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Form 1098-T: Still Causing Trouble for Funded Graduate Students

February 28, 2019 by Emily

Form 1098-T is issued to many (though not all) graduate students and reflects some of their higher education income and expenses. Until this year, the 1098-T was rife with problems for funded graduate students, and in many cases caused more confusion than it clarified. The 1098-T underwent a makeover in 2018, which corrected the worst of these problems. However, the shift could cause funded PhD students to owe a larger-than-expected amount of tax in 2018.

Further reading: How to Prepare Your Grad Student Tax Return

What Is Form 1098-T?

Form 1098-T is a tax form generated by educational institutions to communicate the education-related expenses and income associated with an individual student. It reflects the transactions in the student’s account (e.g., Bursar’s account) from a given tax year. The form’s primary use is to document the amount of money a student (or the student’s parents) may be able to use toward an education tax benefit.

The 1098-T underwent a makeover for tax year 2018, and it has improved significantly. However, some of the issues with the prior version of the form are still causing problems in 2018. This article outlines those problems and their solutions.

What Does the 1098-T Communicate?

A few of the fields on the 1098-T are most relevant to funded PhD students.

Box 1 Payments Received

This box reflects the amount of money paid on your behalf or by you for tuition and related fees. For example, if your department pays for your tuition, the amount of the tuition will show up in Box 1.

Box 2 Amounts Billed

This box is no longer in use in 2018, but many (most?) universities used it until 2017. Box 2 also reflects tuition and related fees, but it is a sum of the charges billed in the tax year rather than the amounts paid. A bill could be issued in one tax year and not be paid until the subsequent tax year.

Box 5 Scholarships and Grants

This box reflects the scholarships, fellowships, and/or grants received by the student in the tax year. The money that paid your tuition and fees will show up in this box. The fellowship (or other non-compensatory income) that paid your stipend or salary may or may not be included in this box.

This box is checked if any bills or payments for a term beginning in January through March of the following tax year were included on the current year’s 1098-T. For example, if your university received payment in December for a term starting in January, this box will be checked.

This box is checked if you are a graduate student.

The remainder of this article reviews the problems with the 1098-T and how they can be ameliorated.

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Problem #1: Academic Year and Calendar Year Misalignment

Box 7 concerns the misalignment between the academic year and the calendar year.

Bills and Payments to Your Student Account

Ideally, the bills and payments for a given term will all show up on the 1098-T for the same calendar year in which the term falls.

Each fall term is like that: you may be billed or make a payment a month or two prior to the start of the term, e,g., in August for a term starting in September, but all the charges and scholarships and payments are done in the same calendar year.

However, for spring terms, you may be billed and perhaps make payments at the end of one calendar year for a term beginning in January to March of the next calendar year. In this case, the 1098-T for the earlier tax year is the one that reflects those expenses, and if a tax benefit is in order, it can be taken in the earlier year.

Historical Billing Practices for the 1098-T

In 2017 and prior, this caused a significant though largely unnoticed problem for funded graduate students (or anyone receiving scholarships): A university could post a bill for a spring term in December of the prior year, for example, and not post the scholarship that paid that bill until the start of the term in the later calendar year. That means that the earlier year would have an excess of expenses in Box 2, while the later year would have an excess of income. If not corrected, this could result in a tax deduction or credit in the earlier year and excess taxable income in the later year.

Imagine a typical fully funded graduate student at a university that had its accounting system set up this way and that used Box 2 on the 1098-T. (This was a common scenario.) In the student’s first calendar year, there would be two semesters of expenses billed but only one semester of scholarships posted. If the student used the numbers from the 1098-T without correction, he would be eligible for a tax break in that first year (or his parents would take it if he were a dependent). Each subsequent calendar year would have an equal number of terms of expenses and scholarships posted, which would probably result in small, not very noticeable discrepancies between the expenses and income. However, in the student’s final year, the system would catch up, and there would be scholarships posted with no corresponding expenses, resulting in excess income and excess tax due. In some cases, the extra tax due could exceed the value of the tax break taken in the earlier year. (Not to mention that if the student were a dependent in that first year his parents would have received the tax break, whereas he has to pay the extra tax himself in the last year.)

