TEACH Grant

• Meet the basic eligibility criteria for the federal student aid programs.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, or graduate student at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program. 
• Be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program.
• Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on one or more portions of a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25). 
• Complete TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling, and
• Complete an Agreement to Serve (ATS).

What is the minimum enrollment to remain eligible?
This program requires at least 1/2-time enrollment in order to maintain eligibility. Be aware that some programs may require full-time enrollment.

You must perform your teaching service as a highly-qualified teacher. The term highly-qualified teacher is defined:

• In section 9101(23) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, or
• If you are a special education teacher, in section 602(10) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

For more information about the requirements for being a highly-qualified teacher, please visit U.S Department of Education.  

High-need fields are

• Bilingual education and English language acquisition,
• Foreign language,
• Mathematics,
• Reading specialist,
• Science, and
• Special education, as well as
• Any other field that has been identified as high-need by the federal government, a state government, or a local education agency, and that is included in the Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing (Nationwide List).

1990 – 2018 Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing

If you plan to teach in a high-need field that is included in the Nationwide List, that field must be listed for the state where you teach either at the time you begin your qualifying teaching service or at the time you received a TEACH Grant.

Still have questions? Visit the TEACH Grant FAQ

To search the Department’s Low-Income School Directory, please visit Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory.

An educational service agency is a regional public multiservice agency (not a private organization) that is authorized by state law to develop, manage, and provide services or programs to local education agencies, (such as public school districts).

When you complete or otherwise leave your TEACH eligible program of study, you need to:

• Teach full-time as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field at an eligible low-income elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency for at least 4 academic years.
• Complete the required 4 years of teaching within 8 years of completing or otherwise leaving your TEACH Grant program of study.
• Certify, with the Mohela Servicing Center, annually after completing or otherwise leaving your TEACH Grant program of study, and each year thereafter, that you are meeting (or intend to meet*) the requirements of your service obligation.

If you don't meet these requirements, your TEACH Grants may be converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans that you'll have to repay in full, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement. For more information about your teaching obligation, review your Agreement to Serve.

Once you complete the program for which you've received the TEACH Grant or your enrollment status drops below half-time, complete the TEACH Grant Exit Counseling.

Contacting the TEACH Grant servicer

TEACH Grant servicer Address:
MOHELA
633 Spirit Drive
Chesterfield, MO 63005-1243

TEACH Grant servicer Telephone Numbers:

• 1-888-866-4352
• 1-636-532-0600 (International)
• TEACH Grant servicer Web site

Complete Entrance Counseling and Agreement to Serve

• Teacher Credential Cal Grant renewal program
• Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program​
• The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) contains information about all Title IV loans you have received, including the TEACH Grants that have been converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Visit NSLDS
• Golden State Teacher Grant