Educator's Scholarships (PEAR)
What is a Professional Educator's Assistance & Recognition Scholarship? (PEAR)
Educators hold a special place in our heart. Unfortunately in today’s world, the financial reward educators receive doesn’t come close to matching the value they provide society. That’s why we have created a special kind of financial assistance specifically for active and retired educators. We call it the “Professional Educator’s Assistance Recognition” scholarship — or “PEAR” for short.
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we are able to ensure that educators with limited financial means are able to experience a Road Scholar learning adventure.
- Through our financial assistance program, we can turn the dream of experiencing one of our thousands of educational travel adventures into a reality.
- If you are over 50 years of age, are currently working in or have retired from any educational organization or system, which includes public or private early childhood, primary, secondary and further or higher education and are facing financial barriers preventing you from participating in a Road Scholar program, you are eligible to apply.
Eligible Programs for the Professional Educator's Assistance & Recognition Scholarship (PEAR)
You can apply for a PEAR Scholarship toward the cost of any program that takes place in the United States or Canada and costs no more than $2,500.
Eligibility Requirements
The PEAR Scholarship is designed for active and retired educators facing financial barriers to participating in Road Scholar programs. Please review the eligibility criteria before you start the application process.
- Over 50 years of age
- Live in the United States
- Currently working in or have retired from any educational organization or system
- Facing financial barriers preventing you from participating in a Road Scholar program
- Have not taken a Road Scholar program in the last two years and are not currently enrolled in a Road Scholar program
- Have selected an eligible program
Generally, PEAR scholarships are awarded to recipients whose household income is less than 80% of the median income in their state of residency.
How to Apply
Please complete one application per person. In order to be reviewed by the Financial Assistance Committee, all parts of the application must be complete, including the program number and date for which you are applying. Please answer the questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. Your answers will be used to determine eligibility. Any incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Please use the checklist at the end of the application to ensure that your submission is complete and eligible. We cannot review an application for a program with a start date of less than eight (8) weeks in the future, a program that has passed the final payment date, a sold-out program or for an enrollment that has already been paid in full.
What happens after I apply?
The review of an application takes 4-6 weeks once it has been received by the committee; applications are reviewed in the order that they are received. Therefore, please ensure that you are submitting this application early enough to allow time to enroll and make your travel arrangements after you receive your award letter. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your selected program start date.
PRO TIP: You can reserve your spot by enrolling in your selected program before applying! If your application is not approved, you will be refunded your deposit. Just remember that eligible programs are in the U.S. or Canada and are under $2,500.
Here’s How the Scholarship Works
What happens if my application is approved?
- The Scholarship is applied toward the cost of the program you selected in your application.
- The amount of the Scholarship award will be up to $2,000, based on the program cost and the required deposit.
- At minimum, you will pay the applicable deposit for the program selected.
- You will pay the balance of the program cost after the Scholarship has been applied.
What if my plans change?
We know that in rare instances, a Scholarship recipient may have to adjust their travel plans. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you cancel your enrollment in the program, the Scholarship becomes void.
- If Road Scholar cancels your program, the Scholarship can be transferred to another program without fees.
- If, after enrollment, you decide to transfer to another eligible program, the Scholarship may be transferred along with the enrollment. The corresponding transfer fees will apply.
- Your Scholarship can’t be transferred to another person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about these frequently asked questions before you apply.