Costs and Financial Resources

Education
For Students
Costs and Financial Resources

Costs Related to Teacher Education

Funding Sources and Loan Forgiveness Programs

Financial Aid for Post-graduate Status Students

Costs you may incur in the Teacher Education Program

Pre-student teaching costs

Tk20 $100 subscription (purchased during ED 290; will be used throughout education program)
Transportation for ED 290, 321, 330, 374, and methods field experiences: depending on where you choose to complete your field experiences, you could incur expenses related to transportation (including gas).
Some schools outside of Northfield charge for a background check ($7-$25) for each site.
January Term’s ED 378/379
- ED 378 is an off-campus January Term in Hawaii; there are IOS program fees, transportation, housing, and food costs related to this course.
- ED 379 is an off-campus January Term in the Twin Cities. You may incur costs related to background checks as well as gas or other transportation expenses depending on where you choose to live.
ACTFL OPIc $108 (for Spanish, German and French students only) assessment required before student teaching

Student teaching costs

During student teaching, you will likely incur costs related to transportation, housing, food, and professional clothing. Transportation costs will vary depending on where you student teach and choose to live.
edTPA $100 (St. Olaf Education Department pays $200 of the total $300 cost)
Background check fees $7-$25 (for each site)
If you are student teaching during 9th semester, you would pay half the tuition of a regular semester. If you are interested in student teaching your 9th semester, please make sure to see a Financial Aid counselor in order to understand the costs you will incur.
MN Initial Teacher Licensure expense $91.25 plus $8 St. Olaf official transcript fee

Costs for concentrators/non-majors

Tk20 $100 subscription (purchased during ED 290; will be used throughout education program)
Transportation for ED 260 and 290 field experiences: depending on where you choose to complete your field experiences, you could incur expenses related to transportation (including gas).
Some schools outside of Northfield charge for a background check ($7-$25) for each site.
January Term’s ED 170/378/270
- ED 170 is an off-campus January Term in the Twin Cities managed by IOS; there are program fees associated with this course.
- ED 270 is an off-campus January Term in Faribault; you may be asked to contribute to transportation costs associated with gas or van rental.
- ED 378 is an off-campus January Term in Hawaii managed by IOS; there are program fees, transportation, housing, and food costs related to this course.

Fee Assistance

If you would like to request financial assistance for the MTLE exams, Tk20 account purchase, or the edTPA, please use this form. Please note that students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the FAFSA of less than $15,000 will receive priority in funding.

Deadline: second Monday of each month (except for September and February, where it is the third Monday).

Piper Center Grant for Unpaid Internships

All student teachers can apply for the Piper Center Grant Award for Unpaid or Underpaid Internships through the Education Department. These limited funds cover transportation expenses including gas, flights to your student teaching site, bus/transit passes, or other transportation-related expenses.

You will receive an email from the Education Department about this fund (including directions for how to apply) within the first three weeks of beginning student teaching.

Students with high financial need can apply for funding for internship and career-enhancing experiences through the Johnson Family Opportunity Fund.

Berger Student Teaching Fund

The Berger Student Teaching Fund was established to support student teachers who are experiencing a financial hardship and are unable to cover expenses related to student teaching. Examples of such expenses might include, but are not limited to :

Basic living expenses for Post-Graduate Status Students/9th semester student teachers (rent, utilities)
Transportation (vehicle repairs/maintenance)
Professional clothing
Out-of-pocket teaching/classroom expenses
Licensure fees

All student teachers are eligible for these funds for the term in which they are student teaching; however students receiving need-based aid and/or demonstrating financial hardship will be given priority. The Berger Student Teaching Fund cannot be used to cover charges from St. Olaf (such as tuition). The amount awarded is determined by the extent of the need and subject to the availability of the funds.

Funds do not need to be repaid and are distributed on a case by case basis. Funds will be made available as soon as possible.

Please submit this form to be considered for funding. The Berger Student Teaching Fund committee will consult with campus partners, including the Financial Aid Office, to determine fund awards.

