American University will increase tuition by at least 3% for all AU students beginning Fall 2023. To alleviate this burden for Residents, City Teaching Alliance will subsidize the tuition to maintain it at $45,000. You’ll see a “sponsored payment” line on your student account, reflecting the portion of your tuition covered by City Teaching Alliance, ensuring you won’t bear the expense of the tuition increase.

Among the opportunities available, you can take advantage of the TEACH Grant and the AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, pending renewal in 2025. The TEACH Grant provides up to $3,772 annually towards your graduate school tuition, totaling over $7,500.

As a City Teaching Alliance-endorsed AmeriCorps participant, you may qualify for two Segal awards, each up to $7,395 per year, totaling over $14,000 over two years, which you can apply towards your student loan repayment.

You should submit the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Be sure to list the AU FAFSA code 001434 in the college release section. If you’re eligible for federal student aid, packages will likely consist of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. You can also apply separately for additional Graduate Plus Loans, as well as the TEACH Grant.

Please note that you must complete the FAFSA each academic year to remain eligible for federal student aid. You must also maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, complete two-thirds of all cumulative attempted credits in their master’s program, and finish the program within the maximum timeframe as defined in AU’s Academic Regulations.

While City Teaching Alliance and AU welcome DACA recipients to this program, DACA recipients are ineligible to receive federal student aid at this time.

You can apply for transitional assistance if you anticipate needing financial support to transition to City Teaching Alliance. Determinations are formula-based, considering factors like relocation distance and city cost of living. Eligibility is based on these calculations, with award amounts ranging from $100 to $2000 for eligible applicants.

There are currently several federal tax deductions and credits available to you as an educator. While City Teaching Alliance does not provide tax advice, we encourage you to reach out to your tax agency/provider when filing to inquire about the following credits and deductions:

• Tuition and Fees Federal Deduction: You may be eligible for a $4,000 deduction in the first year of the program. More information can be found here.*
• Lifetime Learning Federal Income Tax Credit: In your first year of the program, you may qualify for a $2,000 tax credit on qualified tuition and related expenses. More information can be found here.*
• Educator Expense Federal Deduction: Fellows and alumni continuing their careers as classroom educators may be eligible for a $250 tax deduction for classroom expenses—including books, supplies, computer and classroom equipment, and professional development courses.

*Please note that the Tuition and Fees Deduction and Lifetime Learning Federal Income Tax Credit may not be claimed during the same tax year. We recommend seeking tax advice to ensure you receive the maximum tax benefits.

In year one, as a City Teaching Alliance resident, you’ll receive a stipend ranging from $30,000 to $44,301 (varies by region). In years 2-4 (Fellow, Senior Fellow, Alum), you’ll earn a full-time salary and benefits as a teacher with one of our school partners, typically starting at a minimum of $50,000. We collaborate with school districts and charter management organizations offering some of the nation’s highest teacher pay, including performance-based rewards. This means that as an effective teacher, you can advance up the salary ladder even more rapidly.

The current cost of American University’s Masters program is $49,173. This cost includes all four years of our program, including the substantial amount of coaching, training, and support we provide. For any tuition-related inquiries, please contact AU’s Graduate Program Coordinator for City Teaching Alliance. Residents from Baltimore, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC can reach out to Almosa Pirela at [email protected]. Please note that tuition costs are determined by American University and may change over time.

City Teaching Alliance does not provide housing. However, we have housing partnerships across our four regions to support our teachers in finding accessible and affordable housing.