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Higher Education Access Grants (2026)

Funding to widen access to and success in higher education — college access and readiness, persistence and completion, and support for first-generation and underserved students — for colleges, universities, and access nonprofits.FindGrants surfaces open grants in this area across federal agencies, state education agencies, and foundations. Below are open opportunities you can apply to — with amounts, deadlines, and a guided application builder for each.

36 open higher education access& education grants you can apply to

36 grants worth up to $66.8M match your search

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NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program

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U.S. National Science Foundation

The main goal of the S-STEM program is to enable academically talented, low-income students to pursue successful careers in promising STEM fields. Ultimately, the S-STEM program seeks to increase the number of academically promising low-income students who graduate with an S-STEM eligible degree and contribute to the American innovation economy with their STEM knowledge. Recognizing that financial aid alone cannot increase retention and graduation in STEM, the program provides awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) not only to fund scholarships, but also to adapt, implement, and study evidence-based curricular and co-curricular[a] activities that have been shown to be effective in supporting recruitment, retention, transfer (if appropriate), student success, academic/career pathways, and graduation in STEM. To be eligible, scholars must be domestic low-income students with academic ability, talent, or potential and demonstrated unmet financial need who are enrolled in an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree program in an S-STEM eligible discipline. Proposers must provide an analysis that articulates the characteristics and academic needs of the population of students they are trying to serve. NSF is particularly interested in supporting the attainment of degrees in fields identified as critical needs for the Nation. It is up to the proposer to make a compelling case that such a field serves a critical need in the United States. [a] an activity at a school or college pursued in addition to the normal course of study. S-STEM Eligible Degree Programs Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Engineering, and Associate of Applied Science Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Applied Science Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Master of Engineering Doctoral (Ph.D. or other comparable doctoral degree) S-STEM Eligible Disciplines Disciplinary fields in which research is funded by NSF, including technology fields associated with the S-STEM-eligible disciplines (e.g., biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology, etc.). The following degrees and disciplines areexcluded: Clinical degree programs, including medical degrees, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and others not funded by NSF, are ineligible degrees. Programs for STEM teacher certification or licensure currently covered by the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program (NOYCE) are ineligible for S-STEM funding. Business school programs that lead to Bachelor of Arts or Science in Business Administration degrees (BABA/BSBA/BBA) are not eligible for S-STEM funding. Masters and Doctoral degrees in Business Administration are also excluded. Proposers are strongly encouraged to contact Program Officers before submitting a proposal if they have questions concerning degree or disciplinary eligibility. The S-STEM program particularly encourages proposals from 2-year institutions, predominately undergraduate institutions, and urban, suburban, and rural public institutions.

$1M – $5M
2027-03-02
sciencetechnology

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UNIVERSITY OF VT & STATE AGRICULTURAL

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Transportation Agency

UNIVERSITY OF VT & STATE AGRICULTURAL

Up to $30K
2027-03-31
Education

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UNIVERSITY OF VT & STATE AGRICULTURAL

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Transportation Agency

UNIVERSITY OF VT & STATE AGRICULTURAL

Up to $120K
2027-03-31
Education

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Defense Security Cooperation University - Research Grants

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Washington Headquarters Services

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency s (DSCA) Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) promotes access to and production of knowledge on security cooperation. Security cooperation refers to all Department of Defense (DoD) interactions with foreign security establishments that build and develop allied and partner security capabilities and capacity for self-defense and multinational operations, provide the Armed Forces of the United States with access to the foreign country during peacetime or a contingency operation, and build relationships that promote specific United States security interests (Joint Publication 3-20, Security Cooperation, 1-2; see also 10 USC 16, Security Cooperation ). Evidence-, theory, and data-building activities that contribute to the body of knowledge on security cooperation or irregular warfare, and that result in lessons that can be applied to practice, are the primary focus of this notice of funding opportunity (NFO). Research products sponsored through this NFO must be unclassified and publicly accessible. DSCU expects awardees to participate in conferences, seminars, focus groups and events, and to make final research products and supporting data (if applicable) easily accessible to the public, in order to enhance dissemination of research findings and facilitate application of lessons learned in areas of policy, practice, and workforce professionalization.The DSCU research grant program, conducted pursuant to 10 USC 4001 and 10 USC 384(g), is generally open to a broad range of researchers, although individual DSCU components may have restrictions on who may receive grants.Please see the full NFO for complete details.

