Grants / Department of Labor / Office of Postsecondary Education

ED-GRANT-26-036: Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program

Closed Closed June 23, 2026 Opportunity ED-GRANT-26-036 ☆ Save

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.

• Award ceiling$2.5 million
• Award floor$1.5 million
• Total funding$45.0 million
• Expected awards20
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits and colleges and universities.

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits that do not have 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)

Eligible applicants are Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1001), that are public or private nonprofit IHEs, and public and private nonprofit organizations and agencies. Note: "Public agencies" includes State Education Agencies and State Higher Education Agencies. Note: An applicant that is a nonprofit organization may, under 34 CFR 75.51, demonstrate its nonprofit status by providing: Proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A statement from a state taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual. A certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or Any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education awards averaged $1.4 million; this notice allows up to $2.5 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (70% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The purpose of the RPED Grant Program is to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region.

Category: Education.

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.