Higher Education Challenge Grants Program
The summary for the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program grant is detailed below.
This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants.
Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact.
If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.
Higher Education Challenge Grants Program: 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).
| Federal Grant Title: | Higher Education Challenge Grants Program |
| Federal Agency Name: | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) |
| Grant Categories: | Agriculture |
| Type of Opportunity: | Discretionary |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | USDA-NIFA-CGP-011315 |
| Type of Funding: | Grant |
| CFDA Numbers: | 10.217 |
| CFDA Descriptions: | Information not provided |
| Current Application Deadline: | October 15th, 2026 |
| Original Application Deadline: | October 15th, 2026 |
| Posted Date: | August 5th, 2026 |
| Creation Date: | August 5th, 2026 |
| Archive Date: | November 14th, 2026 |
| Total Program Funding: | $5,700,000 |
| Maximum Federal Grant Award: | $750,000 |
| Minimum Federal Grant Award: | $150,000 |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 36 |
| Cost Sharing or Matching: | No |
| Last Updated: | August 5th, 2026 |
- Applicants Eligible for this Grant
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification.)
- Additional Information on 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.
- Link to Full Grant Announcement
- Higher Education Challenge Grants Program
- Grant Announcement Contact
- NIFA Support Email [email protected]
Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays
If you have questions about preparing application content, contact [email protected] - Similar Government Grants
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