$3K – $800K
2028-08-07
sciencetechnology

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Research and Development (RAD) Directed Energy (RD) University Assistance Instruments

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Air Force -- Research Lab

<p>Original Solictation:</p> <ul> <li>Closing Date of the FOA</li> <li>FROM:&nbsp;18 July 2024</li> <li>TO:&nbsp;18 July 2029</li> <li>Cost Ceiling</li> <li>$49M</li> <li>Contracting/Agreements Points of Contact (POC)</li> <li>Agreements Officer</li> <li>Mariah Salazar</li> <li>Agreements Specialist</li> <li>Monique Esquibel-Sena</li> <li>Emails: mariah.salazar@us.af.mil; monique.esquibel_sena@us.af.mil</li> </ul> <p><br></p> <p>Solicitation Amend 1:</p> <ul> <li>Closing Date of the FOA</li> <li>FROM:&nbsp;18 July 2024</li> <li>TO:&nbsp;18 July 2029</li> <li>Cost Ceiling</li> <li>$49M</li> <li>Contracting/Agreements Points of Contact (POC)</li> <li>Agreements Officer</li> <li>Mariah Salazar</li> <li>Agreements Specialist</li> <li>Monique Esquibel-Sena</li> <li>Emails: mariah.salazar@us.af.mil; monique.esquibel_sena@us.af.mil</li> </ul> <p>(Revisions made: Updated information on Mandatory Letter of Intent to allow for interested parties to submit Letters of Intent through Valid Eval portal)</p> <p><br></p> <p>Solicitation Amend 2:</p> <ul> <li>Closing Date of the FOA</li> <li>FROM:&nbsp;18 July 2024</li> <li>TO:&nbsp;18 July 2029</li> <li>Cost Ceiling</li> <li>$49M</li> <li>Contracting/Agreements Points of Contact (POC)</li> <li>Agreements Officer</li> <li>Mariah Salazar</li> <li>Agreements Specialist</li> <li>Monique Esquibel-Sena</li> <li>Emails: mariah.salazar@us.af.mil; monique.esquibel_sena@us.af.mil</li> </ul> <p>(Revisions made: Added detail for Letter of Intent Evaluation Criteria)</p> <p><br></p> <p>Solicitation Amend 3:</p> <ul> <li>Closing Date of the FOA</li> <li>FROM:&nbsp;18 July 2024</li> <li>TO:&nbsp;18 July 2029</li> <li>Cost Ceiling</li> <li>$49M</li> <li>Contracting/Agreements Points of Contact (POC)</li> <li>Agreements Officer</li> <li>Mariah Salazar</li> <li>Alternate Agreements Officer</li> <li>Jennifer Jaramillo</li> <li>Agreements Specialist</li> <li>Monique Esquibel-Sena</li> <li>Brendan Merritt</li> <li>Emails: mariah.salazar@us.af.mil; monique.esquibel_sena@us.af.mil, <span style="color: windowtext;">jennifer.jaramillo@us.af.mil</span>, brendan.merritt@us.af.mil</li> </ul> <p>(Revisions made: Changed Letter of Intent review from 10 business days to 30 business days, Added verbiage to Section, D. Review and Selection Process, on Security Risk Review, added Agreement Specialist, Brendan Merritt, brendan.merritt@us.af.mil)</p> <p><br></p> <p>Solicitation Amend 4:</p> <ul> <li>Closing Date of the FOA</li> <li>FROM:&nbsp;18 July 2024</li> <li>TO:&nbsp;18 July 2029</li> <li>Cost Ceiling</li> <li>$49M</li> <li>Contracting/Agreements Points of Contact (POC)</li> <li>Agreements Officer</li> <li>Mariah Salazar</li> <li>Alternate Agreements Officer</li> <li>Jennifer Jaramillo</li> <li>Agreements Specialist</li> <li>Monique Esquibel-Sena</li> <li>Emails: mariah.salazar@us.af.mil; monique.esquibel_sena@us.af.mil, <span style="color: windowtext;">jennifer.jaramillo@us.af.mil</span></li> </ul> <p>(Revisions made: Changed Attachment 2 of Solicitation to DoD R&amp;D General Terms and Conditions MARCH 2025. Removed Agreement Specialist, Brendan Merritt, brendan.merritt@us.af.mil)</p>

Up to $49M
2029-07-18
science_technology_and_other_research_and_development

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BRAIN Initiative: Clinical Studies to Advance Next-Generation Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)

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National Institutes of Health

The purpose of this announcement is to encourage investigators to pursue a small clinical trial to obtain critical information necessary to advance recording and/or stimulating devices to treat central nervous system disorders and better understand the human brain (e.g., Early Feasibility Study). Clinical studies supported may consist of acute or short-term procedures that are deemed Non-Significant Risk (NSR) by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), or Significant Risk (SR) studies that require an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the FDA, such as chronic implants. The clinical trial should provide data to answer key questions about the function or final design of a device. This final device design may require most, if not all, of the non-clinical testing on the path to more advanced clinical trials and market approval. The clinical trial is expected to provide information that cannot be practically obtained through additional non-clinical assessments (e.g., bench top or animal studies) due to the novelty of the device or its intended use. Activities supported by this Funding Opportunity include a small clinical trial to answer key questions about the function or final design of a device.As part of the BRAIN Initiative, NIH has initiated a Public-Private Partnership Program (BRAIN PPP) that includes agreements (Memoranda of Understanding, MOU) with a number of device manufacturers willing to make such devices available, including devices and capabilities not yet market approved but appropriate for clinical research. In general it is expected that the devices' existing safety and utility data will be sufficient to enable new IRB NSR or FDA IDE approval without need for significant additional non-clinical data. For more information on the BRAIN PPP, see http://braininitiative.nih.gov/BRAIN_PPP/index.htm

