School of Education Scholarships & Awards

Duquesne University is passionate about preparing the next generation of educators who will make a meaningful impact in the field of education and their communities. This scholarship ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 for eligible first-year students enrolling in our School of Education beginning in the summer or fall of 2026.

Apply for this Scholarship

50% Tuition Scholarship for Students Starting in 2026

Our 50% Tuition Scholarship is offered to full-time, first-year and transfer undergraduate School of Education students who start their studies in 2026. In addition to this scholarship, new, incoming 2026 first-year students can apply for the Educators of Impact Scholarship and be selected to receive an additional $5,000 to $10,000 per year toward their bachelor’s degree. Contact us to learn more.

This scholarship provides support for a student in the School of Education who has demonstrated need.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

The William C. Comptaro Educational Fund, the Laura E. Elden Educational Trust and the Frances L. Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund were created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are residents of Allegheny County, PA planning on pursuing post-secondary education. If interested, please visit The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Importance
Honors graduate and undergraduate student teacher(s) who demonstrate(s):

• Excellence in teaching, professionalism and Duquesne University studies
• Dedication to the academic success of their students

Eligibility and Requirements

• Undergraduate students: Minimum GPA 3.4 overall and 3.75 in all education courses
• Midterm PDE 430 reflecting at least "superior" rating and Final PDE 430 reflecting at least "exemplary" rating.
• Brief (400 words or less) explanation of why you are a strong candidate

Benefits

• Certificate of Recognition
• One-time Letter of Recommendation from the Dean or Associate Dean at the time of graduation.
• List the Dean or Associate Dean as a reference for one year.
• $50.00 monetary prize
• Acknowledgment on the School of Education website or social

How to Apply
Please submit the required documents through:

Email to Dr. Karen Levitt and the email to the Office of Student Teaching & Field Placement.

Application Deadline TBD

This fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Special Education who plan to teach. If interested, please visit The Pittsburgh Foundation.

This fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide educational assistance to incoming freshman at Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University or the University of Pittsburgh. If interested, please visit The Pittsburgh Foundation.

This scholarship is available for application to a sophomore in the School of Education at Duquesne University who has demonstrated financial need and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Preference will be give to students of Polish descent and of Catholic faith. If interested, please visit The Pittsburgh Foundation.

The Jewish Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh provides a scholarship to a university student (undergraduate or graduate) or high school student (junior or senior) in financial need who is Jewish and has been a resident (for two or more years) of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler Washington, or Westmoreland county.

If you plan to apply for this scholarship, you must use a desktop/laptop computer (not a mobile phone/tablet) and turn off your pop-up blocker.

Apply for the Jewish Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh Scholarship

This scholarship is for a Duquesne University student(s) who is pursuing a degree from the School of Education. This scholarship may be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This fund is a need-based scholarship available to a junior who demonstrates general excellence in the School of Education and possesses a QPA of 3.0 or higher.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This fund provides financial assistance to a student for the purchase of ancillary education expenses such as textbooks, travel, etc. The award is renewable.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This scholarship is formed by employees of Microsoft and is intended to increase the number of people living with a disability enrolling in higher education and working in tech. This scholarship assists Pittsburgh city high school students with disabilities and/or financial needs to pursue a degree to facilitate a career in science, technology, engineering, and math. It is a renewable scholarship up to four years. Learn more at The Pittsburgh Foundation.

This provides financial assistance to an undergraduate student to defray educational expenses such as textbooks. This award is need-based.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This fund assists students with the purchase of textbooks, travel and other such education expenses, with a preference for students of Eastern European descent.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This resource fund provides financial assistance to a School of Education student to defray educational expenses such as textbooks. This award can be based on need or merit.  

