What do I need to know about the TEACH Grant/Loan?
The TEACH Grant/Loan is a federal source of funds that provides up to $4,000 per year for students who plan to become teachers in certain subject areas and who plan to teach in low-income schools after graduation.
It’s important to know that there are several conditions you must meet in order to keep the TEACH Grant/Loan as gift aid (funding that you don’t have to repay). If you don’t meet all of the conditions, all of your TEACH Grant funds will be permanently converted into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest retroactive to the day it was disbursed to you.
Overview of the TEACH Grant conditions:
- You must teach for 4 out of 8 years in a low-income school following your completion of a teacher-preparation program.
- Your field of teaching must be considered a high-need field in the state where you complete your service obligation.
- For each year of your 4-year service obligation, you must have the chief administrative officer at the school where you teach complete a certification form confirming your service.
- For each year after graduation that you do not teach—and until you fulfill your 4-year service obligation—you must notify the U.S. Department of Education directly that you are not currently teaching but that you intend to meet the conditions of your service obligation.
More information on the conditions of the TEACH Grant/Loan.
Loan repayment calculator for an estimate of your repayment amount if your TEACH Grant converts to a loan.
How do I know if the TEACH Grant/Loan is a good source of funding for me?
Only certain subject areas of teaching—and therefore only certain academic majors—are considered high-need fields by the U.S. Department of Education. The following subject areas are considered high-need fields in all states:
- Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition
- Foreign Language
- Mathematics
- Reading Specialist
- Science
- Special Education
Additionally, each state may have designated other high-need fields. If you know you will be teaching in a certain state when you graduate, consult the Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing to see if your major will prepare you to fulfill your service obligation in that state. The states’ list of high-need fields is subject to change yearly. If your academic major will prepare you to teach any of these subjects and you plan to teach in a low-income school, the TEACH Grant/Loan is likely a good source of funding for you.
I’m thinking about being a teacher, but I’m not sure if I will become one, or I’m not sure if my area of teaching will be in a high-need field. Can I still be awarded the TEACH Grant/Loan?
The student is ultimately responsible for deciding whether the TEACH Grant/Loan is an appropriate source of funding. According to some estimates, only 20% of students who participate in the TEACH Grant/Loan Program will fulfill the stringent requirements of the program to keep the funds as a grant, while 80% of TEACH Grant/Loan recipients may see the funds converted into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. We recommend using careful judgment when considering the TEACH Grant/Loan as a source of funds.
Many students change their academic plans throughout the course of their college career. Students who accept disbursement of TEACH Grant/Loan funds will still be responsible for all the conditions of the grant, even if their career plans change. Because the TEACH Grant will permanently convert to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan if you are unable to meet the conditions of the grant, we encourage students to familiarize themselves with the repayment obligations of the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
What are the academic qualifications for the TEACH Grant/Loan?
In order to qualify for TEACH Grant/Loan funds, you must have either a 3.25 cumulative GPA or have scored in the 75th percentile on at least one battery of a national standardized test (the SAT, ACT, or GRE). If you qualify based on your test scores, you don’t have to maintain a certain GPA (you still must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress to remain eligible for any federal financial aid). If you qualify based on a 3.25 GPA, you must maintain a 3.25 GPA for each term you receive the TEACH Grant/Loan.
I’m a post-baccalaureate student at CWU; do I qualify for the TEACH Grant/Loan?
No. Schools that offer teaching certification as an undergraduate degree cannot offer the TEACH Grant/Loan to post-baccalaureate students. Students who are pursuing their first bachelor’s or master’s degree can receive the TEACH Grant/Loan.
I intend to become an elementary school teacher—what do I need to know about the TEACH Grant/Loan?
Elementary school teachers typically teach a variety of subjects. You must teach at least 51% of the time in a high-need field to fulfill the TEACH Grant requirements; therefore, it is unlikely that elementary school teachers will be able to fulfill the service obligation requirements. Some states, however, designate Elementary Education as a high-need field, in which case elementary school teaching would fulfill the service obligation. Please note: Washington State does not designate Elementary Education as a high-need field for the 2009-2010 school year. Consult the Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing for state-by-state listing of high-need fields.
What types of aid will the TEACH Grant/Loan replace in my financial aid package?
Because the TEACH Grant can convert to an Unsubsidized Loan if you do not fulfill all of the requirements, the Financial Aid Office’s policy is to replace offers of PLUS, Unsubsidized Loans, and Alternative Loans. Replacing a subsidized loan or gift aid could ultimately be disadvantageous to you if your TEACH Grant converts to an Unsubsidized Loan. Therefore, we require you to authorize in writing the replacement or reduction of any awards other than PLUS, Unsubsidized Loans, or Alternative Loans. Also, if you have already accepted an offer of a PLUS, Unsubsidized Loan, or Alternative Loan for the current aid year, you must provide us with written authorization to replace your accepted aid offers with the TEACH Grant/Loan.
If I’m interested in receiving the TEACH Grant/Loan, what steps do I take?
If you indicated on your most recent FAFSA that you plan to take coursework to become a teacher and you academically qualify, your eligibility for the TEACH Grant/Loan will automatically be assessed. If you academically qualify and you have not accepted certain types of aid (PLUS, Unsubsidized Loans, and/or Alternative Loans), the TEACH Grant/Loan will be added to your financial aid package. If you see the award on your SAFARI account, you may accept or decline the award. Once you accept it, you will be required to complete your Online Counseling and Agreement to Serve on the federal TEACH Grant website before funds can be disbursed to you.
If you did not indicate on your most current FAFSA that you plan to take coursework to become a teacher, you must complete a TEACH Revision Request Form. If you academically qualify, the TEACH Grant/Loan will be added to your award package, provided you have not accepted a PLUS, Unsubsidized Loan, and/or Alternative Loan. When you see the award on your SAFARI account, you may accept or decline the award. Once you accept it, you will be required to complete your Online Counseling and Agreement to Serve on the federal TEACH Grant website before funds can be disbursed to you.
