TEACH Grant
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides up to $4,000 per year in grants for students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools serving students of low-income families.
At Binghamton University, only matriculated graduate level programs are eligible for TEACH grant funds. Part-time students are eligible, but the grant is reduced.
Award Schedule
| Student with 0-23 earned graduate credits |
Award/Semester |
| 12 or more credits |
$2,000 |
| 9 or more credits |
$1,500 |
| 6-8 credits |
$1,000 |
| 1-5 credits |
$500 |
Student with 24 or more
earned graduate credits |
Award/Semester |
| 9 or more credits |
$2,000 |
| 7-8 credits |
$1,500 |
| 5-6 credits |
$1,000 |
| 1-4 credits |
$500 |
Eligible Graduate Programs at Binghamton University
MSEd:
Inclusive Childhood Education, Grade 1-6, Pre-service
Literacy Education, Grades Birth-Grade 6, In-service
Literacy Education, Grades 5-12, In-service
Special Education, Grades 1-6, In-service
Special Education, Grades 7-12, In-service
Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12, In-service
MAT:
Biology Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Chemistry Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Earth Science Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Mathematics Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Mathematics Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Physics Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Combined Degrees
Students accepted into the Combined Degree Programs, listed below, may also request a review for eligibility.
Mathematics (BA) and Mathematics Adolescence Education (MAT),
Grades 7-12
Chemistry (BA) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Chemistry
Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Geological Sciences (BA) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
Earth Science Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Geological Sciences (BS) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Earth Science Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Biology (BA) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Biology Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Student Eligibility Requirements
To receive a TEACH Grant you must:
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Meet basic eligibility requirements for federal student aid; financial need not a requirement.
Enroll in a designated as TEACH Grant-eligible program at Binghamton University as matriculated student (see listing above).
Meet one of the following academic achievement requirements:
Score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test (e.g. SAT, ACT, or GRE).
OR
Have an undergraduate degree cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale). Or, if a first-year graduate student, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) to receive a grant for each subsequent term. Your GPA will be reviewed prior to each TEACH Grant disbursement.
Complete TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling Sessions with your School of Education Academic Advisor and a Financial Aid Counselor at Binghamton University. The sessions must be completed prior to the first disbursement of the grant. Obtain detailed steps for counseling >
Complete TEACH Grant Online Entrance Counseling provided by the Student Loan Servicing Center (SLSC). Go to online counseling site >
Sign and submit a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Promise To Pay and respond to all requests by the U.S. Department of Education confirming your intention to meet the teaching obligation. You must sign and submit the form each year you receive a TEACH Grant. The agreement outlines the conditions under which the grant will be awarded, the teaching service requirements, and includes an acknowledgment that you understand that if you do not meet the teaching service requirements you must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date grant funds were first disbursed. Obtain online form >
Filing An Application
Complete and submit the TEACH Grant Request for Review.
Additional Grant Details
Teaching Obligation
To avoid repaying the TEACH Grant with interest you must be a highly-qualified, full-time teacher in a high-need subject area for at least four years at a school serving low-income students. You must complete four years of teaching within eight years of completing the program for which you received the grant. You incur a four-year teaching obligation for each educational program for which you received TEACH Grant funds, although you may work to fulfill multiple four-year obligations simultaneously under certain circumstances.
Specific definitions of teaching obligation terms are below:
Highly-Qualified Teacher: You must perform the teaching service as a highly-qualified teacher, which is defined in federal law. The definition is available online at: http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg107.html.
Full-Time Teacher: You must meet the state’s definition of a full-time teacher and spend the majority (at least 51 percent) of your time teaching one of the high-need subject areas. Please note: Elementary teachers who teach many subjects would not be able to fulfill their service agreement.
High-Need Subject Areas
Bilingual Education and
English Language Acquisition |
Foreign Language |
Mathematics |
Reading Specialist |
Science |
Special Education |
Teacher shortage areas listed in Department of Education’s Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing
Schools Serving Low-Income Students: Schools serving low-income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits at https://www.tcli.ed.gov/CBSWebApp/tcli/TCLIPubSchoolSearch.jsp.
Important Reminders
Student’s Responsibility Upon Receipt of Grant
You must respond promptly to all requests for information or documentation from the U.S. Department of Education. You will receive communications while you are still in school as well as once you are out of school, confirming your intention to teach or that are teaching as required. You must provide documentation to the U.S. Department of Education at the end of each year of teaching.
If you temporarily cease enrollment in your program of study or if you encounter situations that affect your ability to begin or continue teaching, you will need to contact the U.S. Department of Education to avoid your grants being converted to loans before you are able to complete your teaching obligation.
To award TEACH grant funds, Financial Aid Services at Binghamton University may be required to reduce federal financial aid based upon total cost of attendance.
IMPORTANT: Failure to complete the teaching obligation, respond to requests for information, or properly document teaching service will result in the TEACH Grant converted permanently to a loan with interest capitalized.
