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

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.

In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must

  1. Although you do not have to demonstrate financial need, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
  2. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
  3. Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program;
  4. Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25);
  5. Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.
    • agree to serve as full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students
    • teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant.

If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.  You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education.  You will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed. 

For complete information on the grant and the requirements for the program visit the TEACH Grant website.

Financial Aid TV: TEACH Grant Overview