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This fund supports educational expenses such as textbooks of a female student in good academic standing with a preference for students of Italian descent.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This fund provides financial assistance to an undergraduate student in need who demonstrates general excellence and possesses a QPA of 3.0 or higher. The student should have an interest in becoming a teacher in an urban school setting. Funds are to defray educational expenses such as textbooks, lab fees, supplies, etc.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This scholarship provides scholarship support to an undergraduate student in the School of Education with a preference to a graduate of Penn-Trafford School District. It is to be awarded based on merit and need and is renewable.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This scholarship is available to a sophomore who demonstrates general excellence in the School of Education and potential for excellence in teaching as evidenced by on-campus and/or off-campus involvement in professional development.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This scholarship provides support for a student in the School of Education who has demonstrated need.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

Importance
Honors graduate and undergraduate student teacher(s) who demonstrate(s): 

• Excellence in teaching, professionalism and Duquesne University studies
• Dedication to the academic success of their students

Eligibility and Requirements

• Graduates: Minimum GPA 3.9 in all graduate education courses
• Midterm PDE 430 reflecting at least "superior" rating and Final PDE 430 reflecting at least "exemplary" rating.
• Brief (400 words or less) explanation of why you are a strong candidate

Benefits

• Certificate of Recognition
• One-time Letter of Recommendation from the Dean or Associate Dean at the time of graduation.
• List the Dean or Associate Dean as a reference for one year.
• $50.00 monetary prize
• Acknowledgment on the School of Education website or social

How to Apply
Please submit the required documents via email to Dr. Karen Levitt and email to the Office of Student Teaching & Field Placement.

Application Deadline TBD

This scholarship provides support to graduate students with merit and need studying Administration & Supervision who supplement their core education with studies in negotiation, collective bargaining and labor-management relations.

If interested, please email our Education Administration & Supervision program.

Students enrolling in our online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program may be eligible for a Duquesne Educational Leadership Grant. The Educational Leadership Grants range from $1,500 to $5,000 per semester and will support educational leaders in their improvement efforts in schools, higher education institutions and community organizations. The grants will be awarded based on the new students’ leadership experience and alignment with the Spiritan Mission of Duquesne University. New students must be enrolled full-time starting in summer 2026 and the grant cannot be combined with assistantships or tuition benefits.

The grant application deadline is May 18.

Apply for this Grant

The Jewish Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh provides a scholarship to a university student (undergraduate or graduate) or high school student (junior or senior) in financial need who is Jewish and has been a resident (for two or more years) of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington or Westmoreland county.

If you plan to apply for this scholarship, you must use a desktop/laptop computer (not a mobile phone/tablet) and turn off your pop-up blocker.

Apply for the Jewish Scholarship Service Of Greater Pittsburgh

This scholarship is for a Duquesne University student(s) who is pursuing a degree from the School of Education. This scholarship may be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This tuition award is for current full-time lay teachers of pre-K through high school or school administrators in a Roman Catholic school in the Pittsburgh, Greensburg or Altoona-Johnstown Dioceses pursuing a non-doctoral degree or certificate in the School of Education may be eligible to receive a 60% discount on School of Education tuition.

This fund provides financial assistance to a student for the purchase of ancillary education expenses such as textbooks, travel, etc. The award is renewable.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

This fund provides financial support to students attending regional, national or international conferences to disseminate their research. Interested parties should complete a "Doctoral Student Request for Research Travel Funds" form, located in the School of Education's Intranet on the Documents and Forms page.

This memorial resource provides support for educational expenses to students in the Ph.D. Counselor Education & Supervision Program.

If interested, please email our counseling program.

This resource fund provides financial assistance to a School of Education student to defray educational expenses such as textbooks. This award can be based on need or merit.

Applications open each year toward the start of the fall semester and close at the end of September.

The Leading Teacher Program Excellence Award is given to an undergraduate student whose performance demonstrates excellence in one of the three Themes of the Leading Teacher Program (LTP): Leadership, Diversity and Technology, and is framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring.

• Leadership: A leading teacher is a life-long learner inspiring a community of learners to pursue continuous improvement and growth, who will serve as a practitioner guided by an ethical and moral framework.
• Diversity: A leading teacher is an advocate, creating learning experiences that demonstrate sensitivity, acknowledging students of all abilities and valuing human differences.
• Technology: A leading teacher is an architect building learning environments that acknowledge and incorporate the power of technology.