The correction that should have been performed throughout these years when a scholarship and the expense the scholarship paid showed up on different years’ 1098-Ts is to match up in the same calendar year the expense billed with the scholarship that paid the expense. Typically, that would mean not using an available tax benefit in an earlier year and preferring to use it in the later year that the income came in. When the expense and the scholarship that pays the expense are used in the same calendar year, the scholarship can be made tax-free using the expense if it is qualified. Specifically, you would report the relevant qualified education expenses in the later year rather than the earlier, meaning that the 1098-T in both years would be inaccurate / need adjustment.

What Changed in 2018?

Starting in 2018, Box 2 has been eliminated. This means that all universities now have to report payments received for tuition and related fees in Box 1. If the university switched its reporting system between 2017 and 2018, Box 3 is checked.

This is a much better system going forward for funded graduate students. It means that when a scholarship is posted to the student account to pay for tuition and related fees, that amount will show up in Box 5 and Box 1 in the same year, since they are the same action. It doesn’t matter if that happens in the same calendar year as the term or an earlier calendar year, because they will always be reported together.

However, this change causes two potential problems in 2018 for students at universities that made this switch.

1) If a charge was billed at the end of 2017 for a term stating in the first three months of 2018 and the bill was paid in 2018, the same expense will show up on both the 2017 and 2018 1098-Ts, first in Box 2 and then in Box 1.

Therefore, anyone receiving a 1098-T with Box 3 checked must determine whether one or more of the expenses summed in Box 1 was already used to take an education tax benefit in 2017. If that is the case, the expense cannot be used again in 2018.

2) This change in accounting systems also may force the unbalancing issue I described earlier for students finishing grad school. 2018 could be the year that there is excess income with no expenses available to offset it (after correction). If this happens, the student can either choose to pay the extra tax in 2018 or file amended returns going into the start of grad school when this problem originated (up to 3 years) to match up all the prior scholarships and expenses properly. This would still result in extra tax paid now, though it may be less than if the problem remained unamended.

The good news is that after catching up in 2018 if necessary, starting in 2019 the 1098-T will be much more straightforward.

Problem #2: Qualified Education Expenses Are Incomplete

The tuition and related fees reported on the 1098-T are not quite synonymous with the “qualified education expenses” you use to take an education tax benefit. In fact, there are different definitions of qualified education expenses depending on which benefit you use. Most likely, the amount listed in Box 1 is the amount of qualified education expenses the student has under the most restrictive definition for the Lifetime Learning Credit or the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

The definition of qualified education expenses for the purpose of making scholarship and fellowship income tax-free is more expansive. It includes certain required fees and expenses that were excluded from the definition of QEEs for the other education tax benefits, such as student health fees and required textbooks purchased from a retailer other than the university.

To find these additional qualified education expenses, check your student account, bank account, and saved receipts. Then, net them against your excess scholarship and fellowship income to make the income tax-free.

Problem #3: Not All Students Receive One

When Box 5 of the 1098-T exceeds Box 1 for a given student, the university does not have to generate a 1098-T. Some universities, as a courtesy, generate 1098-Ts for all students regardless of the Box 5 vs. Box 1 balance. This inconsistency generates confusion among graduate students and leads to the information in the student account being ignored.

It is clear that the 1098-T was not designed with funded graduate students in mind. Ideally, the 1098-T would be completely redesigned or a new form would be created to assist graduate students in preparing their tax returns. Until that happens, the 1098-T is not an independently useful document as it must be considered alongside the transactions inside and outside of the student account. The makeover to eliminate Box 2 was an improvement; at least starting in 2018, the 1098-T is no longer grossly misleading.

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Reader Interactions

July 2, 2020 at 7:31 pm

If a grad student did not received a 1098-T because their box 5 was larger than their box 1, would they have to show anything on their tax return? My client has given me her regular school expenses and the graduate stipend received but it seems awfully large for an amount to be owed for a grad student, as I didn’t have any tuition information from box 1 to let me know total tuition expenses… Any thoughts on the issue? Thanks!

[…] Further reading: Form 1098-T: Still Causing Trouble for Funded Graduate Students […]

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Guide to Tax Form 1098-T: Tuition Statement

Eligible colleges or other post-secondary institutions send Form 1098-T to students who paid "qualified educational expenses" in the preceding tax year. Qualified expenses include tuition, any fees that are required for enrollment, and course materials required for a student to be enrolled at or attend an eligible educational institution.

What is the 1098-T form?

Who gets the 1098-t form, reporting qualified expenses, adjustments and scholarships, other information, tuition insurance reimbursements.

