The Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching. As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, students must sign a “TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve” in which they agree to (among other requirements), teach:

  • In a high-need field
  • At an institution that serves students from low-income families. This could be any of the following:
    • An elementary school
    • A secondary school
    • An educational service agency
  • In one of the listed settings for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant.

Important Information: Conversion to a Loan

If you do not complete your service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education, with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed (paid to you or on your behalf).

High Need Fields

  • Bilingual education and English language acquisition
  • Foreign language
  • Mathematics
  • Reading specialist
  • Science
  • Special education

Other fields may be identified as high need by the federal government, a state government, or a local education agency, and are included in the annual 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.

TEACH Grant Criteria

Undergraduate students may qualify for a TEACH Grant if they:

  • Are at the sophomore level or higher
  • Are enrolled in an eligible TEACH Grant major
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.25 or higher
  • Scored in the top 75% on the ACT or SAT

Graduate students may qualify for a TEACH Grant if they:

  • Are enrolled in an eligible TEACH Grant major
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.25 or higher
  • Scored in the top 75% on the GRE or GMAT

Eligible TEACH Grant Majors

  • Agriculture Education (B-21, Early Childhood-Adolescence)
  • Agriculture Education/Technology Education (B-21, Early Childhood-Adolescence)
  • Biology (10-21, Early Adolescence-Adolescence)
  • Broad-Field Science (10-21, Early Adolescence-Adolescence)
  • Chemistry (10-21, Early Adolescence-Adolescence)
  • German (B-21, Early Childhood-Adolescence)
  • Mathematics (10-21, Early Adolescence-Adolescence)
  • Music (B-21, Early Childhood-Adolescence)
  • Spanish (B-21, Early Childhood-Adolescence)
  • Technology Education (B-21, Early Childhood-Adolescence)

Application Process Details

  1. Review the details and eligibility criteria above. If you are interested in more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at 608.342.1836 or finaid@uwplatt.edu.
  2. Meet with a representative from the Financial Aid Office for a 45-minute counseling session. This session is required, and it entails an in-depth review of the TEACH Grant and its requirements. Appointments must be scheduled in advance by contacting the Financial Aid Office at 608.342.1836 or finaid@uwplatt.edu.
  3. At the conclusion of the counseling session, a TEACH Grant application is required. Your academic major/minor, test scores, and overall GPA will be assessed to determine if you meet the requirements.
  4. If you meet the requirements, an award will be originated. You will be required to complete an Agreement to Serve (ATS) with the Department of Education. Once that is complete, your funds will disburse to your student account.
  5. Students who wish to renew the grant each year are required to complete the counseling session and an Agreement to Serve for each year they receive the grant.
  6. Formal exit counseling is required once the student graduates or falls below part-time status.