Exhibit (h)(18)

AMENDMENT TO THE RETIREMENT SERVICE AGREEMENT
FOR THE TIAA-CREF FUNDS

          AMENDMENT, dated December 6, 2011, to the Retirement Service Agreement, dated February 1, 2006 (the “Agreement”), as amended, by and between TIAA-CREF Funds (the “Trust”) and Teachers Advisors, Inc. (“Advisors”).

          WHEREAS, the Trust has established five additional series, Lifestyle Income Fund, Lifestyle Conservative Fund, Lifestyle Moderate Fund, Lifestyle Growth Fund and Lifestyle Aggressive Growth Fund, that will offer Retirement Class shares (each, a “Fund”) and the Trust desires to retain Advisors to provide or to arrange for the provision of a variety of administrative and shareholder services to the Fund’s Retirement Class shares in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Trust and Advisors hereby agree to amend the Agreement as follows:

3. The following shall be added to Schedule A of the Agreement:

	Service Fee
Name of Fund	(as a percentage of the average daily value of the Fund’s net assets)
Lifestyle Income Fund
Retirement Class Shares	0.25%
Lifestyle Conservative Fund
Retirement Class Shares	0.25%
Lifestyle Moderate Fund
Retirement Class Shares	0.25%
Lifestyle Growth Fund
Retirement Class Shares	0.25%
Lifestyle Aggressive Growth Fund
Retirement Class Shares	0.25%

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust and Advisors have caused this Amendment to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers on the day and year first written above.

TIAA-CREF FUNDS

/s/ Phillip Goff

By: Phillip Goff

Title: Senior Vice President, Funds Treasurer

TEACHERS ADVISORS, INC.

/s/ Carol Deckbar

By: Carol Deckbar

Title: Senior Managing Director, COO, Asset Management