Key Takeaways

• Eligible post-secondary institutions must send Form 1098-T to tuition-paying students by January 31 and file a copy with the IRS by February 28.
• Schools use Box 1 of the form to report the payments received.
• Box 5 shows the amount of scholarships and grants that were paid directly to the school for the student's expenses, which may reduce the amount of a student’s qualified expenses.
• A check mark in Box 8 indicates that the student is enrolled at least half-time, while a check mark in Box 9 indicates that the student is enrolled in a graduate program.

Tuition-paying students at eligible colleges or other post-secondary institutions should receive a copy of Internal Revenue Service Form 1098-T from their school each year.  Eligible institutions include most colleges, universities, and vocational schools that are eligible to participate in the Department of Education’s student aid programs. This form provides information about educational expenses that may qualify the student—or the student's parents or guardian, if the student is a dependent—for education-related tax credits .

Schools are required to send Form 1098-T to any student who paid "qualified educational expenses" in the preceding tax year. Qualified expenses include:

• fees that are required for enrollment
• course materials required for a student to be enrolled

If someone else pays such expenses on behalf of the student (like a parent), the student still gets "credit" for them and receives the 1098-T. Schools are required to send the form to the student by January 31 and file a copy with the IRS by February 28.

Education expense reporting and the Form 1098-T have been updated over the years 2017, 2018, and 2019.

2017 updates

In 2017, schools could report a student's qualified expenses one of two ways: based on how much the student actually paid during the year, or based on how much the school billed the student during the year.

• If the school reports the amount paid, it puts that figure in Box 1 of the form. If it reports the amount billed, it does so in Box 2.
• A school generally has to use the same reporting method every year. If it changes its method—which requires IRS approval—it puts a check mark in Box 3. This box is here primarily for the IRS's information, not the student's.

2018 updates

In 2018, the form was changed to reflect only amounts actually paid for qualified tuition and related expenses.

• Schools use Box 1 to report the payments received.
• Box 2 is no longer used.
• Box 3 still provided a check box to indicate a change in the method of reporting from the amount billed to the amount paid method.

2019 and beyond updates

After 2018 with only one method available for the current and prior years, the check box for changing methods is no longer needed, so Box 3 is no longer used.

TurboTax Tip: Form 1098-T provides information about educational expenses that may qualify the student—or the student's parents or guardian, if the student is still a dependent—for education-related tax credits.

Box 4 of the form shows any adjustments the school has made to qualified expenses reported on a previous year's 1098-T. If it turns out a previous year's expenses were lower than initially reported, the student may be responsible for additional tax for that year.

Box 5 shows the amount of scholarships and grants that were paid directly to the school for the student's expenses. Scholarships and grants may reduce the amount of qualified expenses the student can use when calculating a credit.

Box 6 shows any adjustments the school has made to scholarships and grants reported on a previous year's 1098-T. These adjustments may affect the student's tax liability for the previous year, so the student may have to file an amended return.

Schools check Box 7 if the amount in Box 1 or 2 includes expenses for an academic term that begins in the first three months of the year following the year covered by the 1098-T.

A check mark in Box 8 indicates that the student is enrolled at least half-time.

A check mark in Box 9 indicates that the student is enrolled in a graduate program.

Box 10 of the form comes into play only in cases in which students have had expenses reimbursed under a "tuition insurance" policy. Such policies reimburse students when they are forced to withdraw from school—for medical reasons or family emergencies, for example—after paying nonrefundable tuition.

• When an insurer reimburses a student's expenses, it provides that student with a copy of the 1098-T.
• Box 10 is used to show the amount reimbursed.
• The amount of expenses used to calculate credits generally are reduced by any reimbursement reported here.

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/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="relay graduate school of education 1098 t"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Understanding the 1098-t form.

Students receive a form 1098-T that is generated by the university in order to claim certain educational credits. While Cornell staff are not legally able to provide tax advice because each student’s circumstances will be different, we can explain what you can expect to see in the boxes and what that information might mean. Only a trained, certified tax advisor can provide appropriate individual guidance for you. It’s important to remember that the 1098-T is an information form only and does not directly define taxable income or eligibility for a credit. Students may need to provide copies of their bursar bill to their tax preparer to confirm the dates that stipends were refunded.

Box 1 displays the total tuition costs and required fees that were paid during the tax year. Some students who self-pay these expenses may be able to claim a tax credit such as the American Opportunity Credit, the Hope Credit, or the Lifetime Learning Credit, based on this amount. Student Health Plan costs are not included in box 2.

