Financial Aid

Teach Grant Program

Eligibility

The Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides funding for students who intend to teach in a public/private elementary or secondary school in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools serving students from low-income families.

The following WIU majors qualify as 'High Need Fields' for Federal Teach Grant:

Undergraduate

  • Academically Advanced (Gifted Education)
  • Academic Intervention (At-Risk) - Pre-K
  • Art*
  • Business Education
  • Driver's Education
  • Elementary Education (K-8)
  • English*
  • English as a Second Language*
  • Foreign Language (French, Spanish) or Bilingual Education*
  • Family & Consumer Science*
  • Health Science*
  • Mathematics*
  • Music (K-8)*
  • Physical Education/Kinesiology* (K-12)
  • Reading*
  • Reading Resource Specialist*
  • Science (General, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)*
  • Sociogy*
  • Spanish
  • Special Education
  • Special Education: Language and Speech

*Must be admitted/enrolled in Teacher Education program

Graduate

  • Masters of Science in Education with Reading Specialist emphasis
  • Masters of Science in Special Education
  • Masters of Art in Teaching: Special Education, Science, or Math

Additional requirements include:

  • Full acceptance to Teacher Education Program (TEP) (Undergraduate only)
  • 3.25 cumulative GPA
  • Current year FAFSA filed

Benefits

If eligible, the TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 per year in grant funds. TEACH Grant recipients who do not complete the teaching requirement within a specified time or fail to meet other program requirements must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.

Application

If you believe TEACH is right for you, complete the TEACH Grant Initial Counseling and Agreement To Serve to apply. If you are eligible you will receive official notification from the Financial Aid Office by WIU email.

Please visit the Teach Grant website for more information regarding eligibility. Prior to graduating or leaving school, TEACH Grant recipients must complete exit counseling. The TEACH Grant Exit Counseling will explain the TEACH Grant Service Obligation and the terms and conditions that apply should your grant become a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.