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 on this page, worth up to $121.6M combined.
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Fiscal Year 2027 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)
openAir Force Office of Scientific Research
The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Fiscal Year 2027 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP). DURIP is designed to improve the capabilities of accredited United States (U.S.) institutions of higher education to conduct research and to educate scientists and engineers…
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War (DoW) Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)
openOffice of Naval Research
In accordance with EO 14332, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, dated 7 August 2025, and EO 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science, dated 23 May 2025, this Announcement seeksproposals from universities to purchase equipment and instrumentation in support of research in areas of interest…
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War (DoW) Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)
openDept of the Army -- Materiel Command
Department of Army:The Department of War (DoW) announces the Fiscal Year 2027 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP). DURIP is designed to improve the capabilities of accredited United States (U.S.) institutions of higher education to conduct research and to educate scientists…
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The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program Cooperative Agreement
openDept of the Army -- Materiel Command
The Department of War (DoW) seeks innovative applications to cooperatively partner with eligible entities in the implementation and execution of the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program. The Department intends to award ONE (1) CA award, with a maximum award of up to $1,300M over a ten-year period…
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NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM)
openU.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…
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AFRL/AFOSR Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 University Center for High-Speed Aerothermoelasticity
openAir Force Office of Scientific Research
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Air Warfare Directorate (RA), intends to provide support for a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers at U.S. universities to establish a university-led Center for High-Speed…
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Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Education Innovation and Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS)
openU.S. National Science Foundation
Government and the nation face a talent shortfall in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. The CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS) program welcomes proposals that address AI and cybersecurity education and workforce development. CyberAI refers to using AI in cybersecurity…
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)
openOffice of Naval Research
Established in 1985, the Department of War Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program funds U.S. academic research teams to conduct high-impact basic research that addresses future challenges faced by the Department of War. The MURI program specifically supports U.S…
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War (DoW) Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)
openAir Force Office of Scientific Research
Agency Name:Air Force Office of Scientific ResearchDescription:See full announcement in Related Documents folder for detailed descriptions of the SPECIFIC MURI TOPICS.
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War (DoW) Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)
openDept of the Army -- Materiel Command
Army Research Office (ARO): DoW's MURI program addresses high-risk basic research and attempts to understand or achieve something that has never been done before. The program was initiated 40 years ago and it has regularly produced significant scientific breakthroughs with far reaching…
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Defense Security Cooperation University - Research Grants
openWashington 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…
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Research and Development (RAD) Directed Energy (RD) University Assistance Instruments
openAir Force -- Research Lab
Original Solictation: • Closing Date of the FOA • FROM: 18 July 2024 • TO: 18 July 2029 • Cost Ceiling • $49M • Contracting/Agreements Points of Contact (POC) • Agreements Officer • Mariah Salazar • Agreements Specialist • Monique Esquibel-Sena • Emails: mariah.salazar@us.af.mil…
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University Nuclear Leadership Program Scholarship and Fellowship Support
openIdaho Field Office
A. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVESThis Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to award multiple cooperative agreements to accredited United States (U.S.) two- and four-year colleges and universities (Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)) to receive and administer scholarship and fellowship funding…
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Fair Housing Initiatives Program - Education and Outreach Initiative
openDepartment of Housing and Urban Development
Congress in 1988 established the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) with a purpose of providing funding to entities to work alongside HUD to "prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices" 42 USC 3616a(a). FHIP provides funds to eligible organizations through competitive grants. under…
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Secondary Analysis and Integration of Existing Data to Elucidate Cancer Risk and Related Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
openNational Institutes of Health
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) along with other participating Institutes encourages submission of applications proposing to conduct secondary data analysis and integration of existing datasets and database resources, with the ultimate aim to…
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NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
openNational Institutes of Health
The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The over-arching goal of this NIDA R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nations biomedical, behavioral…
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FY27 Adult Education - Digital Instruction
openCommunity College Board (State of Illinois)
The Digital Instruction for Adult Education grant aims to enhance technology infrastructure and instructional capabilities in Title II Adult Education programs throughout Illinois. The funding will support initiatives that increase access to digital learning tools and improve technology…
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Toward Translation of Nanotechnology Cancer Interventions (TTNCI; R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
openNational Institutes of Health
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), entitled "Toward Translation of Nanotechnology Cancer Interventions" (TTNCI), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) encourages applications for advanced pre-clinical research, supporting translation of nanotechnology-based cancer diagnostics and…
