Financing Graduate School: Financial Aid
Choose from financial aid, grants, and scholarships for your Early Childhood Graduate School Program.
“We promise that the scholarship you receive for the first year of your studies is guaranteed for subsequent years provided you maintain good academic standing and reapply as needed.”
Financial Aid for grad school Overview
Your Graduate Degree in Early Childhood Education is Within Your Reach
At Erikson, our Financial Aid team can help you find the funding and support to achieve your degree in early childhood education. Erikson’s mission is to educate and promote leadership to serve the needs of children and families. Our vision is to provide easy access to our distinctive and high-quality education to diverse populations.
Financial Aid for Early Childhood Education: Erikson Institute Scholarships
You will have multiple pathways for aid with two types of scholarships and the ability to qualify for both. Students in qualifying programs have an additional grant opportunity:
- Teacher Licensure
- MSW
- Early Intervention
Earn a merit-based Leadership Scholarship as an admitted master’s or certificate program student with your academic and professional achievement as well as your potential for leadership in your field.
Qualify for an Affordability Scholarship annually as a master’s degree or graduate certificate student based on your demonstrated financial need.
Master’s degree students studying to become a teacher, early interventionalist, or social worker may qualify for service-based grant funding with a commitment to working in underserved communities after graduation.
Earn a merit-based Leadership Scholarship as an admitted certificate program student with your academic and professional achievement as well as your potential for leadership in your chosen fields.
Apply Before a Priority Application Deadline
We accept applications on a rolling basis in most instances. This means we accept applications throughout the year for all academic terms and programs, and applications are evaluated as they are completed.
Want primary consideration for scholarship awards? Apply before our Priority Submission Dates.
Priority Application Deadlines:
- Fall Term: July 15
- Spring Term: November 15
- Summer Term: March 15
Erikson Grants
Financial Support for Graduate Students Committed to Service
Students enrolled in programs that lead to teacher licensure, as well as those in social work or early intervention fields, may be eligible for grants ranging from 40% to 100% of their program’s tuition. Grants are available to both full- and part-time students who demonstrate a strong commitment to serving children and families in under-resourced communities post-graduation.
How to Apply: For consideration, applicants must express interest within the application for admission.
Requirements: Qualifications and service requirements vary by program. Grants are limited, competitive, and require an interview by invitation. Not all applicants who are invited to interview will receive an award. Grant awardees must be eligible to work in the U.S. prior to completing their degree program.
Both fully-funded covering tuition and student service fees, the Educator Impact Grant and the Crown Chicago Educator Impact Grant aim to advance opportunities to grow the field of education by supporting the development of educational professionals whose experiences and knowledge align with the communities of Illinois. The Educator Impact Grant is open to applicants who commit to work in educational settings across Illinois, while the Crown Chicago Educator Impact Grant requires recipients to commit to working specifically within the City of Chicago after completing their program.
The post-graduation service requirement for both grants is for 4 years, along with required participation in a 2-year virtual Professional Learning Community.
The Educator Impact Grant and Crown Chicago Educator Impact Grant cannot be stacked with any other Erikson scholarships or partnership discount.
Valued at $16,500 (or $10,000 for Erikson IMH Certificate alums), the Midwest Early Intervention Service Grant aims to advance diverse perspectives within the field of early intervention by supporting the development of early interventionists and developmental therapy professionals who reflect and represent the communities of Illinois and Midwest region.
The grant is open to applicants who intend to work in Early Intervention supporting infant and young children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families in the Midwest, as well as participate in a virtual Professional Learning Community for 2 years upon completion of their program.
The Midwest Early Intervention Service Grant is stackable with Erikson’s Leadership and Affordability scholarships for up to an additional 45% savings on your program cost.
Valued at $25,000 (or $15,000 for Advanced Standing), the Midwest Community Builders Grant aims to advance diverse perspectives within the field of social work by supporting the development of professionals who reflect and represent the communities of Illinois and the Midwest region.
The grant is open to applicants who intend to work full time as a social worker in a not-for-profit organization which primarily serves under-resourced communities in the Midwest, as well as participate in a virtual Professional Learning Community for 2 years for two years upon completion of their program.
The Midwest Community Builders Grant is stackable with Erikson’s Leadership and Affordability scholarships for up to an additional 45% savings on your program cost.
Utilize Federal and State Grants, Scholarships & Aid to Earn Your Early Childhood Development Degree
As an Erikson student, you could also participate in several federal and state financial aid programs. Based on your eligibility, you may have access to the following sources of funding:
HOW TO APPLY
Start Your Application for ECE, Social Work, & Child Development Program Financial Aid for Grad School
Leadership Scholarship applicants will complete a scholarship application as part of your graduate school application.
The only form you need to complete for an Affordability Scholarship is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can complete the FAFSA online for free. The Erikson code for the FAFSA is G 35103. You must have an FSA ID to complete your Renewal FAFSA on the Web. If you do not have an FSA ID, you may create one online .
Erikson’s Affordable Graduate Education
Erikson Institute offers generous financial aid packages, making a graduate degree in early childhood education, child development, and social work more affordable.
Find The Help You Need with Erikson’s Financial Aid Office
If you are awarded a scholarship, we promise to spell out in writing the amount of scholarship funding you will receive for each year that you are enrolled in your program. And there is no work or service requirement attached to our scholarship awards.
Erikson Institute Tuition & Fees
Hear From an Alum
Your Financial Aid Application Checklist for Financing Graduate School
- Gather federal income tax documents (W-2s, tax forms, etc.) and current checking and/or savings account and investment information.
- If you do not have an FSA ID, create one at Federal Student Aid.
- Submit 2024-2025 FAFSA online at studentaid.gov.
- Receive financial aid award letter after admission notification and FAFSA information received.
- Return signed award letter to Erikson’s Financial Aid Office.
If receiving federal student loans, complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and loan entrance counseling online at studentaid.gov.
Get Closer to The Career You Want with a Degree in Early Childhood Education
Discover the graduate child development degree program that will help you advance your career and help serve the needs of children and families.