Master's Degree Funding

Eligible Breakthrough members or alumni enrolled full-time in the Urban Teaching Apprenticeship or Urban Teaching Residency master’s programs (including accelerated students) will be awarded a minimum $20,000 scholarship toward tuition and fees in the first year of their program.  

City Year is an education-focused nonprofit that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, helping students stay in school and succeed. Penn GSE’s partnership with City Year reflects a shared commitment to using knowledge and service to address social challenges.

In recognition of this partnership, Penn GSE awards two annual merit scholarships to eligible City Year corps members, alumni, or staff applying to any full-time, traditional master’s degree program:

• City Year Corps Members or Alumni: Must have completed at least one year of service.
• City Year Staff: Must have been employed by City Year for at least two years.

In order to be considered for the scholarship, applicants must complete an admissions application and submit the Certification of Service by the appropriate program priority deadline.

Penn GSE has a deep commitment to fostering a community of scholars with a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds and expanding educational access to all students. 

Towards this end, Penn GSE offers the Dean’s Fellowship: Power of Possibility to a number of our incoming master’s students, with special consideration given to students who have a demonstrated financial need, or to students who have worked with and will continue to serve communities in need. Students will be automatically considered for these prestigious half-tuition awards at the time of application review; there is no additional application process.

Both domestic and international full-time master’s applicants to our traditional (i.e., non-executive) programs will be considered for this fellowship. Applicants must apply by a program's priority deadline to be considered for this award. Fellowship recipients will be notified of their award at the time of admission notification. 

The Empowerment Through Education Scholarship reflects Penn GSE’s commitment to expanding access and fostering an inclusive community that serves all individuals. Applicants to the Urban Teaching Apprenticeship, M.S.Ed. are automatically considered during the application review process and will be notified of any award upon admission.

Consideration for this scholarship is independent of merit-based and need-based awards, and recipients may combine it with other funding up to the total cost of tuition.

The Franklin Fellowship is a unique opportunity for Franklin & Marshall College (F&M) undergraduates who are committed to long-term teaching in the Philadelphia area. Eligible Urban Teaching Residency, M.S.Ed. students are guaranteed a minimum $15,000 scholarship, which can be combined with other Penn GSE merit and/or need-based scholarships.

Consideration for this scholarship is independent of merit-based and need-based awards, and recipients may combine it with other funding up to the total cost of tuition.

All full-time master’s students admitted to traditional programs at Penn GSE who have been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for their graduate studies will receive a $25,000 scholarship. This award can be combined with funding from Fulbright-affiliated organizations. 

Applicants should identify themselves as Fulbright awardees in their graduate application.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) are encouraged to apply for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program through the Penn GSE International Educational Development (IEDP) M.S.Ed. program. This graduate fellowship recognizes RPCVs and provides an opportunity to continue their relationship with the Peace Corps while pursuing graduate studies at Penn.

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must submit their application to the International Educational Development, M.S.Ed. program by the priority deadline. Indicate Peace Corps Service by completing the question, “Have you served in Peace Corps,” within the online application.

All full-time Literacy Studies, M.S.Ed. applicants are encouraged to apply for the Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP) Fellows Program. Fellows will work as graduate assistants for the Philadelphia Writing Project, gaining hands-on research experience while assisting in nationally recognized studies and professional development initiatives.

Additionally, fellows will receive:

• A half-tuition scholarship to be applied toward their graduate coursework
• Enrollment in PhilWP’s Summer Invitational Institute, a two-week professional development experience leading to Teacher Consultant certification. This certification makes fellows eligible to facilitate paid professional development activities across the district and region.
• Opportunities to participate in professional learning experiences and community partnership work throughout Philadelphia and across the U.S.

Students can apply for this fellowship opportunity when completing their application to the Literacy Studies, M.S.Ed. program. In addition to the general application requirements, students applying for this fellowship will be asked to write a 250-word statement on their interest in becoming a PhilWP Fellow. There will be two fellowships awarded annually.

 Through generous foundation support and partnership with The School District of Philadelphia’s Pathway to Leadership Principal Preparation Program, the School Leadership, M.S.Ed. Public/Charter School Track Program is pleased to offer $15,000 scholarships in addition to the $25,000 School District of Philadelphia Pathway to Leadership scholarship to aspiring school leaders. To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be currently employed by the district, meet the program’s general application requirements, and have the school principal to whom they report provide one of the three references requested.

In the personal statement, applicants should reference their careers with the School District of Philadelphia, why they chose to work in the district, and their school leadership goals. Only applicants pursuing a master’s degree in the Penn GSE School Leadership Program – not applicants in the certification-only track – may seek the $15,000 scholarship. Those interested must also submit the general online application for Penn GSE master's program in School Leadership and apply to The School District of Philadelphia Pathway to Leadership Program. 

Penn GSE students in the programs below who are admitted to the Early Childhood Education and Family Studies (ECEFS) Academic Certificate will be invited to apply to be a Suzanne McGraw Scholar. Selected students will receive a partial scholarship to support their tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Participating Master's Programs:

• Education Policy, M.S.Ed.
• Education, Culture, and Society, M.S.Ed.
• Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development, M.S.Ed.
• International Educational Development, M.S.Ed.
• Language, Globalization, and Intercultural Studies, M.S.Ed.
• Literacy Studies, M.S.Ed. and Reading Specialist Certification
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, M.S.Ed.
• Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, M.S.Ed.