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Financial Support

Financial Support Options for Students Preparing to Become Teachers

Preparing to become a science or mathematics teacher requires a significant commitment of your time and energy.  It is also a big financial commitment, both in the tuition expenses you will incur and in the loss or reduction in your salary during the time you are in school.  To reduce these financial barriers, USM is offering Noyce scholarships and stipends of up to $15,000.  In addition, there are other opportunities for financial support, including student loans, loan forgiveness programs, and additional scholarship programs.

Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarships and Stipends

Through the generous support of the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program, we are pleased to be able to offer scholarships and stipends of $10,000 to $15,000 to selected USM students in our mathematics and science teacher preparation programs.  To be eligible for these scholarships, you must have a degree in, or be currently majoring in, a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field.  Details about the Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarships requirement and commitments are available on our Noyce Scholarship page.   

Robert Noyce Teacher Fellowship Application Form (For Graduate Students)

Robert Noyce Teacher Fellowship Application Form (For Undergraduate Students)

Other Scholarships

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) awards over $85,000 per year from 30 different scholarship funds to students enrolled in our various graduate and undergraduate programs.  With typical award amounts of $1,800 to ETEP students, these funds provide meaningful financial support to cover educational expenses.

For more information and downloadable applications, see the CEHD web page on financial aid, scholarships, and assistantships.  Applications are posted each November and are due each March for awards in the following academic year.

For more information on scholarship opportunities outside of the College of Education and Human Development, we recommend you visit the website of the USM Office of Financial Aid or call (207) 780-5250.

Educators for Maine Program

The Financial Authority of Mane (FAME) offers a special loan program for Maine residents studying to become teachers.   The Educators for Maine program offers merit-based “loans” of $2,000 per year for graduate students and $3,000 for undergraduates enrolled in teacher preparation programs; the loans are forgiven if you teach in a Maine public school after receiving your teacher certification.  If you teach math, science, or another shortage subject area, each year of full-time teaching will cancel two years worth of loans.  Teachers in other subject areas are forgiven one year of loans for every year taught.  Click here for more details and downloadable application forms. Application deadline: May 15; application requires filing the FAFSA form by May 1.

Loan Forgiveness

In recognition of the need to recruit and retain more teachers, the United States government provides cancellation of some types of federal student loans for individuals who teach in underserved areas:

• If you teach math, science, or special education for five consecutive years in a “low-income” school, you can have up to $17,500 in federal loans cancelled.
• Teachers of other subjects who serve in low-income schools can qualify for $5,000 of loan cancellation.

For more information and detailed eligibility requirements, see the Federal Student Aid information page. 

Please note that criteria for qualifying as a “low income school” for federal loan cancellation is different from the criteria for “high needs districts” for the Noyce teaching service commitment.

Financial Aid (Student Loans)

Many undergraduate students receive some type of assistance through the USM Office of Financial Aid. Undergraduate students may be eligible for federal and state grants, work-study, and loans, in addition to scholarships.

Graduate students commonly obtain federal government loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized, to assist with their expenses. Half-time students (those taking at least six graduate credit hours per semester) are usually eligible for loans to cover tuition, books, and assist with living expenses. Full-time students (those taking at least 12 graduate credits per semester) are usually eligible for loans to cover tuition, fees, books and assist with living expenses.