Box 5  displays the total of all scholarship and fellowship awards.

Students who receive scholarship or fellowship will see the sum of their eligible awards reported in box 5 on the 1098-T.  Fellowship and scholarship support is generally tax-free when applied specifically to the cost of tuition, required fees, books, and some required course supplies or equipment. Health insurance is not typically considered to be a “required fee” because at Cornell, like most universities, students must have insurance but not all students are required to buy the policy if they have another acceptable plan.  

Perhaps you’ve seen online discussions suggesting that even experts don’t always agree on this. If you are working with a tax advisor you can refer her or him to University Policy 1.3 on graduate assistantships. It describes how Cornell assistantships both require and provide coverage in the Student Health Plan, as a condition of the appointment, but not specifically as a condition of being a Ph.D. student. 

Additional information:

• Information on the 1098-T form at Cornell University
• About Form 1098-T  from the IRS
• Educational tax credits  info from the IRS
• IRS guidance on choosing a tax advisor or preparer

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University student financial services, how do i view my 1098-t online.

To access your 1098-T (2015-present) electronically, you must log in with your Harvard credentials at  my.harvard.edu . After logging in, navigate to the 'Student Accounts' tab in the left-menu and then select the link under 'Paperless 1098-T'. A walkthrough is available here .

Please note that you must disable your pop-up blocker to view your form. If you do not opt-in to view your form electronically, a paper copy will be mailed to your permanent...

How do I view my 1098-T for years prior to 2015?

To obtain copies of your 1098-T from years prior to 2015, please contact the Student Accounts Office at [email protected].

When will I get my 1098-T?

Forms are made available at my.harvard.edu in January. Students will be notified by email as soon as they are available.

Am I eligible for a 1098-T?

Not all students are eligible to receive a 1098-T. Forms will not be issued under the following circumstances:

• The amount paid for qualified tuition and related expenses* in the calendar year is less than or equal to the total scholarships disbursed that year.
• Qualified tuition and related expenses in the calendar year were paid in full by a third-party organization.

What is a 1098-T?

The 1098-T is a record of the financial information reported by Harvard to the IRS on a student's behalf. The information on form 1098T can be used to help you determine if you are eligible for education tax credits when filing a U.S. tax return*.  The information includes the total amount paid for qualified tuition and related expenses in a calendar year (Box 1) and the total amount of scholarships or grants disbursed in the calendar year (Box 5). ...

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1098-T Form Policy

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The University of Pennsylvania provides the 1098-T form each year to students who have paid qualified tuition and related expenses (QTRE). The 1098-T form can assist you with filing for federal education tax credits. You can find detailed information about claiming education tax credits and eligibility criteria in IRS Publication 970, page 9.

Beginning in 2018, the University is required to report in Box 1 of form 1098-T the amount of QTRE you paid during the year. Total payments reported in Box 1 cannot exceed the amount of QTRE. The amount reported in Box 1 is not reduced by scholarships and grants reported in Box 5.

We partner with our vendor, Heartland ECSI, to deliver your 1098-T form electronically within Penn.Pay .

Keep in mind that the 1098-T is an informational form and your student account statement is the most important information you can use to support a claim for a federal tax credit or deduction. Students and Authorized Users can generate their own account activity report in Penn.Pay. For tax purposes, print your payment history activity from January 1 to December 31.

The University of Pennsylvania is required to provide a 1098-T form to any student that was enrolled and had qualified tuition and related expenses during the previous calendar year.

Here are the most common reasons why a 1098-T form may not be generated or received:

• If you received scholarships and/or grants greater than the value of tuition and fees or if tuition and fees were entirely waived.
• If you are classified as a Non Resident Alien on the University of Pennsylvania student record database.
• If you didn’t provide us with your Social Security Number (SSN). If you provide your SSN to the Registrar's Office or send in a W-9S Form we can send a 1098-T form to you.

Qualified Tuition & Related Expenses

• General fee
• Technology fee
• Program fees
• Online Course fees

Unqualified expenses

• Bookstore purchases
• Student Health Insurance
• Health Care Assessment fees
• Telephone Service fees

Amounts reported as payments include personal payments, loans, and scholarships/grants received during the calendar year for QTRE less any refunds issued due to over-payments on the account. Total payments reported in Box 1 cannot exceed the amount of applicable QTRE.

