Every college or university has a financial aid or financial assistance office. When asking for information about a program of study, ask also that a financial assistance packet be mailed to you. The financial aid office and your major department office will know about the availability of many grants or scholarships.

Low interest loans may be another way to finance your education. They are often available through the educational institution, from local banks, or other lending institutions. Your school's financial aid office should be able to help you begin your search.

If you are currently employed at a licensed child care facility in North Carolina the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood ® Project may be an option.

The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood ® Project provides educational scholarships for child care teachers, center directors, and family child care providers statewide. These scholarships may be used at public community colleges and selected universities in North Carolina to partially fund the cost of tuition, books, and travel for individuals who are interested in formal education in early childhood education or child development. Wage increases are provided upon completion of an agreed upon amount of education. The phone number for T.E.A.C.H. is 919-967-3272.

Child Care Wages
The Child Care WAGE$® Project provides education-based salary supplements
to low paid teachers, directors and family child care providers working
with children between the ages of 0-5.

Asking around

Various local or state organizations offer scholarships for people interested in getting degrees in early education. Contact the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children (NC-AEYC), your local child care resource and referral agency, or your local Smart Start office for leads on scholarships that might be available to you in your community.

Helpful Links:

• North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children - http://www.ncaeyc.org/
• Smart Start - http://www.ncsmartstart.org/
• Financial Aid Home Page - http://www.finaid.org/
• Federal Student Aid - http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
• National Student Loans - http://www.nslds.ed.gov/
• Scholarship Search - http://www.fastweb.com/
• Loans, Scholarships - http://www.salliemae.com/
• Financial Aid, Scholarships - http://www.collegeboard.com/
• US Dept. of Post Secondary Education - http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/index.html?src=mr
• College Foundation of North Carolina - http://www.cfnc.org/
• NC Public School Salary Schedules - http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs/finance/salary/
• Child Care Resource & Referral - http://www.ncchildcarenetwork.org