of these years were in elementary schools and the other half in a middle school. She has a passion for being a voice for students who don’t feel they have one. In her retirement, the purpose of the scholarship she set up is to recognize and award a student who is “the next one up”. Someone who will carry on and be an advocate and educator of students with special needs.

Award Amount

Two awards in the amount of $1000 each.

Criteria

  • Undergraduate Special Education major with a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
  • Completed 40 credit hours in Special Education course work.
  • Preference given to a student who has documented experience volunteering/working alongside people with special needs outside the BSU course work experience.

How to Apply

PDF Applications are available in spring semester by request directed to Dr. Penny Craig via email at pcraig@bsu.edu. Please submit completed applications and required materials to 00arplassman@bsu.edu.

The Reach Out to the Handicapped of Indiana organization was established in 1985 to provide experiences that are not normally available to handicapped persons and to give people with handicaps a sense of wellbeing.

Award Amount

Two awards in the amount of $750 each.

Criteria

  • Be a resident of Indiana —preference to residents of Hancock County
  • Achieved overall 2.5 GPA
  • Major in any special education area and demonstrate the potential to be an excellent teacher
  • Demonstrate volunteer and/or work experiences with persons with special needs, through work experiences, and volunteering or through SCEC leadership.
  • Be a full-time student both fall and spring semesters OR
  • Be a part-time student working full time with persons with disabilities

How to Apply

PDF Applications are available in spring semester by request directed to Dr. Penny Craig via email at pcraig@bsu.edu. Please submit completed applications and required materials to 00arplassman@bsu.edu.

The Department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies has multiple scholarship opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate level. It also offers graduate assistantships. Applications for scholarships are due by March 1st. Graduate assistantship applications should be made by May 1st to be competitive.

Undergraduate Scholarships

The department has several undergraduate scholarships available for incoming and continuing students. Below are listed the scholarships that are typically available. Those listed toward the top tend to have higher amounts. Each scholarship has unique qualification criteria, and a unique application that needs to be filled out. You may apply to more than one scholarship.

Microgrants are smaller monetary awards that function similar to a scholarship. 

The ECYFS Microgrant Program was established to support students’ professional training and offset academic-related expenses. Any major within the department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies may apply. Applications are accepted anytime during the fall and spring semesters. Microgrants are $100 each; students can receive only one microgrant per semester. 
**May take up to 2 weeks for your application to be reviewed/approved**

Criteria:

  • Open to all ECYFS majors

 

Apply Now

Criteria:

  • Student majoring in Early Childhood Education and Kindergarten/primary education
  • Proven financial need
  • Possess a great desire to work with children
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0

Apply Now

Criteria:

  • Majoring in Family and Child or Early Childhood Education
  • Proven financial need

Apply Now

Criteria:

  • Upper level students majoring in Family and Child or Early Childhood Education
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Proven financial need

Apply Now

Criteria:

  • Incoming freshman pursuing a major in Early Childhood Education

Apply Now

Graduate Scholarship
The Scholarship for Advancing Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Criteria:

  • Graduate students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education program, with a minimum of 24 credit hours completed;
  • Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0; and
  • First preference given to students graduating by May 2021.

APPLY NOW


Graduate Assistantships

Do you need help paying for your graduate work in early childhood? Are you interested in working closely with faculty while gaining hands-on experience in your field? Our department is committed to providing practical opportunities for both professional and personal growth through our graduate assistantships. Students from any department are welcome to apply for an assistantship.
  • Work with faculty members 20 hours per week (fall and spring semesters).
  • Duties depend on specific departmental needs and may include research, teaching, laboratory management, and other specialized duties.
  • Tuition waiver in accordance with university policies (applies to fall, spring, and summer)
  • Stipend based on departmental budget allocation

You must be officially admitted to a graduate degree program in the university and be registered for at least 6 hours of graduate work a semester to be eligible for an assistantship.

Complete the online application form.

Apply Now

Non-Departmental Scholarships

General Eligibility Requirements:

Students pursuing a college curriculum directed toward an associate, bachelor’s, masters, doctoral degree, or graduate certificate at Ball State University. Preference will be given to students whose future aspirations reflect Dr. Charles R. Payne’s legacy.

Applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee based on the following criteria:

25% - Scholarship (GPA)
25% - Community Service and/or Other Forms of Civic Engagement
25% - Essay/Creative Project (Content and Clarity of Ideas)
25% - Letters of Recommendation (2 required)

How to Apply:

Complete the appropriate sections of the application, attach any supporting documents (essay or creative project, two letters of recommendation, and any additional information to support your application). Applications and supporting documents must be received by the Scholarship Committee on or before Monday, September 29, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST. Applications will not be considered unless accompanied by required documents and two letters of recommendation.

For additional information, contact the Scholarship Chairperson, Dr. David Bwambok at david.bwambok@bsu.edu.

Apply Now

The Ball State University Teachers College is proud to be a part of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE) Holmes Scholar Program. This program is for students demonstrating financial need from any department in Teachers College.

Learn More

The Michelle A. and James T. Ryan Family Scholarship covers all costs — including tuition, fees, and room and board — for “Ryan Scholars” over the next seven years.

Criteria:

  • Demonstrate high financial need.
  • Desire to become a teacher and declare an education/secondary education major.

Recipients will also express a commitment to addressing economic barriers that often impede meaningful educational opportunity for all students.

To be invited to apply:

  • Be admitted to Ball State University.
  • Fill out the FAFSA.

If you have been invited to apply for a Ryan Family Scholarship, please complete the scholarship application. If you are selected as a finalist upon review, you will receive an invitation for an interview.

Learn more about the Ryan Family Scholars and Navigator Program.

The William & Evelyn Stokes Art or Mathematics Educators Scholarship may cover costs including tuition, books, technology expenses, course fees, and housing at the discretion of Teachers College, based on criteria established by the Stokes Family.

Applicants must:

  • be pursuing one of the following:
    • a teacher certification in art education
    • a teacher certification in mathematics education
    • a degree in elementary education with a mathematics concentration
  • demonstrate financial need
  • be admitted to Ball State University
  • demonstrate financial need by completing the FAFSA
  • have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • graduate from an accredited high school in the state of Indiana

Questions? Contact Susan Tancock. 

Apply Now

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