Higher Education Challenge Grants Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-NIFA-CGP-011315
- Agency
-
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- $150,000 to $750,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Agriculture
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting applications for the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program under Assistance Listing 10.217, with applications due October 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. No cost share or matching is required.
Eligible applicants are land-grant institutions and other colleges and universities with demonstrable capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences and confer graduate degrees in at least one discipline; accreditation by an agency recognized by the Secretary of Education is required. Research foundations maintained by eligible institutions may apply. Subcontracting to ineligible organizations is permitted where necessary for project conduct. Individuals may not apply to support their own graduate education.
NIFA will award approximately $5,700,000 across three grant types: Standard Grants up to $150,000 for single institutions, Collaborative Grant Type 1 up to $300,000 for partnerships with at least one additional institution, and Collaborative Grant Type 2 up to $750,000 for multi-partner initiatives addressing major state or regional challenges. Anticipated awards total 18; grant duration is 36 to 48 months across all types.
Projects must focus on curriculum development, faculty preparation and enhancement, or facilitating interaction with other academic institutions, targeting advanced baccalaureate, graduate, or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine level education with emphasis on leadership development. Priority aligns with USDA Secretary's Memorandum 1078-020 priorities: farmer profitability, market expansion, agricultural integrity protection from invasive species, soil health, and precision nutrition.
Evaluation uses five equally-weighted criteria: educational quality and problem significance, proposed approach and cooperative linkages, institutional capability and capacity building, key personnel qualifications, and budget cost-effectiveness. Applications require project narrative (20 pages maximum), summary (250 words), budget justification, mentoring plan, data management plan, logic model, collaborative documentation, outcomes statement, and biographical sketches.
Synopsis
The purpose of HEC, under assistance listing 10.217, is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, and student recruitment and retention. The HEC program is focused on developing and improving formal master's or doctorate degree-level food and agricultural sciences education and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine, such as a doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM).
Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements Land-grant Institutions and other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences and confer a graduate degree in at least one discipline or area of food and agricultural sciences are eligible to apply. Institutions offering degrees should be accredited by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants to support their own graduate education.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| FY26-HEC-NOFO-P.pdf | ||
| FY26-HEC-NOFO-P-MOD1.pdf | ||
| PKG00293866.pdf |
Posting history
| Listing | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|
| Opportunity | ||
| Opportunity |
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