If you are classified as a Non-Resident Alien as defined by the IRS and are coded as such in the University of Pennsylvania student records system, you will not be sent a 1098-T form. Please contact the IRS or a personal tax preparer for assistance.

Students who have graduated may obtain copies of their 1098-T forms online from our vendor, Heartland ECSI, at https://heartland.ecsi.net/. You may access 1098-T forms from prior years as well.

Some students may have incorrect SSN or taxpayer identification information on file if they either did not know or did not have accurate taxpayer identification information at the time they applied to the University. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for assistance. You will be asked to produce a copy of your social security card as verification or fill out a W-9S form with corrected information.

Send an email to Student Accounts at [email protected] .

Type a word or phrase into the search box to find the answers you need.

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For Future Students

If you're interested in enrolling at Relay, this page will help you get started!

Welcome to Relay Graduate School of Education!

Founded in 2011, Relay is an accredited institution of higher education that seeks to ensure all students are taught by outstanding educators. Our goal is to create a relay of teachers and leaders racing towards the improvement of educational outcomes for all students. Our vision is to build a more just world where every student has access to outstanding educators and a clear path to a fulfilling life. ‍

This page will walk you through the process of learning about, applying to, and getting prepared for Relay. We also encourage you to explore the rest of the relay.edu website (especially the Student Stories section!) to get a feel for how Relay can help you.

The Journey

• Find the right program for you
• Check out programs, certification/ licensure info, and eligibility in your state
• Understand tuition and financial aid
• Consider your schedule
• Apply to the Relay program of your choice
• Secure a program aligned teaching position (if needed)
• Accept your offer
• Enroll in Relay courses and prepare for your Relay experience

Need help? We are here for you every step of the way. You can reach out to the Prospective Student Advising Team anytime by doing any of the following:

• Complete our interest form: This form helps us get to know you and a Prospective Student Advisor will reach out soon to address your specific needs!
• Attend office hours: Drop in to office hours with any questions
• Email us : Email [email protected] for quick questions
• Review detailed articles: In the Relay Support Center

Step 1: Find the right program for you

Relay offers programs for teachers at various points in their careers - from people who have never taught before, to those who have taught for many years. Which sounds like you?

Aspiring Teachers

• You are interested in becoming a teacher and haven’t yet accepted a teaching role (including Teach for America corps members). OR
• You are already working in schools in a role that is not a full-time teaching role, but does have instructional responsibilities (For example, a paraprofessional, a co-teacher, a specialist, etc), or you have accepted such a position.

Current Teachers

• Currently a full-time teacher in a classroom (i.e. a “teacher of record”), or have accepted such a position.

In either case, you can apply to Relay as early as you would like and be admitted. But you must secure a program-aligned instructional position before certain deadlines. Learn more about this in Step 7 .

Note: If you are not a teacher but rather an instructional leader at the school or central office level, you’re looking for Relay Professional Education. Find out more here.

Relay's Teacher Programs

Since 2011, 14,000 teachers have graduated from Relay’s teacher programs. Across our institution, you can expect the same foundational experience:

• A diverse community of educators — Relay serves educators at every point in their careers and is committed to recruiting and retaining educators of color to meet the tremendous need across this country.
• Evidence-based, practical curriculum — Our approach is based in current research and field experience. We emphasize continuous improvement through observation, feedback, and practice, practice, practice.
• Equity-focused, relevant and responsive pedagogy — We include equity, inclusivity, and cultural responsiveness in all of our coursework, as we firmly believe it is a fundamental part of all teaching and leading.
• Experienced and supportive faculty and advisors — All Relay faculty and student advisors were selected because they have been highly effective PK-12 educators who can impart actionable, real-world strategies. Dedicated student advisors support students through every aspect of their experience with a culturally responsive approach focused on meeting the needs of each individual. ‍
• A flexible and accessible education —We focus on keeping costs affordable for educators and school partners. As such, all courses are available live online - using best practices for virtual learning, community building, and engagement - and we do not require our students to purchase any textbooks. This allows our students to fit their professional learning around their schedules and into their careers.

Our Community

Read Student and Alumni Stories and check out our blog to get a feel for what it’s like to be a Relay student!