This fund is not associated with the financial aid application process. Financial aid applicants who have special circumstances that relate directly to the financial aid process should contact the Financial Aid Office.

Funding may create a taxable event that could require reporting to the IRS by the recipient.

Deadline: Rolling

Education Opportunity Fund

Limited endowed funds for student teachers placed in urban schools are awarded by the Education Department. Education faculty determine recipients and award amounts.

Minnesota Student Teacher Grants

The MN Student Teacher Grant is for applicants who are eligible for need-based aid and intend to work in an identified shortage area and/or belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce. Students apply for the grant through MN Office of Higher Education (OHE). OHE determines award amounts up to $7,500. It is awarded only for the term of student teaching.

Deadlines: For fall student teaching, the deadline is generally end of July. For spring student teaching, it is generally mid-November.

TEACH Grant

The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching. Students must complete a FAFSA and have a minimum 3.25 GPA. The maximum award is $3724 a year. It is for students who are completing or plan to complete coursework needed to begin a career in teaching.

As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach

in a high-need field;
at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families; and
for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant.

For more information on the TEACH grants, visit:
https://wp.stolaf.edu/financialaid/current-student-grants/

There are loan forgiveness programs in which your lender may participate. For more information: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/teacher or
https://wp.stolaf.edu/financialaid/tips-for-repaying-your-student-loans/

Loan Repayment/Forgiveness

The Minnesota Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program was established to provide student loan repayment assistance to teachers providing classroom instruction in a teacher shortage area in Minnesota. The purpose of the program is to encourage teachers to teach in Minnesota in designated shortage areas. Shortage areas include teacher licensure fields in high demand statewide, geographical regions within the state experiencing teacher shortages and teacher licensure fields in high demand within regions of the state.

For more information, visit this site: https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=2191

Financial Aid for Post-graduate Status Students

Post Graduate Status Students (PGSS) enrolled in student teaching are billed a reduced continuing education tuition rate to mitigate the financial impact of enrolling for an additional semester.

For 2020-21 it is $12,880 for 4 credits. This tuition charge is roughly half the cost of a standard semester.

Limited financial aid is available for students

Federal and State Grants

Pell Grants are need based federal grants that may be available. Eligibility is determined by completing the FAFSA.
Federal Teach Grant is a federal grant. Students must complete a FAFSA and have a minimum 3.25 GPA. The maximum award is $3724 a year. It is for students who are completing or plan to complete coursework needed to begin a career in teaching. Graduates must teach for a minimum of 4 years in either a high need field or at a school that serves a low-income population.
MN Grants are not available for Post Graduate Status Students.
MN Teacher Candidate Grant is for applicants who are eligible for need-based aid and intend to work in an identified shortage area and/or belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce. Students apply for the grant through MN Office of Higher Education (OHE). OHE determines award amounts up to $7,500. It is awarded only for the term of student teaching. Graduates must commit to teaching in MN for at least one year after completing student teaching.
- New Program started in 2017-18. St. Olaf had many recipients in 2017-18, none in 2018-2019, one in 2019-2020 and one in 2020-21. Unclear of what program will look like in future years.

St. Olaf College Grants

Students who received St. Olaf gift aid of at least $24,000 in need based aid their last year can potentially qualify for St. Olaf gift aid. Approximately 50% of students received some gift aid from St. Olaf College when enrolled as a PGSS.
Limited endowed funds for students placed in urban schools are awarded by the Education Department. Education faculty determine recipients and award amounts.
If you are completing student teaching in Chicago or abroad, there are limited IOS funds available to PGSS students.

Student Loans

Most students who complete a FAFSA will qualify for federal student loans. Approximately 40% borrow a student loan when enrolled as a PGSS.
Students with a credit worthy cosigner can borrow private loans.

Individual student situations vary, so meet with your financial aid counselor to discuss your situation: finaid@stolaf.edu