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Federal TEACH Grant

The Federal Teacher Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant may be a grant option for students pursuing certain programs of study within Education.


Eligible Students

TEACH is available at both undergraduate and graduate levels for certain programs of study (majors).

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Eligibility Criteria

Students may be considered for the grant if they:

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and
  • Complete the Federal TEACH Grant Application (usually available in April on our Forms webpage), and
  • Are a US citizen or eligible non-citizen for federal aid, and
  • Are at a college junior, senior, or graduate level, and
  • Are admitted as a degree-seeking student into one of the eligible programs listed on the TEACH Grant Application, and
  • Are pursuing both a degree and certification (students pursuing a degree only or certification only are not eligible), and
  • Have an overall grade point average of at least 3.25 at the time of initial and subsequent disbursements of the grant in addition to meeting satisfactory academic progress standards for financial aid eligibility. Note: The GPA requirement can be waived for current or former teachers. Students can also submit documentation showing a score in the 75th percentile on at least one admission test.

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Enrollment Requirements

The TEACH Grant pays out at a pro-rated amount based on the student's enrollment in federal aid-eligible courses.

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Limits

Students cannot receive more than $4,000 for the academic year in TEACH Grant (minus the federal sequestration amount). There are aggregate limits to how much TEACH a student can receive over time (no more than $16,000 during undergraduate level, no more than $8,000 during graduate level). Financial aid for each aid year also cannot exceed a student's cost of attendance.

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Additional Requirements and Information

  • Students must continue to meet satisfactory academic progress standards for financial aid eligibility.
  • Once a student is awarded TEACH, they must complete the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Initial (or Subsequent) Counseling online on the Federal Student Aid website before the grant will disburse. The student will be notified once the requirements are available via their MIX email (in their WVU Portal). As part of their Agreement to Serve, students must agree to:
    • Meet federal requirements for a highly qualified teacher
    • Serve as a full-time teacher (cannot be as a substitute teacher) at a school that services low-income students for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of leaving or completing their course of study
    • During those four years, teach within the "high-need" field (course of study) for which the grant was received (examples: mathematics, science, special education)
    • Provide certification annually (October 31) as evidence of required employment from the chief administrator of the school where they are serving as a full-time teacher
  • If students fail to meet the terms of their Agreement to Serve, the TEACH Grant amounts received will convert to Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan debt which must be repaid to the Department of Education. This loan will be charged interest from the dates the grant originally disbursed.
  • TEACH recipients should contact their TEACH Grant Servicer before choosing to take a semester off as their grant could default to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan due to the break in enrollment.
  • TEACH Grant funds usually do not need to be repaid except for some limited circumstances.
  • Additional information is available on the Federal Student Aid TEACH Grant website.

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How to Apply

To be considered for TEACH, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete the Federal TEACH Grant Application (usually available in April on our Forms webpage).

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