ACE Awards a Full M.Ed. Scholarship — How to Find Your Own

A structural shift in funding graduate education is making full-tuition scholarships for teachers more common.

On July 7, 2026, American College of Education and Crayons to Classrooms announced they had awarded a full M.Ed. scholarship to Amber Bell, a third-grade teacher at the International School at Residence Park in Dayton, Ohio. Bell will begin ACE's M.Ed. in Elementary Education program in August 2026. ACE Chief Growth Officer Monica Carson stated, "Affordable education for teachers is why ACE exists."

The arrangement grew from a deliberate partnership between a nonprofit teacher resource center and an online education college, not a random lottery. Such collaborations signal that graduate-level funding no longer depends on federal loans alone; local nonprofits and universities are actively creating accessible pathways for teachers. For educators weighing how this fits into a broader career plan, understanding how to balance full-time teaching and an M.Ed. program is a practical next step, since tuition support only goes so far if the coursework itself feels unmanageable alongside classroom duties.

ACE and Crayons to Classrooms Award a Full M.ed. Scholarship

The full M.Ed. scholarship awarded by American College of Education and Crayons to Classrooms is not a random giveaway. It is a deliberate result of ACE's partnership model designed to remove financial barriers for working teachers.

The Scholarship Recipient: Amber Bell

Amber Bell, a third-grade teacher at the International School at Residence Park in Dayton, Ohio, was selected to receive the full-tuition scholarship. She will enroll in M.Ed. in Elementary Education program at ACE in August 2026. Her selection highlights how targeted nonprofit-university collaborations can directly reach classroom educators who might otherwise delay or forgo an advanced degree.

Crayons to Classrooms: A Nonprofit with Deep Roots

Crayons to Classrooms is a 501(c)(3) teacher resource center serving Ohio's Miami Valley. Since 2009, it has distributed over $44 million in school supplies, supporting more than 4,000 teachers across 150 schools. This long track record gives the organization the relationships and trust needed to identify outstanding candidates like Bell. The scholarship ceremony involved TJ Davis, partner engagement administrator at ACE, and Amy Kopp, executive director of Crayons to Classrooms, reinforcing that this award is grounded in real institutional ties rather than a remote application process.

The Institutional Partnership Model

ACE, headquartered in Indianapolis, offers fully online programs in education, business, healthcare, and nursing. Its mission centers on affordable, accessible degrees for working professionals. The partnership with Crayons to Classrooms reflects ACE's broader strategy of collaborating with districts and nonprofits to craft customized education solutions that improve teacher retention and recruitment. This scholarship exemplifies that approach: it is not a one-off contest but a direct extension of ACE's commitment to marrying practitioner need with institutional support.

Why This Matters for Educators

For current and aspiring teachers, this story demonstrates that full M.Ed. funding is possible through partnerships that value community impact over profit. How to Find and Win M.Ed. Scholarships: Lessons from a Full-Tuition Award Winner offers a deeper look at how educators can pursue similar opportunities. Programs like this one sidestep typical application gauntlets by leveraging the vetting power of trusted local organizations, and balancing full-time teaching and an M.Ed. program is far more realistic when tuition is not a barrier.

Why Nonprofit-University Partnerships Matter for Teacher Funding

Funding a master's degree through personal savings or federal loans has long been the default for classroom teachers. A less visible but more direct path is emerging: full-tuition scholarships funded by nonprofit-university partnerships that convert community goodwill into graduate access.

A Bridge Between Goodwill and Degree Access

Nonprofits like Crayons to Classrooms have spent years building trust with underfunded teachers in regions such as Ohio's Miami Valley. They understand which educators need support but cannot always turn that awareness into tuition dollars. Universities like American College of Education (ACE) possess the program capacity and a mission-driven commitment to affordable education. When ACE and Crayons to Classrooms partnered to award Amber Bell a full M.Ed., they did more than celebrate one teacher: they modeled a pipeline that moves nonprofit goodwill directly into graduate funding.

More Than Philanthropy: A Strategy for Teacher Retention

This is not pure charity. Research ties advanced degrees to higher masters in education salary and lower attrition, making M.Ed. funding a retention lever for districts. ACE explicitly partners with school systems to design staff development solutions that improve teacher recruitment and longevity. ACE Chief Growth Officer Monica Carson reinforces this, stating, "Affordable education for teachers is why ACE exists." Every fully funded M.Ed. alum strengthens the talent pool for partner districts.

Replicable Models Across the Country

The ACE, Crayons to Classrooms collaboration is not a one-off. Community foundations, regional nonprofits, and school districts regularly run scholarship pipelines that bypass generic application portals. These opportunities often fly under the radar because they rely on local relationships. Educators exploring tuition-free teacher education options who stay alert to nonprofit networks in their area can uncover hidden full-ride or substantial awards that duplicate this model.

