Scholarships and Financial Aid
Higher education often paves the way for professional advancement in the early childhood profession. While it can be expensive, financial aid — which can include scholarships, grants and student loans — is available in a variety of forms to help cover the cost. Here are some resources to help you get started.
The Institute's Early Childhood Career Development Center can support you. Contact the Career Center at:
Scholarships and financial aid guide for early childhood professionals
The Early Childhood Career Development Center has compiled a comprehensive guide of scholarships and financial aid opportunities available to early childhood professionals in New York State.
Scholarships and Financial Aid Information for Early Childhood Education Majors and Related Fields
PDF • 445KBThe Early Childhood Career Development Center has compiled a comprehensive guide of scholarships and financial aid opportunities available to early childhood professionals in New York State.
The basics
Discover the basics of financial aid, featuring the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as the essential first step for accessing federal financial assistance, and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), which provides need-based grants specifically for New York residents attending approved schools in the state.
The first step to federal student aid
Understanding FAFSA and Financial Aid: a guide from the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School
Colleges and career schools use the U.S. Department of Education's FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. FAFSA is also the first step in applying for aid from New York State. The FAFSA website also provides access to free expert help online or by phone.
The next step for New Yorkers
The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), the state's financial aid agency, provides need-based grant and scholarship award money to prospective college students. HESC administers the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), which helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Unlike student loans, TAP funding is grant-based and does not have to be repaid.
College admissions and financial aid offices are the best ongoing resource for help and questions about tuition and financial aid. They can help you find tuition assistance, grants and scholarships and help you determine what mix of assistance works best for you and your specific program and college.
Scholarships for early childhood professionals
Discover financial assistance specifically designed for early childhood educators, including the Educational Incentive Program (EIP) for child care providers in regulated programs and QUALITYstarsNY scholarships for professionals working in participating quality improvement programs.
Scholarship for child care providers
The Educational Incentive Program (EIP) is a scholarship program that helps child care providers pay for training and educational activities to build provider knowledge, skills, and competencies. To be eligible for EIP, child care providers are required to take training and must be caring for children in a program regulated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS) or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH).
For professionals in QUALITYstarsNY programs
Professionals who work in a QUALITYstarsNY-participating program may be eligible for scholarship funding. These scholarships support early childhood professionals in advancing their education and credentials.
Scholarships for CUNY students
Explore specialized scholarships for CUNY students, including the Helena Rubinstein Career Success Scholarship covering 90% of certificate program tuition and the Nancy Klinger Memorial Scholarship for Children's Program Administrator Credential students.
For CUNY certificate programs
The Helena Rubinstein Continuing Education Scholarship Fund for Career Advancement covers 90% of CUNY certificate program tuition. This scholarship helps students pursue career-related certificate programs at CUNY institutions.
For Children's Program Administrator Credential students
The Nancy Klinger Memorial Scholarship Fund honors the memory of Nancy Klinger, the first coordinator of the Children's Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) project. This scholarship supports current students in their efforts to complete the CPAC.
Eligible students must be in good academic standing, have completed at least nine CPAC credits, and demonstrate a commitment to leading high-quality programs for young children.
Recipients must be nominated by CPAC faculty, who submit nominations to the CPAC Scholarship Committee at cpac@earlychildhoodny.org. One scholarship may be awarded in each of the fall and spring semesters.
Additional resources
Explore key federal financial aid resources, including the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid program that awards over $120 billion annually in financial assistance and the Office of Postsecondary Education which administers programs designed to increase access to quality higher education.
U.S. Department of Education
The Federal Student Aid is the official U.S. government website for federal student financial aid, managed by the U.S. Department of Education. Through Federal Student Aid (FSA), the department awards more than $120 billion annually in grants, work-study funds, and low-interest loans to approximately 13 million students.
U.S. Department of Education
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) is a critical division within the U.S. Department of Education that administers over 60 programs addressing national needs and supporting their mission of increasing access to quality postsecondary education.