Arizona Teachers Academy

Scholarship Details
ATA alumni participating in the Community of Practice for Teach Arizona (COPTA) induction program.

The scholarship at the University of Arizona covers tuition, the college fee, and mandatory fees once a student has accepted all other non-loan aid including, but not limited to, institutional and private scholarships and federal Pell grants. More information about both the college fee and mandatory fees are available at U of A's University Fees Overview. Please note: among other nontuition expenses, the scholarship does not cover textbooks, meals, lodging, study abroad tuition and related fees, and/or any additional charges incurred because of a second major.

ATA Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need, merit, standing, and residency. However, applicants who (a) are Arizona residents, and (b) have junior-, senior-, or graduate-level standing at the start of their program, are strongly preferred. Special consideration will also be given to students in corresponding pre-majors.

Please note that the ATA Scholarship is a funding source, not an academic program, and will only be awarded to students who are either admitted to a participating program or, in the case of undergraduate students, in corresponding pre-majors.

 

Undergraduate students have a maximum of eight semesters to complete their ATA-participating program, and graduate students have a maximum of four. Enrollment must be continuous and in good standing for a student to remain eligible for funding. Fall and Spring semesters count towards these semester limits while Summer sessions do not. Students who have reached their maximum number of semesters and have not yet completed their ATA-participating program may not reapply or be eligible for additional ATA funding to complete that program.

Upon completing your ATA-participating program, you will have one year to begin your first year of full-time classroom teaching in any birth-Grade 12 public or charter school in Arizona. This teaching commitment will be for as many academic years as you received funding. For example, if you receive ATA funding each year over a two academic year period, then your teaching commitment is for two consecutive full school years; or if you receive funding for one semester in one academic year and another semester in another academic year, the commitment is for two consecutive school years as well.  Additionally, failure to complete your program will result in the immediate repayment of the award amount you received from the ATA while at the University of Arizona.

Please note that only Fall and Spring semesters funded by the ATA count towards your commitment; sessions taken during the Summer, however — though funded by the ATA — will not.  **Due to March 2021 changes to A.R.S § 15-1655, this applies to Summer sessions taken after January 1, 2021. Any Summer sessions taken prior to that will count towards the service commitment.

Review this list of U of A programs eligible for ATA funding and contact the program directly for any questions about its specific selection processes, application requirements, important dates, etc. Please note that the ATA Scholarship is a funding source, not an academic program, and will only be awarded to students who are either admitted to a participating program or, in the case of undergraduate students, in corresponding pre-majors.

You may apply for the ATA Scholarship prior to being accepted into an ATA-participating program at the University of Arizona. However, your scholarship application will not be considered until the application deadline has passed, and you are either in an ATA-participating program or, in the case of undergraduate students, a corresponding pre-major. Please note, only ATA-participating undergraduate programs require a scholarship application while ATA-participating graduate programs do not. Visit the Application page for details.

Prior to receiving your ATA funding, your Free Application for Student (FAFSA) must be successfully processed by both the U.S. Department of Education and the university’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) each academic year you anticipate receiving ATA funding. Otherwise, there will be delays in disbursing the award to your account.