ESD-U Program Pricing
ESD-U offers scholarships as well as a variety of payment plan options to provide financial flexibility to our candidates. Tuition rates for 2024-2025 are listed below:
Adding an endorsement
- Elementary Education
- English Language Learners
- Special Education
- Reading
Initial Teacher Certification with stand-alone endorsement
- Elementary Education or Special Education Endorsements
Initial Teacher Certification with dual endorsement
- Special Education & Elementary Education
- English Language Learners & Elementary Education
*Pricing does include additional fees such as certificate fee, fingerprinting, endorsement fee and testing fees. These fees are paid directly to their respective agencies.
Scholarships & Grants
Because ESD-U is not a degree-granting institution, candidates will not be able to apply for federal financial aid; however, there may be scholarship opportunities
available to candidates. More information about these scholarships will be provided at informational sessions, and throughout the application process.
ESD-U and partnering districts may use grant monies from the Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) grant to support candidates with anticipated and identified learning as they are enrolled in ESD-U.
Educator Retooling Conditional Scholarship
Teachers who qualify as retooling candidates can apply for a competitive retooling scholarship through the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) (opens in a new window) , of up to $3000. These scholarships are awarded through WSAC and ESD-U is not involved in the scholarship selection process.
To qualify, you must be certified as a teacher in the state of Washington, and seeking an endorsement in a shortage subject area. ESD-U currently offers endorsements in the following areas: Special Education, English Language Learners, Elementary Education, and Reading.
See WSAC’s website (opens in a new window) for more details and how to apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
NEW $1,000 to $8,000 Grants Available!
ESD-U has received additional grant funding this year to support nearly all applicants with financial assistance, ranging from $1000 to $8000 (depending upon route/endorsement). This grant funding is for the 24-25 cohort year only and candidates who apply by the May 5th deadline will be eligible.
$5,000 PESB Scholarships Available
For the 2024-2025 cohort, 30 scholarships for up to $5000 will be available for Route 2, Route 3, and Route 4 candidates through the ESD-U Program grant awarded by PESB. These scholarships will be awarded to candidates based on district needs. Once the cohort is finalized, scholarships can be awarded (usually when classes begin).
Tuition and Payment Policy
Tuition must be paid in full before a candidate may be recommended for certification. Annual tuition may be paid in three ways:
- One lump sum at the beginning of the program
- Two installments, one at the beginning of the year and one at the midpoint
- Monthly installments over the length of the enrollment period ($250 administrative fee is accessed)
The annual and semi-annual payment plans will be discounted; the monthly payment plan will pay full tuition. Candidates who sign up for the two-installment program and fail to submit the mid-year payment by the due date will be automatically transferred to the monthly plan and will be required to pay full tuition. Candidates on a monthly payment plan who miss a payment will have their remaining balance recalculated, resulting in a higher monthly payment for subsequent months. Candidates who miss three consecutive months of payments m be administratively withdrawn from the program and may need to reimburse the program for scholarship funds.
Tuition Refund Policy
Candidates who, due to unforeseen extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness, family emergency, loss of employment, etc.), must discontinue a course that has already begun may be entitled to a partial refund of the course tuition. Refunds will be prorated, based on the number of course sessions already attended. After the candidate has attended three course sessions, no refund will be granted.
