Grants

A Federal Pell Grant is federal gift assistance that does not need to be repaid. The Federal Pell Grant is based upon eligibility determined annually by your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and enrollment status. Baccalaureate degree holders generally are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants. For more details, including current year maximum award amounts, visit the Federal Student Aid website.  Information and requirements for receiving Pell Grants during the summer term can be found here.

A Pell grant eligible student (as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) whose parent or guardian has died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer, may be eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant award. A student must be Pell eligible and be less than 24 years of age or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his/her parents or guardians death. If you think you may qualify for this award, please contact OSFAS@uky.edu for more information.

Federal SEOG is federal gift assistance normally awarded to full-time students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) that is zero or less and who are Pell Grant recipients. Baccalaureate degree holders are not eligible for Federal SEOG Grants. Most awards are $500 per year. 

A CAP Grant is state funded gift assistance awarded by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance (KHEAA). You will receive official notification directly from KHEAA regarding the amount for which you are eligible and the campus where the grant may be used. This award may not exceed your need. Baccalaureate degree holders are not eligible for CAP Grants. For current maximum and minimum award amounts, visit KHEAA. 

A Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is different from other federal student grants because it requires you to agree to complete a teaching service obligation as a condition for receiving the grant, and if you don't complete the service obligation, the TEACH Grant will be converted to a loan that you must repay, with interest.

About the TEACH Grant

The federal TEACH Grant program helps with costs of post-secondary education for students intending to teach.  In return for this assistance, students agree to serve four years as a teacher in a high-need field at a school or educational agency that serves low-income students.  Students have eight years from the date of their graduation to meet this condition. If the student does not fulfill this requirement, the grant is converted to a loan for which interest is accrued from the time of disbursement. 

The TEACH Grant provides students with up to $4000* annually and varies according to students’ enrolled credit hours.  There is a lifetime maximum of $16,000 for undergraduate students and $8,000 for graduate students. 

Learn more about the TEACH Grant at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach. 

TEACH Grant Eligibility 

Students wishing to receive the TEACH Grant must:

• Complete the FAFSA;
• Meet federal aid eligibility requirements;
• Be enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program of study, as is recognized by UK College of Education;
• Meet one or more of the following academic requirements:
  • Score above the 75^th percentile on a college admissions test,
  • Have a cumulative university GPA of at least 3.25,
  • Graduate from high school with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 to receive the grant as a freshman (UK does not currently offer TEACH Grant eligible programming to freshmen).

Steps to Receive the TEACH Grant

Students interested in receiving the TEACH Grant should confirm eligibility with the OSFAS Federal Grants Coordinator.  Once confirmation of eligibility has been received, TEACH Grant recipients must complete:

• TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/teach-initial-and-subsequent-counseling/ for every academic year in which the student will receive the TEACH Grant;
• the Agreement to Serve or Repay at https://studentaid.gov/teach-agreement/;
• a University of Kentucky TEACH Grant Authorization Form; 
• and upon graduation or ceasing UK enrollment, the TEACH Grant Exit Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/teach-exit-counseling/. 

*Sequester:  The Budget Control Act of 2011 is still in effect, and as such, sequester requirements apply to TEACH Grant funds disbursing during the 2026-2027 academic year.  In accordance with this Act, all TEACH Grant offers will be reduced by 5.70%. TEACH Grant-Eligible Programs