USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is accepting FY2026 applications for the Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program, USDA-NIFA-CGP-011315, Assistance Listing 10.217. HEC strengthens higher education capacity in the food and agricultural sciences through curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, student recruitment and retention, and related workforce development.
Deadline: October 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Funding: Approximately $5.7 million is available for FY2026. Standard Grants may request up to $150,000 total. Collaborative Grant Type 1 projects may request up to $300,000 total. Collaborative Grant Type 2 projects may request up to $750,000 total. USDA does not require cost sharing or matching for this opportunity.
Program focus: Projects must be education projects and should strengthen advanced food and agricultural sciences education. The program primarily focuses on advanced baccalaureate students in the third and fourth years, graduate education, and first professional veterinary medicine education. Secondary and two-year postsecondary participation may be ancillary rather than the primary target. Current USDA research and development priorities referenced in the NOFO include improving human health through precision nutrition and food quality.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants include land-grant institutions and other accredited U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences and offer four-year or graduate-level degrees in at least one relevant discipline. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university may also be eligible. Award recipients may subcontract to otherwise ineligible organizations when necessary for the conduct of the project.
Application: Applications are submitted electronically through Grants.gov. The controlling FY2026 NOFO requires the applicable SF-424 Research and Related forms and supporting materials, including a Project Summary, Project Narrative, logic model, budget justification, mentoring plan, Data Management Plan, collaborative arrangements, expected outcomes, biographical sketches, current and pending support, and conflict-of-interest disclosures. Collaborative applications also require subaward budget materials.
Applicants should use the current USDA NIFA NOFO and Grants.gov package as the controlling sources for all application requirements, forms, limits, and submission instructions.