ED-GRANT-26-022: Talent Search Program
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Office of Postsecondary Education notices from 2026.
Office of Postsecondary Education offered grants of up to $10.0 million (at least $250,000) to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments and tribes. It expected to make about 175 awards worth $175 million in total. Applications closed on July 9, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed June 30, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$10.0 million
- Award floor$250,000
- Total funding$175 million
- Expected awards175
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Key dates
| Posted | March 17, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | July 9, 2026 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | August 8, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments and tribes.
All 8 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
See Announcement Notification and Instructions for specific eligibility information.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past TRIO Talent Search awards averaged $1.6 million; this notice allows up to $10.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (63% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor), is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Talent Search Program (TS) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The purpose of the Talent Search Program is to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with potential for education at the postsecondary level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake postsecondary education. Talent Search projects publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education, and encourage persons who have not completed programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these programs. We encourage prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular Announcement Notification and Instructions.
Who has won TRIO Talent Search grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, TRIO Talent Search (84.044) awarded $917 million across 580 grant awards, an average of $1.6 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education | Nevada | 6 | $9.3 million |
| University of California, Davis | California | 5 | $7.6 million |
| Volunteers of America of Los Angeles | California | 5 | $7.1 million |
| University of California, Merced | California | 5 | $7.0 million |
| Texas State University | Texas | 4 | $6.9 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is ED-GRANT-26-022 still open?
No. It closed on July 9, 2026.
Who can apply for Talent Search Program?
Office of Postsecondary Education accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments and tribes. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Talent Search Program?
Closed July 9, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $10.0 million each. About $175 million in total across about 175 awards.
Who has won TRIO Talent Search grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education, University of California, Davis, Volunteers of America of Los Angeles. The program made 580 awards worth $917 million in that time.
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