Fill out the Free Application for Student Aid by the deadline outlined on the website. (See Resources.) This form will determine your eligibility to receive money from the government to fund your college education. You will receive a statement online soon after, explaining the money you are eligible for based on your financial need. Accept the money being offered through grants and loans by selecting which offers you are accepting and then submitting your form. You do not have to accept the loans if the grants are sufficient, or if you decide that you would prefer not to take on this debt.
Apply for the Teach for America program if you are eligible, and if you are interested in making a two-year commitment to teaching under-served students. TFA allows you to earn your master's degree in a two-year certificate program, which helps cut the time and costs of paying tuition at a university. Also, TFA members may be eligible for a number of scholarships for graduate school. Even if being a teacher is not your ultimate career goal, TFA can help you pay for and obtain your doctoral in education.
Apply for scholarships and research grants. Research which scholarships are appropriate for you and your area of interests. Some scholarships are only for people looking to fund their education for a doctoral degree in education, and others are more broad but include such candidates. Contact your Education Department Director for information on research grants. You can earn a stipend or grant to work with a professor in a relevant field of research.
Apply for a fellowship. Fellowships are offered by private organizations, the government and sometimes universities. For example, the Department of Education and the Department of Defense offer the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship. Fellowships can provide full tuition, a living stipend, and fee expenses in exchange for teaching or doing research.
Attend a college with a tuition-free doctoral program. Many schools in Europe, military academies, Harvard University and various other universities are implementing tuition-free programs for individuals looking to obtain a doctoral degree in education. It is their hope to encourage and support future leaders in education.