TEACH Grant — Federal Student Aid
It can provide up to $3,772 for a first disbursement from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, after the federal 5.7% reduction. It requires four years of full-time teaching in a high-need field at a low-income school; failure to meet the terms converts it to an interest-bearing Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
About TEACH Grant — Federal Student Aid
The TEACH Grant can help students preparing to teach in high-need fields, but it comes with a major condition: in exchange for the award, recipients agree to teach full time for four years at a school or educational service agency serving low-income students. It is not an unconditional scholarship. Before accepting it, consider whether your career plans can meet the service requirement and read the federal agreement; simply completing an education degree is not enough.
For federal fiscal year 2027, the adjusted maximum is $3,772 when the first disbursement is made from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The statutory ceiling is $4,000, but the 5.70% federal sequestration reduction removes $228. A school may award less based on enrollment and the applicable calculation, so ask its financial-aid office for the actual amount. Federal guidance for 2026–27 says there will be no initial TEACH funding authorization: schools receive their funding level as accepted disbursement records are posted. That describes the school funding mechanism and does not, by itself, mean the program has ended.
Eligibility depends on attending a participating institution and a program the institution has designated as TEACH-eligible. Federal high-need fields include mathematics, science—including computer science—foreign language, bilingual education, English-language acquisition, reading specialist, and special education; other areas may qualify if they appear on the nationwide teacher-shortage list for the state where you teach. Generally, applicants need a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or a score above the 75th percentile on an admissions test. Exceptions apply to some current or retired teachers pursuing a master’s degree or alternative certification.
Start by asking the college financial-aid office in writing whether your campus and major qualify, what award amount it expects, and which fields count in your state. Submit the FAFSA, complete TEACH counseling each year, and sign the Agreement to Serve or Repay before funds are disbursed. The service obligation is four years of full-time teaching in a low-income school, in a high-need field, completed within eight years after you graduate or leave the program; state certification requirements also apply.
The financial risk deserves careful attention: if you do not complete the obligation—for example, because the job fails the field, school, full-time, or deadline test—your TEACH Grants can convert to Direct Unsubsidized Loans, with interest dating from each disbursement. Federal rules allow temporary suspensions in specific circumstances, but not every career break qualifies. Keep the agreement, counseling records, and yearly service certifications, and confirm with Federal Student Aid how each year must be documented.
Who it serves and what it can cover: It can provide up to $3,772 for a first disbursement from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, after the federal 5.7% reduction. It requires four years of full-time teaching in a high-need field at a low-income school; failure to meet the terms converts it to an interest-bearing Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
How to apply or get help: There is no single walk-in application office: ask the financial-aid office at a participating school whether your program is designated as eligible, then complete TEACH counseling and the agreement on StudentAid.gov. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
Federal teacher-education grant with a service obligation