Higher Education Challenge Grants Program
Looking for agriculture & rural funding? Angela Tatum Policy Specialist is accepting applications for this award from eligible applicants, with applications due Oct 15, 2026. It provides awards up to $150K–$750K.
See full details on Grants.govOpportunity description
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).
Who can apply
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
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.
Funding
Agency contact
Angela Tatum Policy Specialist
NIFA Support Email grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays
grantapplicationquestions@usda.govHow to apply
You will apply through Grants.gov, the federal grants portal. Confirm every detail — eligibility, attachments, and the deadline — on the official page before you commit time to it.
Official Grants.gov listingInformation here comes from the public Grants.gov dataset, which is U.S. government public-domain data, and is shared for general guidance only. VolunteerBadge neither administers grants nor speaks for any agency — confirm everything on the official listing before applying.