Criteria for Eligibility

1. Full-time undergraduate student in the LTP
2. Successfully completed student teaching within the current academic year
3. Minimum 3.5 quality point average

Award Recipient Receives:

• Certificate of recognition
• $500 award
• Acknowledgment on School of Education website/social media

Required Application Materials

1. Current resume
2. Essay – Describe how your accomplishments in coursework, field experiences, student teaching, extracurricular activities and community involvement relate to and exemplify one of the three Themes of the Leading Teacher Program and the Spiritan Tradition of Caring at Duquesne University. Please limit your essay to 1,000 words.
3. Artifacts of Excellence - Provide specific descriptions and evidence of distinguished performance framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring in at least one LTP Theme area (e.g., artifacts demonstrating impact on student learning, impact on university, P-12 schools or community-based efforts).
4. Letters of recommendation – Provide one letter from a LTP faculty member, and one letter from a Student Teaching Cooperating Teacher or University Supervisor.

Application Instructions and Deadline
Submission of materials is through the online application. The following materials must be submitted as a single PDF document: current resume, essay, artifacts and two letters of recommendation.

Deadline for submission: TBD (in spring semester)

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered by the committee. 

The School of Education Distinguished Graduate Award is given to a graduate student (master's or doctoral) whose performance is demonstrative of excellence in one of the following goals of the School of Education:

• Preparing educational and/or community leaders
• Conducting scholarship for schools or the community
• Providing practice that is guided by the Spiritan Tradition of Caring

Criteria for Eligibility

1. Master's or doctoral student in the School of Education who has successfully completed program within the current academic year
2. Minimum 3.5 quality point average.

Award Recipient Receives:

• Certificate of recognition
• $500 award
• Acknowledgment on School of Education website/social media

Required Application Materials

1. Current resume or CV
2. Essay - Describe how your accomplishments in coursework, related experiences, extracurricular activities and/or community involvement relate to one of the goals of the School of Education and exemplify the Spiritan Tradition of Caring at Duquesne University. Please limit your essay to 1,000 words.
3. Artifacts of Excellence - Provide specific descriptions and evidence of distinguished performance framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring (e.g., artifacts demonstrating academic excellence, impact on university, P-12 schools or community-based efforts, research, etc.).
4. Two letters of recommendation - Both letters of recommendation should be from faculty members in the School of Education.

Application Instructions and Deadline
Submission of materials is through the online application. The following materials must be submitted as a single PDF document: current resume/CV, essay, artifacts and two letters of recommendation.

Deadline for submission: TBD (in spring semester)

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered by the committee.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to an alumnus/alumna whose performance demonstrates excellence in one of the goals of the School of Education:

• Preparing educational and/or community leaders
• Conducting scholarship for schools
• Providing practice that is guided by the Spiritan Tradition of Caring

Criteria for Eligibility

1. An alumnus/alumna of a Duquesne University School of Education undergraduate, graduate or doctoral program.
2. A minimum of five full years of continuous experience after degree was conferred.

Award Recipient Receives:

• Certificate of recognition
• $500 award
• Announcement in DU Alumni Newsletter (Bulletin From Our Bluff)
• Post on DU Alumni and School of Education Facebook pages
• Acknowledgment on School of Education social media/website

Required Application Materials

1. Current resume or CV
2. Essay - Describe how your accomplishments in your field relate to and exemplify one of the goals of the School of Education: Preparing educational leaders and/or community leaders, conducting scholarship for schools and providing practice that is guided by the Spiritan Tradition of Caring. Please limit your essay to 1,000 words.
3. Artifacts of Excellence - Provide specific descriptions, evidence and artifacts of distinguished performance framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring in at least one goal area. Link all evidence to the goals of the School of Education. Finally, describe what you aspire to be your legacy in your field.
4. Two letters of recommendation – Letters of recommendation may be from a supervisor, colleague, student, etc.

Application Instructions and Deadline
Submission of materials is through the online application. The following materials must be submitted as a single PDF document: current resume/CV, essay, artifacts and two letters of recommendation.

Deadline for submission: TBD (spring semester)

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered by the committee.