How ACE Partnership Grants and Scholarships Work

American College of Education offers several ways to reduce tuition costs beyond the headline-making full-ride scholarships. Institutional grants, automatic tuition discounts, and partnership-based awards each have their own eligibility rules, and educators need to know which ones apply to their specific program.

Types of ACE Institutional Grants

ACE maintains a set of grants that are applied automatically or through a simple application during admission.¹ The Teacher Preparation Grant provides a 15% tuition reduction for new applicants entering the M.A. in Elementary Teaching, M.A. in Secondary Teaching, or Transition to Teaching certificate programs. It does not cover the M.Ed. in Elementary Education. A 5% Military Support Grant is available to veterans and spouses across all degree and non-degree programs when a DD214 is submitted during admissions. For nursing students, there is a New Student Nursing Program Grant that reduces tuition by $135 per credit hour. These grants are applied automatically or through an enrollment counselor; the Doctoral Named Scholarship is the exception, requiring a competitive application and essay for a 50% tuition discount, but is only open to current ACE master's graduates working in education.²

How Partnership Grants Such as the Crayons to Classrooms Award Operate

Beyond the standard institutional grants, ACE partners with school districts, nonprofits, and community organizations to create customized funding opportunities. These partnership grants can cover a portion, or in rare cases all, tuition costs. The recent Crayons to Classrooms scholarship is an example of a local nonprofit fully funding an M.Ed. for a teacher in its service area. These awards are not advertised on a central website; instead, they emerge from local agreements between ACE and an external partner. Eligibility, award amounts, and application processes vary by partnership. Typically, the partner organization selects the recipient, and ACE facilitates the enrollment.

Stacking Aid: What You Can Combine

ACE's institutional aid policy allows only one institutional tuition reduction at a time.¹ You cannot, for instance, combine a partnership grant with the Teacher Preparation Grant. However, teachers can stack an ACE grant or scholarship with employer tuition reimbursement or external scholarships from third parties. That means a recipient of a partial ACE award might still cover remaining costs through a school district's reimbursement program or a community foundation grant. Educators weighing how to choose a master's in education specialization should factor these funding rules into their program decision, since grant eligibility often depends on the specific concentration chosen.

How to Find an Active ACE Partnership in Your Area

Because partnership grants are often arranged at the district or nonprofit level, they may not appear on ACE's public scholarship page. A teacher interested in these opportunities should contact ACE's admissions team directly and ask whether their employer or a local education nonprofit has an existing agreement. It is also worth talking to your district's human resources or professional development office, as many districts partner with ACE to support teacher retention and graduate education.

Is It Possible to Get a Full Ride for a Master's in Education?

The short answer is yes , it is possible to earn a master's in education without paying the full tuition out of pocket. But securing a full ride typically requires piecing together multiple funding sources rather than relying on a single silver bullet. Below, we break down the realistic pathways and what you should verify before applying.

Federal TEACH Grant: A Partial Solution

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant has historically offered up to $4,000 per year to students who commit to teaching in a high-need field at a low-income school. While this doesn't cover a full M.Ed. on its own, it can significantly reduce net cost. To confirm current eligibility and award amounts for master's-level students, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website and speak with your university's financial aid office. Remember, failing to fulfill the service obligation converts the grant to a loan, so read the fine print.

State and Regional Scholarship Programs

Many states fund their own scholarship initiatives to attract and retain teachers. Examples include the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program and the Texas master teacher certification pathway's associated awards, though program names and funding can change with each legislative session. State-funded awards often come with service requirements, such as teaching in a public school within the state for a set number of years. Start by searching your state's department of education website or reaching out to professional teacher associations; these organizations often maintain updated lists of available funding. Be mindful of annual application cycles, as deadlines can be easy to miss.

Private and Nonprofit Scholarships

Outside of federal and state sources, private organizations occasionally offer substantial awards. For instance, a scholarship sometimes called the "PATH" scholarship has been listed at $25,000, though the sponsoring organization may vary. If you encounter this opportunity, go directly to the official website of the named organization to confirm eligibility and whether graduate education students qualify. Similarly, some legitimate sweepstakes-style scholarships exist, but terms and availability shift frequently, so always check the sponsoring site for current entry rules and deadlines. Sweepstakes are random drawings, so don't bank on them as a primary funding plan.