‍ Quick Facts About Becoming a Teacher

In the table below, you’ll review the different programs that Relay offers. Before we get there, we want to make sure everyone understands a few key terms:

• Certification/ licensure: In order to be a teacher, you need to earn state certification or licensure (They are the same thing; different states use different terms). You earn certification/ licensure by completing required coursework and/ or degrees at an approved educator preparation program, passing exams, and fulfilling other criteria (e.g. submitting vaccination records). Many states will allow you to teach for a period of time as you work to earn certification/ licensure. Therefore, you can enroll in some Relay programs before you have this credential. Relay does not confer state certification/ licensure, but we provide you ample support to meet this requirement through coursework and other resources. (See Step 2 for more).
• Graduate degree: Relay is accredited to offer Master of Arts in Teaching degrees in many states. ( See Step 2 below for the full list) In some locations, earning a master’s degree can boost your salary.
• Graduate certificate: In our graduate certificate program, you will earn graduate-level credits and will be prepared for state certification or licensure in Special Education, but you do not earn a master’s degree. ‍
• Residency: A teaching residency is an “on-ramp” to a teaching career. Residents work in schools under the guidance of a mentor teacher, gradually taking on more instructional responsibilities and earning a salary, while also completing Relay coursework. The following year, they will be prepared for a full time role. ‍

We offer different programs to meet the varied needs of teachers. Which one(s) would you like to explore?

Who is it for?

Master of Arts in Teaching - Residency

• A gradual on-ramp into teaching. In Year 1, learn under a mentor. By Year 2, you will be a full time teacher.
• Develop your teaching skills to improve student outcomes.
• Receive regular, personalized feedback on your instruction.
• Earn a master’s degree, which provides in-depth training on core teaching skills and the potential for a salary boost. ‍ Learn more→
• A gradual on-ramp into teaching. In Year 1, learn under a mentor. This prepares you to become a full time teacher, though in most cases no longer taking Relay courses.
• Earn credits which can be applied to a master’s degree at Relay, if you decide to move to that program for a 2nd year. Learn more→

Teacher certification/ licensure

Teaching Certification Programs -  Residency

Master of Arts in Teaching - Non-Residency

• Develop your teaching skills to improve student outcomes, while serving as a full time teacher
• Receive regular, personalized feedback on your instruction
• Earn a master’s degree, which provides in-depth training on core teaching skills, and the potential for a salary boost
• Appropriate for first year teachers and those with a few years of experience who want to up-level their skills ‍ Learn more→

Graduate degree Teacher certification/ licensure

Teaching Certification Programs - Alternative Certification / Non Residency

• Receive regular, personalized feedback on your classroom instruction
• Earn credits which can be applied to a master’s degree at Relay, if you decide to move to that program for a 2nd year.
• Appropriate for the first year teachers ‍ Learn more→
• Develop your teaching skills to improve student outcomes for neurodivergent or exceptional learners
• Earn qualifications to pursue the range of roles available to certified special educators
• Appropriate for novice or experienced educators who want to develop specialized skills ‍ Learn more→

Graduate-level certificate Teacher certification/ licensure

Advanced Certificate in Special Education

Typical duration

What can you earn?

Step 2: Check out programs, certifications, licensure info, and eligibility in your state

Relay offers a wide variety of programs to aspiring and current teachers all over the country. However, our programs differ based on the certification/ licensure requirements in each state. Below, you’ll find important links for each state. Please read each one carefully to find out the information that’s right for you!

• Institution of higher education vs educator preparation program: Relay Graduate School of Education is both an institution of higher education that can grant degrees like the Master of Arts in Teaching, and an educator preparation program that prepares you for teacher certification/ licensure. If you plan to pursue certification/ licensure, you may be admitted to both the institution of higher education and an educator preparation program, or just an educator preparation program, depending on what path you choose.
• Endorsement Area vs Content Area: On each state page, you’ll see the term “endorsement area.” This refers to the subject and/ or grade level for which you are pursuing certification or licensure. You may also see the term “content area.” This refers to the subject and/ or grade level that you specialize in at Relay. Usually, your content area and endorsement area are the same, but may be different if pursuing certification/ licensure in Special Education.
• Exam preparation resources
• Virtual or in-person support from faculty and staff
• Certification Officers for every state, who know all the details of the process

Once you submit your application, you’ll receive personalized guidance on what’s required for you. In the meantime, learn more about certification/ endorsement this guide and this checklist

• ~ Programs Overview
• ~ Licensure Info
• ~ Eligibility Requirements
• ~ Required Deadlines

Connecticut

• ~ Certification Info

Pennsylvania

What if I don’t see the program I want offered in my state? What if I live in another state?

