Tuition Assistance
There are 3 distinct forms of financial assistance (described below) available for trainees enrolled in our Waldorf teacher education programs.
Additionally, the Center for Anthroposophy has established a Diversity Scholarship Fund to promote racial and ethnic diversity among teachers in North American Waldorf schools. This fund provides scholarship funds to help cover the tuition of Waldorf teacher training. Scholarship awards, based on need, will be made to eligible candidates who are in the process of becoming a Waldorf teacher through the Center for Anthroposophy or Antioch University. Please indicate your interest in the Diversity Scholarship on the Waldorf Fellowship Application form below.
Financial Aid awards – made once a candidate has been accepted into our teacher training programs – are applied to the first year of tuition. Candidates seeking additional financial support beyond the first year need to apply each year for further assistance; requests will be considered based on availability of funds from year to year. Awards, ranging in any one year from $500 to around $3,000, are based on need but cannot be expected to match all requests.
Application deadline is June 1
1./ Waldorf Fellowships
Grants awarded by the Center for Anthroposophy based on applicants needs and their demonstrated commitment to Waldorf education.
Waldorf Fellowship Application
2./ AWSNA Teacher Education Loans and Grants
The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to strengthen and support Waldorf schools and teacher education institutes throughout North America. One aspect of this is providing financial assistance to people training to be Waldorf teachers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These programs are made possible by contributions to AWSNA from member and sponsored schools and institutes, and by grants from various foundations, including the Waldorf Educational Foundation.
a. Teacher Education Loans Program is designed for students enrolled in Waldorf teacher education programs, with the intention of becoming full-time Waldorf teachers. The funds borrowed from AWSNA are forgiven over three years if graduates of education programs teach three-quarter to full-time in AWSNA- or WECAN-affiliated Waldorf schools.
- The amount of the loans varies each year and depends on the funding available.
- Funds are distributed as a loan, repayable to AWSNA. Each consecutive year that the recipient works three-quarter to full-time at an AWSNA-affiliated Waldorf school (or WECAN-affiliated early childhood program), one-third of the original loan amount will be forgiven.
- Loans are interest-free during study and while working full-time as a Waldorf teacher. Failure to complete the training, or to teach full time at a school as described above upon graduation, will cause the loan to become due and payable, as described in the Teacher Education Fund loan contract.
- Foundation year students are not eligible for these funds.
- Antioch and CfA students apply for AWSNA teacher education loans directly through the Center for Anthroposophy by filling out this online Application Form. Your application will be reviewed by the CfA Financial Aid Committee and submitted to AWSNA along with all other applications.
- Application deadline is June 1 and the award letters will be emailed shortly thereafter. AWSNA-generated loan contracts will be distributed to all awardees in October. The actual funds will arrive from AWSNA to Center for Anthroposophy in March – April of the following year. The amount for awards made to Antioch students will be forwarded to Antioch
b. Currently Practicing Teacher (CPT) Matching Grant Program is designed for people already teaching in AWSNA- or WECAN-affiliated schools while pursuing their training. AWSNA provides outright grants that are matched by the school at which the applicant is teaching. All grants are contingent on a matching grant from the school at which the grant recipient teaches. The amount of the grants varies each year and depends on the funding available. The application must be accompanied by a letter from the school where the applicant teaches, specifying the maximum amount of matching funds the school will commit.
- Antioch and CfA students may apply for AWSNA Currently Practicing Teacher (CPT) Matching Grant Program directly through the Center for Anthroposophy by filling out this online Application Form.
- Application deadline is June 1 and the award letters will be emailed shortly thereafter. AWSNA-generated loan contracts will be distributed to all awardees in October. The actual funds will arrive from AWSNA to Center for Anthroposophy in March – April of the following year. The amount for awards made to Antioch students will be forwarded to Antioch.
AWSNA Teacher Education Loan and Currently Practicing Teacher (CPT) Grant Program Summary 2024 – 2025
The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to strengthen and support member Waldorf schools and teacher education institutes throughout North America. One aspect of this support is providing financial assistance to people enrolled in an AWSNA or WECAN-member institute teacher preparation program pursuing an initial Waldorf teaching certificate through our teacher education loan and currently practicing teacher (CPT) grant programs. These two programs are made possible by contributions to AWSNA through dues from member schools and by grants from various foundations.
Awards for the 2024-25 school year are $900 per student for loans and $750 per student for CPT grants in the currency of the institute country. In addition, institutes may have limited additional funds for those in higher financial need.
Note, the awards are proportional for subject programs where they will receive ⅗’s of the award: $540 per student for loans and $450 per student for CPT grants in the currency of the institute country.
Eligible Programs: Loans and CPT grants are applicable for AWSNA-member grades, high school and subject (music and world language) teacher training programs and WECAN-member early childhood teacher preparation programs.
Ineligible Programs: Foundation year (if separate from teacher training), EdD programs, healing arts, professional development, and renewal classes are not eligible for TELG funds.
1. Teacher Education Loans
This loan is for individuals intending to teach in an AWSNA or WECAN-member school, and who are legally authorized to work in North America at the time of application.
Loans are interest-free during enrollment in the teacher preparation program and while teaching ¾ to full-time in an AWSNA or WECAN-member school.
In exchange for receiving the loan, applicants must agree to the following:
- State that they intend to work as a three-quarter to full-time teacher in an AWSNA or WECAN-member school for at least three consecutive years, immediately following graduation from the For each year teaching at or above 75% FTE at a qualifying member school, one-third of the loan will be forgiven.
Applicants who begin teaching prior to graduation may have these years of teaching retroactively applied towards the three years of service, as long as one of the three years occurs in the year immediately following graduation.
- If loan recipients do not meet the requirements of a., as stated above, or should they fail to complete the teacher training or withdraw from the teacher training, the loan must be repaid in full at 1% interest per month over a 12-month payment plan as described in the Teacher Education Fund loan contract.
- Partial teaching service will be considered for All outstanding years of service will convert to a loan.
2. Currently Practicing Teacher (CPT) Grants
This grant is for individuals already teaching in AWSNA or WECAN-member schools as they pursue their training. AWSNA provides grants toward tuition, and schools are asked to confirm that the teacher is in good standing and also to consider pledging funds towards the training of their teacher(s). Where the combined total of the AWSNA grant and school contribution does not reach 100% of tuition, applicants may also apply for a teacher education loan with the approval of the teacher education institute.
Application for the CPT grant must be accompanied by a letter from the school where the applicant teaches, specifying the amount of funds the school will commit (if any). The school sends their pledge directly to the institute (not the student).
How and When to Apply for the Loans and CPT Grants
- Applicants apply directly through the Waldorf teacher education institute they are attending. Contact the institute for the link to their online application and deadline information. Your application will be reviewed by the institute and if accepted, the institute will determine the amount awarded.
- Funds are distributed directly to the institute as tuition payments on a yearly basis based on the institute’s schedule.
- Loans and grants must be applied for annually and are awarded each year of teacher training.
- Any scholarship funds may be taxable income, and the student may wish to consult with an accountant or tax professional.
AWSNA is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, gender, marital status, national origin, disability or handicap, protected genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other factor protected by law.