Stacking Aid and Employer Benefits

A "full ride" often results from layering smaller grants, tuition waivers, and employer-sponsored professional development. Many school districts and nonprofit education organizations offer tuition reimbursement or partnership discounts with specific graduate programs. Some online universities, like American College of Education, structure their partnership grants to bring out-of-pocket costs close to zero for eligible teachers. When calculating net cost, also account for potential hidden fees, such as technology, graduation, or course material charges, that scholarships may not cover. Always ask for a clear breakdown of what a scholarship includes and whether it can be combined with other aid. If you are still narrowing down where to apply, reviewing M.Ed. programs by state can help you identify schools with strong tuition-assistance partnerships.

Yes, a full-ride M.Ed. is within reach, but it demands proactive research and careful stacking. Treat it like a puzzle: each piece might be modest, but together they can pay for your entire degree. Start early, verify every detail with official sources, and don't hesitate to call financial aid offices. They can be your best allies in assembling your funding package.

Related Articles

Comparing M.ed. Scholarship Options Across Online Programs

Some online M.Ed. scholarships are straightforward tuition discounts with no strings attached; others are full-tuition awards that require an employer partnership or a multi-year service commitment. Understanding these differences helps you weigh the true cost of accepting an award.

How Institutional Scholarships Compare

Below is a side-by-side look at scholarship offerings from several prominent online M.Ed. programs. The American College of Education (ACE) serves as the anchor because its partnership model often covers full tuition for eligible teachers, as seen in the recent Crayons to Classrooms award.

• American College of Education Partnership Grants: Full tuition coverage through district or nonprofit partnerships. Must be employed by a partner organization. No post-graduation service obligation beyond what your employer may require. Awards are stackable with other aid only if allowed by the partner agreement.
• WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship: Up to $5,000.¹ Eligibility: new or enrolling WGU Teachers College student in a licensure-track program. No service obligation. Stackable with other aid.²
• WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship: Up to $4,000.³ Eligibility: new and current WGU Teachers College bachelor's or master's students. No service obligation. Stackable.⁴
• Liberty University Online Graduate Scholarship: $2,000, $3,000.⁴ Requires U.S. citizenship, acceptance into an online graduate program, 3.0 GPA, and FAFSA on file. No service obligation. Stackable.
• Grand Canyon University Graduate Education Scholarship: $2,000, $4,000.⁴ Requires new enrollment in an online M.Ed. program and often proof of teacher employment. No service obligation. Stackable.
• Arizona State University New American University Scholarship: $2,000, $5,000 for online graduate students.⁴ Targets non-Arizona residents with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.5. No service obligation. Stackable.

Service-Contingent Awards: The Fine Print

A scholarship that covers significant tuition but requires a multi-year teaching commitment changes the financial equation. The federal TEACH Grant, for example, provides up to $3,800 per year⁵ but mandates teaching full-time in a low-income school in a high-need field for at least four years. If you fail to meet the service requirement, the grant converts to a loan. State programs like the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship offer up to $7,500 per year² but lock recipients into a five-year Indiana teaching obligation. Always read the award contract to understand what happens if your career plans shift.

A Note on the $7,000 Grant

Many graduate students ask about the "$7,000 grant" after seeing references to the maximum Pell Grant award (currently $7,395). The Pell Grant is not available for graduate coursework; it is strictly an undergraduate program.⁴ Graduate education majors should look instead to TEACH Grants, institutional scholarships, or employer reimbursement. A masters in special education is one example of a graduate path that may qualify for TEACH Grant funding, since special education is a federally designated high-need field. While no federal grant offers exactly $7,000 for master's study, stacking a $4,000 institutional scholarship with a $3,000 TEACH Grant can approximate that figure without a service trap. Teachers weighing how charter school teacher salary compares to public school compensation should also factor in whether charter employers offer tuition partnerships similar to ACE's model. Always think in terms of total aid, not just one headline number.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Step-By-Step: How to Find M.ed. Scholarship Opportunities

The landscape for graduate education funding has shifted: universities and nonprofits now actively create partnership-based scholarships, yet many educators still miss out simply because they don't know where to look. Following a few specific steps can surface opportunities you might otherwise walk past.

Start with Your Employer

School district human resources offices often maintain lists of university partnerships, but teachers rarely ask. The ACE and Crayons to Classrooms collaboration is a prime example of how these relationships can cover full tuition. Ask your HR contact whether the district has an agreement with any college that includes tuition discounts, cohort grants, or full-ride scholarships. Also check if your contract includes tuition reimbursement, as many teachers leave thousands of dollars unclaimed each year because they assume the paperwork is too complicated.

Tap Professional Associations

National and state teacher unions, such as the NEA and AFT, run scholarship databases that go well beyond the handful of awards everyone applies for. For instance, Phi Delta Kappa offers graduate fellowships that many educators never hear about. Set aside an hour to browse your union's website and filter for master's-level opportunities. You may also find discipline-specific grants through associations like the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics or the International Literacy Association.

