What is the TEACH Grant?

Key takeaways about TEACH Grants

• The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant, or TEACH Grant, provides eligible students with up to $4,000 a year before any applicable federal reduction.
• You need to attend a participating school and enroll in a program your school has designated as TEACH Grant-eligible.
• You agree to teach full time for four school years in a high-need field at a qualifying low-income school or educational service agency.
• If you don’t complete your service obligation, your TEACH Grants will be converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans that you’ll need to repay with interest.

The TEACH Grant is a federal college grant for eligible students preparing for a career in teaching. It can help lower your college costs, but it works a little differently from most grants because it includes a teaching service commitment. If you don’t complete that commitment, the grant will be converted to a federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan that you’ll need to repay, with interest applied from the date each grant was disbursed.

To find out what federal and other aid you may qualify for, start by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®). Our step-by-step FAFSA^® guide can help you prepare for the application and work through each section. You should also check with your school’s financial aid office to confirm that the school participates in the TEACH Grant Program and that your specific program is eligible.

Who qualifies for a TEACH Grant?

You may qualify for a TEACH Grant if you meet the basic requirements for federal student aid, complete the FAFSA^®, attend a participating school, enroll in a TEACH Grant-eligible program, meet the academic requirements, complete TEACH Grant counseling, and sign an Agreement to Serve or Repay.

According to Federal Student Aid, the TEACH Grant is non-need-based aid. That means it isn’t awarded based on your Student Aid Index, although you still need to complete the FAFSA^® and meet the other federal and program requirements. Your school will use its cost of attendance and the other aid you’ve received to calculate the amount available to you.

Apply even when you’re unsure

Don’t count yourself out because of your family’s income. Sallie’s "Financial Aid Myth Report" found that 41% of families believed a household income above $100,000 disqualified a student from any financial aid. In reality, there isn’t one income cutoff that applies to every form of aid, and the TEACH Grant itself isn’t based on financial need.

Which college programs qualify for a TEACH Grant?

A TEACH Grant-eligible program is designed to prepare you to teach in a high-need field and leads to a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or eligible postbaccalaureate credential. A two-year program may also qualify when its credits are accepted in full toward an eligible bachelor’s degree.

Federal Student Aid notes that a postbaccalaureate program isn’t TEACH Grant-eligible if it’s offered by a school that also offers a bachelor’s degree in education. The school also makes the final decision about which of its programs it designates as eligible.

That means:

• A program that qualifies at one college may not qualify at another.
• An education major isn’t automatically eligible simply because it prepares students to teach.
• You should confirm your program’s status with the financial aid office before enrolling or accepting the grant.

As you compare programs, Scout College Search can help you compare schools based on your preferences, goals and academic interests. Once you have a list, ask each school whether it participates in the TEACH Grant Program and whether your intended program is eligible.

How much money can I receive from a TEACH Grant?

According to Federal Student Aid, eligible full-time students may receive up to $4,000 a year before any applicable federal reduction. Your actual amount may be lower based on your enrollment, your remaining TEACH Grant eligibility, your school’s cost of attendance, the other aid you receive, and the federal reduction in effect when the grant is first disbursed.

Your school will determine the amount you’re eligible to receive and show it in your financial aid offer.

When reviewing your offer, look for:

• The TEACH Grant amount for that academic year
• Any federal reduction applied to the statutory amount
• Your enrollment status
• The other grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans included
• The amount you’ll still need to pay after aid

What are the TEACH Grant service requirements?

To complete the TEACH Grant service obligation, you need to teach full time for four elementary or secondary school years in a high-need field at a qualifying low-income school or educational service agency. You must complete those four years within eight years after graduating from or otherwise leaving the program for which you received the grant.

Your teaching service needs to meet all of these requirements:

• Full-time employment: You need to work as a full-time teacher.
• Four school years: Complete four qualifying elementary or secondary school years.
• Eight-year window: Finish those four years within the applicable eight-year service period.
• Qualifying school or agency: Teach at an eligible low-income elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency.
• High-need field: Teach in a field that qualifies under the TEACH Grant rules.
• Majority of classes: More than half of the classes you teach must be in a qualifying high-need field.
• State requirements: Meet all applicable state certification requirements for teaching.

How to document your teaching service

You need to document each completed year of qualifying teaching with Federal Student Aid. The TEACH Grant certification form asks for information about your employer, high-need field, and teaching service. A chief administrative officer at your school or educational service agency will also need to certify your employment.

A few habits can make the process easier:

• Confirm that the school or agency qualifies before accepting a position.
• Check that more than half of your classes are in the qualifying high-need field.
• Keep copies of employment records, agreements, certifications, and TEACH Grant correspondence.
• Submit documentation for every completed year of service.
• Keep your contact information current in your StudentAid.gov account.
• Complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling when you graduate, withdraw, or otherwise stop attending the school where you received the grant.

Which schools and teaching fields count toward the service obligation?

Your service needs to be completed at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families. Check the official Teacher Cancellation Low-Income Directory to see whether an employer is listed for the applicable school year.

Federal Student Aid currently identifies the following high-need fields:

A job title by itself doesn’t guarantee that your service will count. Review the official lists and confirm your school, field, and teaching assignment before relying on a position to fulfill your obligation.

What happens if I don’t meet the TEACH Grant requirements?

If you don’t complete your service obligation, the TEACH Grants tied to that obligation will be converted to federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. You’ll then need to repay the converted amount, and interest will be charged from the date each original TEACH Grant was disbursed—not just from the date the grant becomes a loan.

Conversion will occur if you don’t begin or maintain enough qualifying service to complete four years within your eight-year period. You can also request a voluntary conversion if you decide you no longer plan to fulfill the teaching commitment.

