Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program

Eligibility

• Meet the basic eligibility criteria for the federal student aid programs.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), although demonstration of financial need is not required.
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, or graduate student at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program.
• Be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program.
• Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on one or more portions of a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25). For specific information about the academic requirements, talk to the financial aid office at your college or career school.
• Receive TEACH Grant counseling that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation. You must complete counseling each year that you receive a TEACH Grant.
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.

Description

The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching. More information may be found at the Federal Student Aid TEACH Grant website.

Application Requirements

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Contact the financial aid office at the school where you will be enrolled to find out whether the school participates in the TEACH Grant Program and to learn about the programs of study at the school that are TEACH Grant eligible.

Other Information

Eligible undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students may not receive more than $16,000 and graduate students may receive no more than $8,000 in total TEACH Grants.

Repayment Information

As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach

• in a high-need field;
• at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families; and
• for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant.

Note: If the requirements of a service obligation are not met, all TEACH Grants received will be converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans. These loans must be paid in full, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.