Search State Education Agencies

Most states earmark funds for teachers pursuing advanced degrees, especially those willing to work in high-need subjects or underserved schools. Visit your state department of education's website and search for terms like "teacher scholarship" or "graduate incentive program." Eligibility is frequently broader than you would expect, extending beyond brand-new teachers to experienced educators seeking an M.Ed. in a shortage area. If you are weighing how to become an elementary school teacher or moving into a new grade band, state incentive programs often prioritize those transitions.

Contact University Financial Aid Offices Directly

Online M.Ed. programs often have partnership grants, alumni referral discounts, or cohort-based scholarships that never appear on the admissions page. Call or email the financial aid office after you have been admitted, or even while you are researching programs, and ask specifically about institutional aid for education graduate students. Many schools reserve money for candidates who proactively reach out. Understanding the full range of jobs with a master's in education can also help you frame your application narrative around a clear career goal, which strengthens scholarship requests.

Use Scholarship Aggregators

Filter aggregator tools like FastWeb, Scholarships.com, and the U.S. Department of Education's scholarship search to show graduate awards in the education field. Narrow results by selecting "master's" and setting your intended enrollment date. Checking these databases monthly can reveal newly posted opportunities that align with your background and goals.

What to Know About Net Cost, Stacking Aid, and Hidden Fees

Per-credit technology fees in online M.Ed. programs typically run between $50 and $150, and graduation fees can add another $100 to $300. Even when a scholarship covers full tuition, these line items turn a "full ride" into a partial one. Understanding net cost, combining aid without penalty, and spotting leftover expenses keeps your actual out-of-pocket figure from surprising you later.

What "Net Cost" Really Means

Net cost is the amount you pay after subtracting all grants and scholarships from the total cost of attendance, not just tuition. A scholarship that covers tuition at $15,000 sounds complete until you add a $75-per-credit technology fee (totaling $1,350 over 18 credits), a $200 graduation audit fee, and $400 in digital textbook platforms. The real cost: $1,950. Always request a line-item cost sheet from the financial aid office; don't settle for a single tuition figure. The sheet should list every mandatory charge, from application fees to transcript requests. Comparing affordable online M.Ed. programs side by side can help you see which schools keep these supplemental fees lowest.

• Tuition and fees: The scholarship likely covers tuition only. Confirm whether mandatory fees like technology, clinical placement, or student services are included.
• Course materials: Some programs bundle publisher content as a subscription. Those charges often appear on your bursar bill, separate from the bookstore.

Stacking Scholarships with Employer Reimbursement and Federal Aid

Most institutional scholarships can be combined with employer tuition reimbursement because reimbursement is not federal aid. That means you could have your tuition covered by the scholarship and receive reimbursement for fees or living costs, effectively pocketing the difference. However, stacking rules change when federal funds enter the picture.

• TEACH Grants and Federal Loans: These are Title IV aid. If you receive an institutional scholarship that reduces your cost of attendance to zero, the financial aid office may need to reduce or return federal loans and grants to avoid an overaward. Ask whether the scholarship displaces existing federal aid.
• Return of Title IV rules: If you withdraw mid-program, the school must calculate how much federal aid you earned. An institutional scholarship that covered charges may not protect you from owing a portion of disbursed loans back.

Hidden Fees That Survive a "Full" Scholarship

Online M.Ed. programs carry real convenience, but they also introduce fees that on-campus students rarely see. A scholarship labeled "full tuition" rarely extinguishes all costs. This is worth keeping in mind whether you are pursuing a master's in curriculum and instruction or any other specialization.

• Technology fees: Often charged per credit, these can total hundreds each term. Some programs cap them after a certain number of credits.
• Graduation fees: A one-time charge for degree conferral, diploma printing, and mailing.
• Portfolio or capstone fees: If your program requires a culminating project, you may face a separate assessment fee.
• Payment plan charges: If you spread your balance over installments, the plan itself may carry a service fee.

Three Questions to Ask the Financial Aid Office

Before accepting any scholarship, get specific answers to these questions:

1. What does the scholarship cover exactly? Ask for a list of included and excluded costs. Write down the response. 2. What fees are excluded? Follow up with items like graduation fee, technology fee, and student services fee. Ask for the current dollar amounts. 3. What happens if I withdraw or change programs? Will the scholarship be prorated? Could you owe money back to the institution?

Frequently Asked Questions About M.ed. Scholarships

Here are answers to common questions about funding your master's in education. With partnerships like the ACE and Crayons to Classrooms scholarship making full-tuition awards a reality, understanding your options is the first step toward an affordable M.Ed.