2026-09-28
Educationincome_security_and_social_servicesHealth

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Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)

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National Institutes of Health

<p>The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to support research on interventions to improve health in Native American (NA) populations. This includes 1) etiologic research, where there is a significant gap in knowledge, that will directly inform intervention development or adaptations, 2) research that develops, adapts, or tests the efficacy or effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention interventions, 3) research that tests culturally informed treatment or recovery interventions and 4) where a sufficient body of knowledge on intervention efficacy exists, research on dissemination and implementation that develops and tests strategies to overcome barriers to the adoption, integration, scale-up, and sustainability of effective interventions. Existing data suggest that significant acute and chronic disease inequities exist for NA populations. Concurrently, NA populations experience unique sociopolitical, historical, and environmental stressors and risks that may exacerbate health conditions and/or impact the effectiveness of existing solutions to address the conditions. They also possess unique strengths and resiliencies that can mitigate stressors or inform intervention strategies. Through this initiative, intervention and related research is sought to build upon community knowledge, resources, and resilience to test science-based, culturally appropriate solutions to reduce morbidity and mortality through identification and remediation of precursors to diseases and disorders and through culturally informed treatment. Interventions should be designed with a consideration for sustainability within the communities where they are tested, and have the flexibility to be readily adapted, disseminated, and scaled up to other communities where culturally appropriate. For the purposes of this NOFO, NA includes the following populations: Alaska Natives, American Indians (whose ancestral lands fall at least partially within the U.S. main land).</p>

2027-01-07
income_security_and_social_servicesenvironmentHealth+2

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NIDA Animal Genomics Program (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

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National Institutes of Health

The purpose of the NIDA Animal Genetics Program is to identify genetic, genomic, and molecular (epi)genetic variants that underlie: 1. Phenotypes associated with addictive behaviors and/or vulnerability to distinct stages along the substance use disorders (SUD) trajectory (e.g. initial/acute use, escalation of use, acquisition of tolerance, dependence, uncontrolled use, abstinence and relapse or recovery); 2. Behaviors associated with SUD (e.g. impulsivity, novelty seeking, delayed discounting, and other genetically-associated phenotypes); and 3. Comorbidities that demonstrate genetic correlations with phenotypes and behaviors linked with SUD (e.g. anxiety, stress, poor maternal care, social defeat, and other paradigms). Applications may examine any type of genomic variant, including single nucleotide variants (SNVs), indels, large and small structural variants, and all types of mobile DNA. NIDA encourages applications that take genomics, multi-omics, and/or data-based approaches that integrate multi-level omics data, delineate gene networks, and/or uncover the function of known or newly discovered genetic or epigenetic variants. Other areas of interest include genomics analysis at the circuit level and the application of neuroscience to genomics studies. NIDA expects these studies to uncover novel mechanisms that contribute to various stages across the SUD trajectory and inform future studies about potential targets and therapeutic strategies for addiction.

2027-02-11
HealthEducationArts & Culture

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Integrating Biospecimen Science Approaches into Clinical Assay Development (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

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National Institutes of Health

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to support extramural research to investigate and mitigate challenges facing clinical assay development and subsequent analytical validation due to preanalytical variability in tumor tissue biopsies, blood biospecimens utilized as liquid biopsies", or other biospecimens as described in this NOFO. Extramural research funded under this NOFO may include investigations of preanalytical variability associated with the procurement and study of small biopsies (core biopsies, small excision samples), blood utilized for "liquid biopsies", tissue swabs, tissue secretions, pleural and esophageal aspirates, feces, or bodily fluids like sweat, urine, CSF, breast milk and saliva. Investigator-designed experiments will explore how different biospecimen preanalytical conditions affect emerging and clinically relevant biomarkers quantified by a variety of testing platforms. The results from this research program will improve the understanding of how analytical quantification of clinically relevant biomarkers is affected by variation in biospecimen collection, processing, and storage procedures. The overall goal is to expedite biomarker clinical assay development through evidence-based standardization of biopsy handling practices.

2027-09-10
EducationHealth

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Higher Education Access grant FAQ

Who funds higher education access programs?

Higher Education Access programs are funded by the same education ecosystem as the rest of the field: the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies, the state education agencies that administer and sub-grant federal formula funds, and private and community foundations. Some funders run dedicated lines; many fund this work through broader education and student-support programs.

What can higher education access grants pay for?

Funding to widen access to and success in higher education — college access and readiness, persistence and completion, and support for first-generation and underserved students — for colleges, universities, and access nonprofits. Typical eligible costs include staff and instructor time, curriculum and materials, professional development, technology and equipment, and program operations for schools, districts, and education nonprofits.

How do I find higher education access grants I'm eligible for?

Eligibility depends on your organization type, your location, and the funder's priorities. Browse the open opportunities below, or run your organization's profile through FindGrants to see the higher education access and education grants you qualify for right now, ranked by fit.

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