School of Education Scholarships

The Noyce Scholars program at Drake supports high-achieving students who are passionate about STEM and committed to making a difference by teaching in high-need secondary schools across the United States.

Program Specifics and Requirements

• Graduate students with a bachelor's degree in a STEM field may apply to receive $27,000 in stipends to pursue a master's degree in education leading to teaching licensure.
• Recipients must be earning or must hold a baccalaureate degree in a STEM discipline, including engineering, accounting, or computer science. Bachelor's degrees in chemistry, physics, computer science, data analytics, or mathematics are preferred. Degrees in medicine, nursing, and allied health are not eligible.
• Recipients must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate work from an accredited institution.
• Recipients must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens, as specified by the National Science Foundation.
• Applicants must provide two references who can speak to their demonstrated abilities as a STEM learner and/or their emerging commitment to teaching.
• Final acceptance into the Noyce Scholars program is contingent upon full admittance to Drake's School of Education, review of official transcripts and letters of recommendation, and confirmation of a qualifying STEM degree.
• All scholarship and stipend recipients must commit to teaching for two years in high-need schools for every year of Noyce funding received. High-need schools span a wide range of districts from urban to rural, and recipients may pursue positions throughout the United States upon graduation and licensure.
• For more information about Noyce@Drake, officially titled Improving Secondary Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Computer Science Teacher Preparation through a sequence of Active Teaching Experiences, contact Drake's School of Education.

The National Rehabilitation Institute at Drake University was awarded a grant in 2019 from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), part of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, to provide grant opportunities for undergraduate students pursuing a degree in Disability and Rehabilitation Services.

Designed to support future rehabilitation professionals, the RSA Grant can cover up to 100% of tuition costs and includes a small stipend each semester to help offset the cost of textbooks and related educational expenses. This financial support allows students to focus on developing the knowledge and skills needed to serve individuals with disabilities while reducing the burden of graduate education costs.

What the Grant Provides

The RSA Grant can cover:

• Tuition assistance for the 49-credit hour major
• A small stipend to help offset textbook expenses

The amount you receive is based on the number of major credit hours you are enrolled in each semester.

Beyond financial assistance, the grant provides a clear pathway into the rehabilitation counseling profession. Grant recipients commit to working a specified number of years in an approved rehabilitation or disability services setting (such as state vocational rehabilitation agencies, veterans' administration programs, nonprofit disability services organizations, and community rehabilitation programs) after graduation.

How It Works: A Grant You "Pay Back" Through Your Career

For every 10 hours of tuition assistance a scholar receives, they agree to work for 1 year in an appropriate setting after graduation. For students who receive funding for all 49 credit hours, they would be expected to work 4 years and 11 months in an appropriate setting.

Please be aware, if, you chose not to work in an eligible setting after graduation, you would be required to repay the grant funds to RSA. 

The RSA Grant is an investment in both students and the future of the rehabilitation workforce. By helping cover educational expenses and connecting graduates with rewarding career opportunities, the grant supports students who are committed to empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve greater independence, participation, and quality of life.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The disability services field faces a growing workforce shortage. Professionals like you—compassionate, trained, and ready to serve—are urgently needed in communities across the country. This grant exists because RSA believes in investing in people who are committed to that mission.

By accepting this grant, you're not just funding your education. You're joining a community of professionals dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential.

Ready to Learn More?

If you're excited about this opportunity and want to find out if you qualify, we'd love to connect with you. Dr. Matt Bruinekool (matt.bruinekool@drake.edu) is the Director of the National Rehabilitation Institute at Drake and is the Project Director on the grant. He and his team can answer all your questions about how the grant and payback work, available funding, and types of employment that meet the work payback requirements after graduation.

Examples of how the existing funds are being utilized include:

• Professional development for faculty
• Doctoral research support
• Curriculum development
• Symposiums related to Special Education
• Events encouraging Des Moines youth to consider a teaching career

Identified here is a list of current funds that support our work in the School of Education.

• Mary Collier Baker Chair Fund
• James Morrison Collier School of Education Faculty Development Fund
• Anna Mae Heaps Endowed Faculty Development Fund
• Betty J. Huffman Endowed Doctoral Research Fund
• Irene Ellis McBurney Fund
• James McMahon Institute Fund
• Willie Mary Ramsey Fund
• Schott Family Endowment Fund
• Urban Education Program Endowed Fund
• Betty Mell Wood and Clayton D. Wood Dean's Excellence Fund