Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- ED-GRANT-26-024
- Agency
-
Department of Labor
- Applications due
- Award size
- $238,000 to $3,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Employment, Labor and Training
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Independent School Districts
- State Governments
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Other
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Points of contact
-
- Rachael Wiley rachael.wiley@ed.gov (202) 987-0396
- Sharon Easterling sharon.easterling@ed.gov (202) 453-7425
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of Labor, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, is soliciting applications for the Educational Opportunity Centers Program, which provides counseling and assistance services to low-income, first-generation, and priority adults seeking to enter or return to postsecondary education. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, public and private agencies or organizations, secondary schools, tribal governments, and combinations thereof. Key program requirements include serving a minimum of 850 participants annually with at least two-thirds being low-income, first-generation college students, maintaining a per-participant cost not exceeding $280, and collaborating with other Federal TRIO projects to minimize service duplication. Applicants will be evaluated on seven selection criteria totaling 100 points: Need for the project (24 points), Objectives (8 points), Plan of operation (30 points), Applicant and community support (16 points), Quality of personnel (9 points), Budget (5 points), and Evaluation plan (8 points). The application deadline is May 14, 2026, with an absolute priority requirement to expand access to distance education, pre-apprenticeships, Registered Apprenticeships, or industry-recognized postsecondary credentials.
Total estimated available funds for this competition are $52,611,659, supporting an estimated 55 awards with individual project grants ranging from $238,000 to $3,000,000 annually, depending on applicant type. State-level applicants designated by governors are eligible for awards up to $3,000,000, while other applicants are capped at $1,300,000. Projects will operate on a 60-month funding cycle with annual continuation awards subject to availability of funds and demonstrated progress toward objectives. No cost sharing or matching is required. Services must be delivered at locations physically accessible to the target population being served.
Synopsis
The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor), is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The purposes of the EOC Program are to: provide information regarding financial and academic assistance available for qualified individuals who want to enter or continue to pursue a program of postsecondary education; provide assistance to those individuals in applying for admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary education, and improve the financial and economic literacy of program participants.
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