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TEACH Grants

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $2,000 per semester and up to $4,000 per year in “grant” aid to eligible undergraduate and graduate students. Eligible undergraduate students may not receive more than $16,000 and graduate students may receive no more than $8000 in total TEACH Grant. Students enrolled less than full-time will have their TEACH Grant prorated based on enrollment hours. The amount of TEACH Grant awarded when combined with other student aid may not exceed a student’s cost of attendance (COA).

Conditions

In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, students must agree to serve as a full-time teacher at specified schools serving low-income students and teach in a specified field for four academic years within eight years after completing the college course. TEACH Grant recipients that do not fulfill their teaching obligations must repay the “grant” as if it were a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest accruing from the date the grant was disbursed.

Student Eligibility Requirements

To receive a TEACH Grant at NMSU you must meet the following criteria:

Eligible programs of study at New Mexico State University are:

  • Elementary Education/Bilingual Education
  • Elementary Education/Teaching English-Second Language
  • Early Childhood Education/Bilingual Education
  • Special Education
  • Special Education/Elementary Ed
  • Special Education/Secondary Education
  • Secondary Education/Secondary Math
  • Secondary Education/Secondary General Science
  • Secondary Education/Secondary German
  • Secondary Education/Secondary Spanish
  • Secondary Education/Secondary French
  • Education/Science
  • Education/Math
  • Education/Bilingual Multicultural Special Education
  • Education/Early Childhood Special Education
  • Education/Special Education/Deaf-Hard of Hearing
  • Education/Reading
  • Reading

Meet one of the following academic achievement requirements:

  • Score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test (e.g. SAT, or ACT) or
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) on your college coursework to receive a grant for each subsequent term.
  • Complete the TEACH GRANT Entrance Counseling session.
  • Complete TEACH Grant annual counseling and exit counseling as required.
  • Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Promise to Pay and respond to requests by the U.S. Department of Education confirming your continuing intention to meet the teaching obligation.

Teaching Obligation

To avoid repaying the TEACH Grant with interest you must be a highly qualified, fulltime teacher in a high need subject area for at least four years at a school serving low-income students. You must complete the four years of teaching within eight years of finishing the program for which you received the grant.

Specific Definitions of TEACH Grant Terms

Highly Qualified Teacher:

You must perform the teaching service as a highly qualified teacher, which is defined in federal law.

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.

High Need Subject Areas:

  • Early Childhood with Bilingual/TESOL Endorsemen
  • Foreign Language
  • Mathematics
  • Reading Specialist
  • Science
  • Special Education
  • Other teacher shortage areas listed in the Department of Education’s 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.

Other Important Information

TEACH Grant Frequently Asked Questions
What You Need to Know Before You Get a TEACH Grant
TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve Web User Guide
Sign the TEACH Grant Agreeement to Serve
TEACH Grant Exit Counseling