Grants

Federal Pell Grant is a type of need-based gift aid, eligibility for which is based primarily on the income, asset and other data entered on the FAFSA . In accordance with federal financial aid regulations, Pell Grant assistance normally never needs to be repaid, and may be received only by undergraduate students who have the highest levels of calculated financial need and are pursuing their first bachelors degrees. The maximum award amount each year is established by the U.S. Department of Education and is based on national funding levels. The actual Pell Grant amount posted to a student's UCM account each semester is based on the exact number of undergraduate credit hours (s) he enrolls for. The following amounts are authorized for the 2021 fall, 2022 spring, and 2022 summer terms.

Summer Pell Grant

You can receive an additional Pell Grant disbursement equal to a full semester amount (if in 12 hours) or half (if in 6 hours). If you are enrolled in less than 6 hours in the Summer, you can only use your remaining eligibility (if any) from 2022-2023. If enrolled in 6 hours or more, your awarded amount will be based on either your 2022-2023 FAFSA or 2023-2024 FAFSA, whichever is greater. The actual amount will be set at the time of awarding for the Summer. If the 2023-2024 FAFSA has not been filed, you will be awarded from the 2022-2023 FAFSA. This additional Pell Grant disbursement will count against your lifetime limit, consisting of a maximum of 12 semesters of 'full-time equivalent' Federal Pell Grant assistance.

For detailed information about the Federal Pell Grant program, visit Federal Student Aid.

Federal SEOG is a type of need-based gift aid, the purpose of which is to supplement any Pell Grant assistance a student has been awarded. As with Pell Grant, SEOG funds normally never have to be repaid. If awarded, a student must normally enroll full-time (12 or more undergraduate credit hours) each fall or spring semester for the SEOG funds to credit his/her UCM account. Selection criteria includes:

1. Students who file the FAFSA by the priority deadline of April 1 each year.

2. Pell-eligible priority given to zero EFC students

3. Not exceeded Pell Lifetime Eligibility Limit (LEU)

4. Indicates interest in Federal Work Study on FAFSA ("Yes", or "don't know")

5. Not receiving more than $2,000 in gift aid. (helps us to further determine "need")

Award amounts range from $200 to $500 per semester. While funding is limited, we will try to re-award (as funding becomes available)  to students who have demonstrated excesive need beyond the criteria above.  For detailed information about the Federal SEOG program, visit the U.S. Department of Education.

The 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act created the Federal TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grant program.

What is the TEACH Grant Program?

Due to sequestration, the TEACH program provides a scheduled award of up to $3,772 per year (if first disbursed before 10/1/2023) to new and continuing graduate students who promise to teach full-time for at least 4 years in public or private elementary or secondary schools designated as serving students from low-income families (Title I).

Do I have to teach a certain subject?

Yes. You must agree to teach one or more of the designated 'teacher shortage/high need’ subject areas. Currently, these areas are mathematics, science, special education, bilingual education/English language acquisition, foreign language and Reading Specialist.

How do I know which schools are Title I?

Approved elementary and secondary schools which serve low-income students may be found by searching Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory.

How much are TEACH Grants?

An eligible student pursuing a first bachelor degree, a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program, or a first masters degree may receive a scheduled award of up to $3,772 if first disbursed before 10/1/2023. The maximum total grant that may be received for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate study is $16,000, or four scheduled awards. For graduate study, a total of $8,000, or two scheduled awards, in TEACH Grant funds may be received.

Can I receive a TEACH Grant for a summer session?

It depends. You may be considered for grant funds for a summer session if you didn't receive the full maximum annual award during the preceding fall and/or spring semesters.

How do I apply for a TEACH Grant?

To be considered for grant funding for the 2023 fall semester, 2024 spring semester and/or 2024 summer session, complete and submit the 2023/2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, be sure to print off, complete and submit the Federal TEACH Grant Request form.

Can I receive TEACH Grant aid to pursue a 2nd degree?

No.  A student may not receive a TEACH Grant to pursue a second bachelors or second masters degree.

Do I have to sign an agreement to serve?

Yes.  After submitting the TEACH Grant Request and being approved for the TEACH Grant aid, each year you are required to complete and sign the on-line Agreement to Serve. This agreement specifies the requirements that must be met as a condition of receiving the grant. Signing the agreement acknowledges your full understanding of these requirements. 

What are the requirements?

You must promise to teach full-time in a ‘teacher-shortage/high-need’ subject area  for at least four (4) academic years at a Title I-designated public or private elementary or secondary school within the eight (8) calendar years immediately following completion of the degree or certification program for which you received the TEACH Grant funds. Historically, the shortage regions for the State of Missouri are extremely limited. In order to fulfill your teaching obligations, you must teach in these locations. This list changes yearly and may be different at the time of your certification.

What happens if I don't (or cannot) meet the teaching service requirement?

This is very important! If you fail to complete the required four (4) years of obligated teaching service, you’ll be required to repay all the TEACH Grant funds you received in the form of Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan aid, and interest will be charged/accrued from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.

Are there academic requirements to receive a TEACH Grant for the first time?

Yes.  An entering freshman student must have on file with UCM a composite ACT score of 24 or better or a high school transcript indicating a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 3.25 (on a 4.00 scale).  A continuing undergraduate UCM student or an entering undergraduate transfer student must have a cumulative grade-point average of a 3.25 or better.  An entering graduate student must have on file with UCM a GRE score (Verbal and Quantitative combined) of 1260 or better or a cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.25 (on a 4.00 scale).  In addition, to continue receiving TEACH Grant funds, undergraduate and graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or better, which will be verified at the completion of each semester and summer term.

Are there other requirements?

Yes.  Each semester you receive TEACH Grant funds, the classes you’ve enrolled for will be reviewed to verify that they're reasonable, appropriate, and necessary to permit you to teach in the subject area(s) you’ve elected to pursue.  In addition, if you enroll less-than full-time, the amount of your TEACH Grant award will be pro-rated downward in accordance with the exact number of credit hours.

What if I have questions or need clarification?

Contact the UCM Office of Student Financial Services in person (1100 Ward Edwards Bldg.), by telephone (660-543-8266), or online.