An example of TEACH Grant conversion

Suppose you receive TEACH Grants during college but later choose a career outside teaching. If you can no longer complete four years of qualifying service within your eight-year period, the grants connected to that service obligation will be converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans.

You would then be responsible for:

• The converted grant balance
• Interest dating back to each original grant disbursement
• Repayment under the terms that apply to the converted federal loans

That’s why it’s important to consider not only how the grant may help today, but also whether the teaching commitment fits your long-term plans.

Can I pause the eight-year service period?

You may be able to request a temporary suspension if a qualifying situation prevents you from teaching. Federal Student Aid currently lists circumstances that may include:

• Enrollment in another TEACH Grant-eligible program or an eligible state-approved teacher-certification program
• Completing state teacher-certification or licensure requirements
• A condition that qualifies for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act
• Certain military-service or military-spouse circumstances
• Living or working in a federally declared major disaster area
• Certain exceptional circumstances affecting your ability to teach or the operation of your school or educational service agency

A suspension isn’t automatic, so be sure to review the latest requirements to pause your service obligation, and submit the required documentation, including the TEACH Grant Service Obligation Suspension Request form.

Can a converted loan become a grant again?

In limited circumstances, you can request the reconversion of a loan to a TEACH Grant. You may be able to request reconsideration if the conversion happened by mistake, you were already meeting your service obligation, or you requested the conversion but still have enough time to complete the required teaching service.

If the request is approved, the loan can be changed back to a TEACH Grant and the service obligation will apply again.

Is a TEACH Grant worth it?

A TEACH Grant may be worth considering when the funding supports a teaching career you already plan to pursue and you’re comfortable with every part of the service obligation. It may be a less comfortable fit when you’re undecided about teaching, your subject area, or where you want to work after school.

Before accepting the grant, ask yourself:

• Is my college program officially designated as TEACH Grant-eligible?
• Do I plan to teach full time in an elementary or secondary setting?
• Am I preparing to teach in a qualifying high-need field?
• Are qualifying schools or educational service agencies available where I expect to live?
• Can I complete four qualifying school years within the eight-year window?
• Am I prepared to document each year of service?
• How would repayment affect me if my career plans changed?
• Have I compared the TEACH Grant with other grants and scholarships that don’t include a service obligation?

Try to think beyond your first year of school, too—create a plan that considers the full cost of your program, the funding you expect to receive each year, your path to teacher certification, and your likely career options after graduation.

TEACH Grant vs. Pell Grant

The biggest difference is that a TEACH Grant is tied to a future teaching commitment, while a Federal Pell Grant is primarily based on financial need and doesn’t have a teaching service obligation.

Your school packages your federal, state, school, and private aid together. Receiving one award doesn’t automatically prevent you from receiving another, but your eligibility, other aid, and cost of attendance may affect the amounts available.

How do I apply for a TEACH Grant?

Start by completing the FAFSA^® and contacting your school’s financial aid office. TEACH Grant availability depends on whether your school participates in the program and has designated your particular course of study as eligible.

It’s worth applying even when you aren’t sure what you’ll receive. Sallie’s "Financial Aid Myth Report" found that 29% of families skipped applying for federal aid—specifically Pell Grants and federal student loans—because they assumed they wouldn’t qualify.

1. Complete the FAFSA^® for the correct award year. The FAFSA^® is your starting point for federal grants, work-study, and federal student loans.
2. Ask whether your school participates. Contact the financial aid office at the school you attend or plan to attend.
3. Confirm that your specific program is eligible. Don’t assume every education or teacher-preparation program qualifies.
4. Meet the applicable academic requirements. Ask your financial aid office whether the GPA, admissions-test, or another academic standard applies to you.
5. Complete TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling. Counseling explains the service commitment, conversion consequences, and your responsibilities.
6. Sign the Agreement to Serve or Repay. You need to complete a new Agreement for every award year in which you receive the grant.
7. Review your financial aid offer before accepting the funds. Make sure you understand the award amount, your remaining college costs, and what would happen if you couldn’t complete the service obligation.

Other ways future teachers can pay for college

A TEACH Grant may cover only part of your education costs, so build a plan that combines every source of aid for which you may be eligible. Sallie’s "How America Pays for College 2026" found that 59% of undergraduate families used grants during the 2025–26 academic year, receiving an average of $7,108 among grant users.

Other federal and school aid

Complete the FAFSA^® to be considered for federal aid and aid offered by participating states and schools. Depending on your eligibility, options may include:

• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
• Federal Work-Study
• State grants and teacher-incentive programs
• Grants or tuition assistance from your college
• Employer-sponsored tuition programs

Your FAFSA^® information may also be used to calculate your Student Aid Index and prepare your financial aid offer.

Scholarships

Scholarships can help reduce the amount you need to cover with savings or borrowing. Learn about different types of scholarships, including awards based on your intended major, community service, background, interests, and career goals.

You can also:

• Use Scholly^® Scholarships to find and sort through thousands of opportunities.
• Enter Sallie’s $2,000 No Essay Scholarship, which takes two minutes or less to enter.
• Look for scholarships from education associations, local organizations, employers, and your college.
• Keep applying after your first year, as many scholarships are open to students in each college year as well as graduate students.

Savings, income, and student loans

If you still have a balance after scholarships, grants, savings, income, and school payment options, student loans may help cover the rest. Before you decide, take a little time to understand how they work and what each option could cost over time.

Compare federal and private student loans by looking at interest rates, fees, repayment terms, borrowing limits, and total repayment cost. Federal Parent PLUS loans may include origination fees and borrowing limits, while some private student loans don’t charge origination fees. The right choice depends on your family’s needs, so compare carefully and borrow only what you need.