Please feel free to reach out to the Prospective Student Advisor team anytime to discuss your situation. Fill out this interest form or email us at [email protected].

Step 3: Understand tuition and financial aid

Paying for grad school is tough - we get it! As a nonprofit, we believe that finances should not be a barrier to becoming a teacher or to accessing high quality professional development.

Just like with college, you’ll see your baseline tuition cost, which can be greatly reduced by several forms of financial aid. There are almost 600 teacher preparation programs in the country; Relay is one of the most affordable, high quality and accessible options available. We are proud of that and will continue to prioritize our commitment to quality, affordability and accessibility. 

Learn more about tuition and financial aid

Contact Student Financial Services with specific questions

Step 4: Check deadlines and consider your schedule

Most Relay students follow this pattern:

• Spring: Apply
• Summer: Start Relay classes
• School year: Continue Relay classes (while working in schools)

However, specific dates vary based on your program, preference, and your circumstances. Go back and check Step 2 for the admissions deadlines in your states!  

If you are doing summer classes, you will also want to consider which summer session you want to attend. If you are attending Summer Session 1-4, you will need to apply earlier than the final deadline for all applications . Some sessions are also not offered in certain states or programs. See the table below for an overview of summer session dates and visit this page for early deadlines and more details .

Summer Start Session 1

Thursday, June 20th through Friday, July 12th, 2024

Daytime (Weekdays)

Summer Start Session 2

Summer Start Session 3

Monday, June 24th through Friday, July 12th, 2024

Evenings and Saturdays

Monday, July 15th through Friday, August 2nd, 2024

Summer Start Session 4

Tuesday, July 16th through Friday, August 2nd, 2024

Summer Start Session 5

Saturday, August 3rd through Friday, August 30th, 2024

Daytime (Weekdays) (Except the 1st class)

Summer Start Session 6

Fall Start Session 7

Tuesday, September 3rd - December 2024

Mostly evening classes, however schedules will vary based on the program.

Step 5: Apply to the Relay program of your choice

You’re ready to apply! All applications to Relay's programs include the following action items:

1. Check your eligibility and certification requirements and deadlines. Find these under step 2.

2. Submit Transcripts. Submit official transcripts showing a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum Undergraduate GPA of 2.5. Please note some states may require a higher GPA for certification/licensure. Learn more about GPA requirements here

3. Complete Application Materials.

• ~ Basic personal information (name, email, phone, etc.)
• ~ An updated resume
• ~ A short essay
• ~ Email address of a recommender who can attest to your work ethic

4. Complete Enrollment Requirements. After you submit your application, you will receive a link to an admissions portal website. Log in to follow up with all items on your admissions checklist , personalized to your state and program.

For detailed support in completing your application, visit this site .

Step 6: Secure a position in a school, if not already completed

While waiting for your admissions decision, you should make every effort to secure a program-aligned instructional role. A program-aligned instructional role is a role within a school, teaching or supporting PK–12 students. Instructional role requirements differ depending on the Relay program. Learn more here .

Step 7: Accept your offer

We look forward to welcoming you at Relay! If accepted, review your admissions decision and accept or decline admissions by signing your Enrollment Agreement which will be emailed to your email address on file.

Step 8: Take final steps to prepare for your Relay experience

• Check your new (@relay.edu) email address. Information regarding this email will be sent to your personal email. After you accept your admissions to Relay, we will only contact you through your official Relay email address and will discontinue using your personal email address.
• Read your Relay Welcome Email and subsequent emails about certification/licensure.
• Complete and submit any remaining admissions and enrollment requirements listed on the Admissions Portal. Log in to the Admissions Portal here .
• If you need to change any information in your student record , please access the Student Record Update Form, located on the “Status Page” within the Admissions Portal. 
• Meet with your student advisor - they will reach to you via your Relay email by mid-summer.

Wherever your journey takes you, we are so thrilled that you want to become a teacher or deepen your skills. As we like to say at Relay: “Teaching is an expression of love.” We can’t wait to hear about the amazing things you and your K12 students will do!

About Serving

• What is a Service Year?
• Types of Service Years
• How it Works

About Hosting

• Why Host a Service Year?
• Why Host with Service Year Alliance?

