Grants
Dallas College administers the following grant programs:
Federal Pell Grant (PELL)
This grant is designed to help undergraduate, pre-baccalaureate students continue their education. The purpose of this program is to provide eligible students with a “foundation” of financial aid to assist with the cost of attending college. All students applying for financial assistance through Dallas College must apply for a Federal Pell Grant first, through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education uses the data reported on the FAFSA in a formula established by Congress to determine a student’s financial need for the Pell Grant. Students who are in default or overpayments with any federal financial aid program are not eligible to receive a Pell Grant until the default/overpayment is resolved. Pell Grant recipients within Dallas College must be enrolled in at least one credit hour and must comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy for federal aid.
Pell eligibility is prorated based on enrollment. Prorated amounts are based on federal guidelines and formulation. Here are some examples of how the Pell Grant Enrollment Intensity affects financial aid eligibility. Other factors like Cost of Attendance (COA) may affect final award amounts.
| Credit Hours | Enrollment Intensity Formula | Enrollment Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 12 (or more) | 12 ÷ 12 = 1.0 | 100% |
| 11 | 11 ÷ 12 = 0.917 | 92% |
| 10 | 10 ÷ 12 = 0.833 | 83% |
| 9 | 9 ÷ 12 = 0.75 | 75% |
| 8 | 8 ÷ 12 = 0.667 | 67% |
| 7 | 7 ÷ 12 = 0.583 | 58% |
| 6 | 6 ÷ 12 = 0.50 | 50% |
| 5 | 5 ÷ 12 = 0.417 | 42% |
| 4 | 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 | 33% |
| 3 | 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 | 25% |
| 2 | 2 ÷ 12 = .0167 | 17% |
| 1 | 1 ÷ 12 = 0.083 | 8% |
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
This grant is awarded to students with exceptional financial need. SEOG funds are limited, and priority for the award is given to students who receive a Federal Pell Grant with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of zero. Eligibility for SEOG is determined with the data reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who are in default or overpayments with any federal financial aid program are not eligible to receive a Pell Grant until the default/overpayment is resolved. SEOG recipients within Dallas College must be enrolled in at least one credit hour and must have a Pell Grant award.
Texas Public Education Grants (TPEG)
These grants have limited funding and are awarded to eligible students who:
- are Texas residents, nonresidents or foreign students
- show financial need
- complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- are enrolled in six credit hours (half-time enrollment)
Note: TPEGs are also available for eligible continuing education students. See Financial Aid for Continuing Education for details.
TEXAS Grant (TxGrant)
The purpose of this program is to provide a grant of money to enable well-prepared, eligible students to attend public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education in Texas. The priority in making awards is to provide continued funding to recipients already enrolled in the program who are in college and are making progress toward their degrees. For the past several years, state funding has not been adequate to make new awards to all entering freshmen who are otherwise eligible for the grant. Eligibility does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded.
For additional information about these or other grants, contact Financial Aid.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is a federal financial aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The program is designed to support students who intend to become teachers in high-need fields at schools serving low-income families.
Eligible students may receive up to $4,000 per academic year (subject to federal funding levels and sequestration reductions). In exchange for receiving TEACH Grant funds, students must complete an Agreement to Serve (ATS), committing to:
- Teach full-time
- In a high-need field
- At a low-income (Title I) school or educational service agency
- For at least four academic years
- Within eight years of completing their program
Failure to meet this service obligation will result in the TEACH Grant being converted into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accruing from the date of each disbursement.
To qualify for the TEACH Grant at Dallas College, students must meet all the following criteria:
- Enrollment Requirement
- Be enrolled in an eligible program of study at Dallas College that is aligned with a teaching profession.
- Academic Achievement Requirement
Students must meet one of the following: - Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25, or
- Score at or above the 75th percentile on a nationally recognized standardized test (e.g., SAT or ACT)
- FAFSA Requirement
- Submit a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Note: Financial need is not required, but FAFSA completion is mandatory
- Citizenship Requirement
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- Program Eligibility (if applicable)
- Be admitted into an eligible teacher preparation program, such as Early Childhood Education (if required by the program structure)
To be considered for the TEACH Grant, students must complete the following steps:
- Complete and submit the FAFSA
- Review the TEACH Grant Information
- Complete TEACH Grant Counseling. You must complete counseling each year that you receive a TEACH Grant and retain confirmation of completion.
- Sign the Agreement to Serve (ATS)
- Contact Dallas College to:
- Submit Required Documentation. Email all required TEACH Grant documentation and confirmations to: FA-Compliance@dallascollege.edu
- Email Submission Instructions. When submitting your documentation, please ensure your email includes the following:
- Subject Line: TEACH Grant
- Email Body: Your full name and Dallas College student ID number
- Attachments: Confirmation(s) of completion for required TEACH Grant counseling and/or Agreement to Serve
- Award Notification
- Once eligibility is confirmed and all requirements are met, Dallas College will notify the student of their award.
- Funds will not be disbursed until all federal requirements are completed and verified.
To fulfill the TEACH Grant service requirement, recipients must:
- Teach in a high-need field, such as:
- Bilingual Education
- Foreign Language
- Mathematics
- Reading Specialist
- Science
- Special Education
- Work at a low-income school (Title I) or qualifying educational service agency
- Complete four full academic years of teaching within eight years after completing their program
Please note that the high-need areas listed above are not comprehensive. For the full list, please visit the website using the link below. The official Teacher Shortage Area list is updated annually by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Annual Eligibility Review: Students must meet eligibility requirements each academic year to continue receiving TEACH Grant funds.
- Loan Conversion Risk: Failure to complete the service obligation will result in the grant converting to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, including interest retroactively applied.
- Impact on Financial Aid: Receiving TEACH Grant funds may impact a student’s overall financial aid package.
- Service Verification Requirement: Students must submit documentation to the U.S. Department of Education to verify progress toward fulfilling their teaching obligation.
- Program Participation Requirement: Eligibility may be contingent upon acceptance into a TEACH Grant-eligible academic program.