Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC), Division of Financial Aid
Competitive scholarship of up to $10,000 a year for future West Virginia math, science, elementary or special education teachers; requires 5 years of teaching in a WV public school.
- How much
- Up to $10,000 per year for up to four years
- Who qualifies
- Must agree to teach full time in a West Virginia public school in math, science, elementary or special education for five years after graduation; open to non-residents; must attend an eligible WV institution.
- For high school seniors, students starting college
- For mathematics education, science education, elementary education students
- U.S. citizen or holder of a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- When to apply
- Open now · due March 1, 2027 Annual; preliminary application opens October 1 and closes March 1; cohort selected in May.
- How to apply
- 1) Submit the preliminary application through your WVSAM account (opens October 1) by March 1
- 2) If invited, complete the second-round application and the FAFSA
- 3) Finalists submit a short video
- Scholars are typically notified in May and sign a promissory note each year
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application + essay + transcript + test scores + video
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (cfwv.com), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
Up to 25 new scholars a year receive up to $10,000 per year for up to four years (up to the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, textbooks and other approved expenses minus other aid) in an approved teacher preparation program in math, science, elementary education or special education at an eligible West Virginia public or private nonprofit college; each scholar is paired with a practicing teacher mentor. Minimum eligibility: high school senior or recent graduate never enrolled as a degree-seeking college student; 3.25 high school GPA; ACT 18 English and 21 math (math/science) or 19 math (elementary/special education), or SAT 480 EBRW and 530 math (math/science) or 510 math (elementary/special ed). Three rounds: preliminary application; invited second-round application (community service, extracurriculars, essay) scored on a published rubric; finalists submit a short video. Renewal: full-time in the approved program, satisfactory progress and a 3.0 college GPA; up to six academic years to use. West Virginia residency is NOT required.
More money from West Virginia
- West Virginia PROMISE ScholarshipUp to $5,500 per year (or tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less)
- West Virginia Higher Education GrantUp to $3,400 per year at eligible West Virginia schools; up to $600 per year at eligible Pennsylvania schools (2026-27)
- Future Workforce Grant (formerly HEAPS Workforce)Up to $2,000 per academic year
- Reduced Tuition for Senior Citizens (60 and older)Non-credit: up to $50 per course; for credit: no more than 50% of normal resident tuition and fees
- West Virginia Invests GrantTuition, mandatory fees and approved academic program fees not covered by other grants or waivers (last-dollar)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
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