Teacher Education Scholarships for Veterans
OHIO Patton Empower Veteran Education Program
Are you interested in becoming a middle level or secondary teacher to help fill teacher shortages in the state of Ohio? Do you hold a bachelor's degree and belong to one of the following groups?
- Transitioning active-duty military service members
- Currently serving reserve and guard component service members
- Military veterans or spouses
Then the Patton College at 51ÉçÇø has the perfect opportunity for you!
Scholarships for a Master's Degree with Teaching License
With funding from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the 51ÉçÇø (OHIO) Patton Empower Veteran Education program is currently offering a $14,265 scholarship for veteran education students (VetEds) to obtain a master's degree with teaching license. Participating VetEds additionally receive:
- $733 per semester stipend to defray living expenses, childcare, transportation and parking expenses, hotspots, or in-home Wi-Fi (total of $2,200).
- $1,000 for participation in the Ohio Middle Level Association annual conference to network and connect with practicing teachers in Ohio.
- Dedicated mentoring and advising through career orientation workshops and professional academic advisors from the Patton College of Education, the Ohio Career Network, the OHIO Center for Clinical Practice in Education, and the Veterans and Military Student Services Center.
- Peer cohort group of seven VetEds.
- Provisions for leaves related to military service.
51ÉçÇø has a long history as a military-friendly campus: In March of 2024, OHIO was named one of the nation’s top military-friendly schools for the 13th consecutive year by a veteran-owned company and publisher of G.I. Jobs magazine. For 2024-2025, OHIO earned the Military-Friendly School #6 ranking for Tier 1 research institutions in the nation, while also earning the Military Spouse-Friendly School #7 ranking.
Eligibility
To be eligible and maintain eligibility for funding through this program, a VetEd must be (1) enrolled or admitted to an eligible, state of Ohio chancellor-approved OHIO Patton College master’s program, (2) agree to teach or hold an educator position in Ohio for a minimum of three years post-graduation, (3) meet regularly with a faculty advisor and participate in all OHIO Patton VetEd program activities, and (4) maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Eligible Programs
Join one of our nationally recognized and accredited master’s programs leading to Ohio teaching license:
- Adolescent-to-Young-Adult (AYA) (See eligible programs below.)
- Multi-Age Education or Middle Childhood Education (MCE) (See eligible programs below.)
The in-person, full-time programs start in the summer and are completed in one year over three academic terms: summer → fall → spring. During the fall and spring semesters, VetEds engage in an extensive professional internship in Athens and other area classrooms. VetEds will be recommended for the teaching license when they successfully complete required coursework and state assessments.
The following Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) tests are required for admission.
| Eligible Programs | OAE Tests Required for Admission |
|---|---|
| AYA: Integrated Mathematics (ME6867) | OAE 027 Mathematics |
| AYA: Integrated Science (ME6869) | OAE 024 Integrated Science |
| AYA: Life Science (ME6861) | OAE 007 Biology |
| AYA: Earth & Space Science (ME6862) | OAE 014 Earth and Space Science |
| AYA: Physical Science (ME6395) | OAE 035 Physics |
| MCE: Mathematics and Science (ME6872) | OAE 030 Middle Grades Mathematics OAE 029 Middle Grades Science |
| MCE: Mathematics and Social Studies (ME6870) | OAE 030 Middle Grades Mathematics OAE 031 Middle Grades Social Studies |
| MCE: Mathematics and Language Arts (ME6875) | OAE 028 Middle Grades English Language Arts OAE 030 Middle Grades Mathematics |
| MCE: Science and Social Studies (ME6871) | OAE 029 Middle Grades Science OAE 031 Middle Grades Social Studies |
| MCE: Science and Language Arts (ME6874) | OAE 028 Middle Grades English Language Arts OAE 029 Middle Grades Science |
How To Apply
Applications are due April 15.
Applications require:
- Official undergraduate transcripts
- Ohio Assessment for Educators test scores for the test required for the program of interest (See .)
- Personal statement (up to 500 words) describing your experience as a member of an eligible group for the OHIO Patton VetEd group, why you want to be a teacher in the subject area you've chosen, and financial need
- Resume/CV
- Writing sample or paper from a recent class or other form of professional writing
- Three letters of recommendation
Admission Criteria include:
- An earned bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in an area closely related to the chosen content area
- A passing score on the appropriate Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) content exam for the program (See table above.)
Teacher Shortages in Ohio
Like other states, Ohio continues to experience teacher shortages. Schools and school administrators are experiencing difficulties staffing teaching positions and finding full-time teachers.
In Southeast Ohio, a growing need for teachers is evident through the growing student-to-teacher ratios, increase in the number of courses taught by improperly certified teachers, an elevated teacher attrition rate, and a steadily declining number of newly certified teachers. The state is projecting a 6.9% employment growth in the Education, Training, and Library sector by 2030.
Contact Us
- Master's in Adolescent-to-Young Adult Education – Dr. Brent Goff, goff@ohio.edu
- Master's in Middle Childhood Education – Dr. Frans Doppen, doppen@ohio.edu