Opportunities

Corps Members & Alums

Host Organizations

Corps Members

Network Organizations

Relay Graduate School of Education

Contact Information

6700 Bellaire Road Houston, TX 77074

(832) 598-1381

Focus Areas

• Education & Youth

• Year Founded 2011
• Legal Form 501c3

Relay’s mission is to teach teachers and school leaders to develop in all students the academic skills and strength of character needed to succeed in college and life. Our vision is to become the place where a new generation of continuously-improving, results-focused individuals can fulfill their destiny in the world’s greatest profession.

• About Us Whether you're an aspiring teacher or already have years of experience in schools, Relay offers a program for you. Our graduate-level offerings include residencies, fellowships, master’s degrees and certification programs. For New Teachers: The Relay Teaching Residency, an AmeriCorps program, offers the experience of a gradual on-ramp to teaching through a two-year Master of Arts in Teaching degree program coupled with full-time service as a teacher in residence in year 1, and teacher of one's own classroom in year 2. For Current Teachers: Regular MAT and Alternative Certification: Relay's master’s, alternative certification and special education programs help new and experienced teachers reach professional mastery in techniques that transform urban classrooms. We offer a Master of Arts in Teaching at most of our campuses, with a two-year curriculum that promotes extraordinary student growth and achievement. For Experienced Principals: At the National Principals Academy, the nation's most promising school leaders push their instructional leadership to new heights. During a one-year fellowship, district and charter principals continue their full-time work in urban public schools while they train with Relay's world-class leadership faculty and a cohort of diverse, high-performing peers.
• Our Impact Relay's programs help promising teachers become good and good teachers become great, while providing excellent education to the next generation of schoolchildren. Relay currently teaches over 1,400 graduate students at eight campuses nationwide, and is growing rapidly year after year. This is how we change education — with a few great educators creating an endless relay of them.

AmeriCorps Member Resident Teacher AmeriCorps Member Resident Teacher

Members enroll in Relay Graduate School of Education's Master of Arts in Teaching degree program concurrently with two years of service in schools. In Year 1, they serve as teachers in residence, working full-time in classrooms alongside a master ...

Members enroll in Relay Graduate School of Education's Master of Arts in Teaching degree program concurrently with two years of service in ...

Not Actively Recruiting

Focus Education & Youth

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Preparatory course (pre-university programme).

• Duration of study: March 2024 – July 2025.
• Holidays: July – August 2024.
• Start date: 1 March – 30 March 2024.
• Exams: June 2025.
• Tuition: $8900.
• The level of Russian: Beginner.
• Duration of study: September/October 2024 – July 2025.
• Start date: September – October.
• Tuition: $7000.
• The level of Russian: All levels.

• 1 BUSINESS SCHOOL
• 2 FACULTY OF BIOENGINEERING AND BIOINFORMATICS
• 3 FACULTY OF BIOLOGY
• 4 FACULTY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
• 5 FACULTY OF CHEMISTRY
• 6 FACULTY OF COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND CYBERNETICS
• 7 FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES
• 8 FACULTY OF ECONOMICS
• 9 FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
• 10 FACULTY OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS
• 11 FACULTY OF FUNDAMENTAL MEDICINE
• 12 FACULTY OF FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL ENGENEERING
• 13 FACULTY OF GEOLOGY
• 14 FACULTY OF GEOGRAPHY
• 15 FACULTY OF HISTORY
• 16 FACULTY OF JOURNALISM
• 17 FACULTY OF LAW
• 18 FACULTY OF MATERIALS SCIENCE
• 19 FACULTY OF MECHANICS AND MATHEMATICS
• 20 FACULTY OF PHYSICS
• 21 FACULTY OF PHILOLOGY
• 22 FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY
• 23 FACULTY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• 24 FACULTY OF SOCIOLOGY
• 25 FACULTY OF WORLD POLITICS
• 26 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INNOVATIVE BUSINESS
• 27 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATION
• 28 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINIASTRATION
• 29 HIGHER SCHOOL OF MODERN SOCIAL SCIENCES
• 30 HIGHER SCHOOL OF POLICY IN CULTURE AND ADMINISTRATION IN HUMANITIES
• 31 HIGHER SCHOOL OF STATE AUDIT
• 32 HIGHER SCHOOL OF TRANSLATION/INTERPRETING
• 33 HIGHER SCHOOL OF TELEVISION STUDIES
• 34 INSTITUTE OF ASIAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES
• 35 MOSCOW SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
• 36 SOIL SCIENCE FACULTY
• Admission procedure