Segal Education Award

The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is a post-service benefit received by participants that complete a term of national service in an approved AmeriCorps program. The award is named after Eli Segal, one of the pioneers of the national service movement and the first CEO of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

An AmeriCorps member serving in a full-time term of national service program is required to complete their service within 12 months (for City Year, a full service term is about 10 ½ months). Upon successful completion of the service, members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $6,000+

Qualifying Educational Expenses

You can use your education award to repay qualified student loans and to pay certain educational expenses costs at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs. You may use your education award to repay qualified student loans, to pay for current education expenses at eligible schools, or for both purposes.

You can access the entire award or part of it until the total amount has been used or the award expires. You must use your award within 7 years of completing your term of service.

1. Repay Qualified Student Loans

The national service legislation defines qualified student loan as a loan backed by the federal government under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (except PLUS Loans to parents of students) or under Titles VII or VIII of the Public Health Service Act. You may also use your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to repay a student loan made to you by a state agency, including state institutions of higher education. You can use your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to repay defaulted student loans as long as the loans meet the definition of qualified student loan. .

Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards cannot be used to repay any other type of loan (such as private loans), even if the loan was obtained for educational purposes.

2. Pay Current Educational Expenses at Eligible Schools

Eligible schools are higher educational institutions that currently participate in the Department of Education’s Title IV student aid programs (referred to as Title IV schools). This category includes most post-secondary colleges, universities, and technical schools.

The education award can also be used for programs of education, apprenticeship, or on the job training that have been approved for educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. For the purpose of the education award, these are referred to as G.I. Bill approved programs.