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Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Small Research Grant (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite Small Research Grant (R21) applications that propose to study the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of human genetics and genomics. Applications may propose studies using either single or mixed methods. Direct…
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Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) Initiative: Basic Research on The Deleterious Effects of Acute Exposure to Ultra-Potent Synthetic (UPS) Opioids (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
openNational Institutes of Health
This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) will support research towards understanding and mitigating the deleterious effects of acute exposure to Ultra-Potent Synthetic (UPS) opioids (e.g., fentanyl, carfentanil, nitazenes) and their combinations (fentanyl and xylazine). This NOFO will also…
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Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
The purpose of this NOFO is to invite Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) applications that propose to study the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of human genetics and genomics. Applications may propose studies using either single or mixed methods. Approaches may include…
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Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
The purpose of this NOFO is to invite Research Project (R01) applications that propose to study the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of human genetics and genomics. Applications may propose studies using either single or mixed methods. Approaches may include but are not limited to…
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Competing Revisions to Existing NIH Single Project Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) hereby notifies NIH award recipients that funds may be available for revision applications to support the expansion of existing projects and/or programs within the awarding IC identified in the competitive revision Notice of Special Interest (NOSI)…
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Accelerating the Pace of Substance Use Research Using Existing Data (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
openNational Institutes of Health
The purpose of this Notice of Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) is to invite applications proposing the innovative analysis of existing social science, behavioral, administrative, and neuroimaging data to study the etiology and epidemiology of drug using behaviors (defined as alcohol, tobacco…
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NIH Research Software Engineer (RSE) Award (R50 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
openNational Institutes of Health
The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to provide salary support for exceptional Research Software Engineers (RSEs) that contribute their skills to the development and dissemination of biomedical, behavioral or health related software, tools, and algorithms as well as to the…
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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
openNational Institutes of Health
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will support students at institutions with NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs. The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA, dual-doctoral degree, predoctoral fellowship (F30) is to enhance the integrated research and clinical…
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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)
openNational Institutes of Health
The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral (Parent F31) award is to enable promising predoctoral students will obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research…
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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
openNational Institutes of Health
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will support students at institutions without NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs. The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA, dual-doctoral degree, predoctoral fellowship (F30) is to enhance the integrated research and clinical…
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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32)
openNational Institutes of Health
The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) is to support research training of highly promising postdoctoral candidates who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in scientific…
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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33)
openNational Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards senior individual research training fellowships to experienced scientists who wish to make major changes in the direction of their research careers or who wish to broaden their scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities as…
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Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center on Education Research (NCER): From Seedlings to Scale, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305J
openDepartment of Education
Through the From Seedlings to Scale (S2S) Grants program, IES will invest in innovative ideas within an identified focus area through three phases of increasing funding and duration to support ideas as they grow from seedlings to scalable solutions. Projects will incorporate high-quality research…
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Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
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…
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Mechanisms that Impact Cancer Risk with Use of Incretin Mimetics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
The goal of the proposed funding announcement is twofold, to promote preclinical and patient based studies examining the mechanism(s) through which incretin mimetics (including agonists or antagonists of GLP-1, GIP-1, or dual GLP-1/GIP-1 agents) impact cancer risk, and to draw talented scientists…
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Academic-Industrial Partnerships (AIP) to Translate and Validate In Vivo Imaging Systems (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to stimulate translation of scientific discoveries and engineering developments in imaging, data science and/or spectroscopic technologies into methods or tools that address contemporary problems in…
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Population Approaches to Reducing Alcohol-related Cancer Risk (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aims to support research on interdisciplinary population approaches to increasing awareness of the relationship between alcohol and cancer risk, understanding and changing social norms related to alcohol consumption, developing and/or evaluating alcohol…
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Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
openNational Institutes of Health
Not available
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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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