TEACH Grant

Note: The TEACH Grant is a federal aid program not to be confused with the State of Michigan future educator programs. 

ELIGBILITY AND AWARDING

The Office of Financial Aid will determine your eligibility for the federal TEACH Grant after you have submitted the TEACH Grant Application.

If you are eligible, the grant will be added to your aid package. In order to be considered eligible, you must: 

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Score above the 75th percentile on at least one battery on a standardized college admissions test such as the ACT or SAT OR have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25
• Be accepted to the Hope College Teacher Education Program for teacher certification
• Complete a FAFSA (you do not have to demonstrate financial need)
• Complete TEACH Grant Initial & Subsquent Counseling and a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay (Agreement) each year you apply for and receive the grant
• Be enrolled in an eligible high-need major or minor offered under Hope's teacher certification programs

Current eligible program categories include:

• Art & Music Education
• Elementary Education
• Language Arts
• Mathematics 
• Health & Physical Education
• Science
• Social Studies 
• Special Education
• World Languages

AMOUNT OF THE GRANT

The TEACH Grant Program allows up to $4,000 per year ($16,000 maximum) to first undergraduate degree students pursuing a teaching program and who plan to teach full-time in high-need subject areas at schools that serve students from low-income families.

Part-time students may receive prorated awards; three-quarter-time up to $3,000 per year; half-time up to $2,000 per year; and less-than-half-time up to $1,000 per year. Students may receive TEACH Grant for all terms enrolled, including summer.

Demonstrated need is not required for this program but because total financial aid must not exceed the cost of attendance, receiving a TEACH Grant could reduce your eligibility for other sources of financial aid.

TEACHING OBLIGATION 

Grant recipients agree to teach in a classroom setting for at least four years within eight years of finishing their teacher preparation program.

The four years must be teaching high-need subjects in designated schools that serve low-income students. Failure to complete the four-year teaching obligation causes the grant to convert to an unsubsidized loan which must be repaid with interest calculated back to the date the grant funds were disbursed.

TEACH GRANT COUNSELING AND AGREEMENT TO SERVE

To receive this grant you must complete TEACH Grant Initial or Subsequent Counseling and sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay (Agreement) available electronically on the U.S. Department of Education web site each year you apply for and receive the grant.

By submitting the Agreement, you are agreeing to repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest accrued from the date the grants funds were first disbursed if you do not complete the teaching service requirement. Once the grant is converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant.

GRADUATION AND MAINTAINING TEACHING OBLIGATION

After graduating or otherwise leaving the TEACH Grant eligible program of study, recipients must:

• Complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling
• Within 120 days, certify intent to meet the requirements of the teaching service obligation
• Complete the required 4 years of teaching within 8 years
• Teach full-time, for 4 academic years, as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field at an eligible low-income elementary, secondary or educational service agency

TEACH Grant recipients should maintain close contact with the U.S. Department of Education to manage their TEACH Grants.