TEACH Grants

This federal grant program has been created for students who intend to pursue a teaching career in a high-need field.

Interested students should review the information below and submit a Request for Federal TEACH Grant application (instructions at the bottom of the page).

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (TEACH)
What are the Eligibility Requirements?

To receive the TEACH Grant each academic year, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Be enrolled in a degree program at either the undergraduate or graduate level (undergraduates must qualify for admission to Phase II of the Teacher Education Program, usually at the junior or senior years only – refer to the UM School of Education for requirements)
• Receive a GPA of at least a 3.25 for each payment period
  • From high school for first year students
  • From college for other students
  • OR score above the 75th percentile on an admissions test, such as SAT, ACT, or GRE
• Student must be completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching, or must plan to complete coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching.

Demonstration of financial need is not required.

How Much Can a Student Receive?

The TEACH Grant will provide up to $4,000 per year for the first undergraduate program. Students cannot receive more than $16,000 total. Graduate students can receive up to $4,000 per year with a limit of $8,000.

Awards are also based on enrollment level (full time, ¾ time, half-time and less than half-time).

The TEACH Grant may be subject to a slight reduction of the award amount each year as a result of “Federal Sequestration”.

This award in combination with all other financial aid can not exceed a students cost of attendance.

A student applies for the TEACH grant by completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Once awarded, the student will be asked to complete an Agreement to Serve (ATS) and Entrance Counseling.

Does the TEACH Grant have to be repaid? If the student does not teach for at least four years within eight years of completing the program under the following conditions:

• As a Highly Qualified Teacher
• In a elementary or secondary school or educational service agency that serves low-income students. The current listing of schools by state can be found at https://studentaid.gov/app/tcli.action.
• In a specified subject area (see below.)

Then the grant must be repaid as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest added to the loan calculated from the date the TEACH Grant funds were originally disbursed.

What subject areas are approved?

• Mathematics
• Science
• Foreign Language
• Bilingual Education
• Special Education
• As a reading specialist
• Another field documented as high-need by the Federal government, a State government, or a Local Education Agency, and approved by the Secretary. This field must be listed in the Department’s annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing at https://tsa.ed.gov/#/home/.

Highly-Qualified Teacher

You must perform the teaching service as a highly-qualified teacher, which is defined in federal law. The informational sheet can also be found online at: https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/how-is-highly-qualified-teacher-defined-teacher-loan-forgiveness

Full-Time Teacher

You must meet the state’s definition of a full-time teacher and spend the majority (at least 51 percent) of your time teaching one of the high-need subject areas. Elementary school teachers who teach many subjects would not be able to fulfill their service agreement.

TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve 

Each year you receive a TEACH Grant you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve. The Agreement is a legally binding document that defines the teaching obligations you must meet and specifies your repayment obligation if a TEACH Grant that you receive is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. When you sign the service agreement, you are agreeing to repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date that the grant funds were disbursed, if you do not complete the teaching obligation. Once the grant has been converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant.

Request the TEACH Grant Application

In order to submit an application, please follow the instructions below:

• ALL students must first create a Student Forms account.
• Once you are logged in you, start by navigating to the ‘Manage Requests’ button at the top right of the screen.
• From there click on the green plus sign next to the document and correct academic year. This will allow you to add a request as a task for you to complete.
• You can download then upload the “TEACH Grant” application once you filled it out and had the School of Education sign off on it prior to submitting to our office.

All information regarding the request is within Student Forms. If you have any questions please contact our office for assistance.

TEACH Grant Exit Counseling 

TEACH recipients who cease attendance or who have applied for graduation must complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling. TEACH Grant Exit Counseling provides information about the service agreement as well as information if your TEACH Grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.