NNH24ZEA001N-USRC: University Student Research Challenge (USRC)
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 NASA Headquarters notices from 2024.
NASA Headquarters offered grants to any type of organization. Applications closed on June 26, 2025.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed September 20, 2024. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Key dates
| Posted | September 20, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | June 26, 2025 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | July 26, 2025 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to any type of organization.
- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (45% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
Amendment 4 to the NASA ARMD Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2024 NRA has been posted on the NSPIRES web site. University Student Research Challenge (solicitation NNH23ZEA001N-USRC) seeks to challenge students to propose new ideas/concepts that are relevant to NASA Aeronautics. USRC will provide students, from accredited U.S. colleges or universities, with grants for their projects and with the challenge of raising cost share funds through a crowdfunding campaign. The process of creating and implementing a crowdfunding campaign acts as a teaching accelerator - requiring students to act like entrepreneurs and raise awareness about their research among the public. The solicitation goal can be accomplished through project ideas such as advancing the design, developing technology or capabilities in support of aviation, by demonstrating a novel concept, or enabling advancement of aeronautics-related technologies. Notices of Intent (NOIs) are not required for this solicitation. Proposals are due November 7, 2024. Proposals can also be submitted later and evaluated in the second and third cycles. The USRC Q&A/Info Session and Proposal Workshop will be held on the days/times below. Please join us on TEAMS using the Meeting Link, or call in via +1 256-715-9946,,317928116#. USRC Cycle 1 Information Session/Q&A: September 30, 2024, at 2pm ET USRC Cycle 2 Information Session/Q&A: January 27, 2025, at 2pm ET USRC Cycle 3 Information Session/Q&A: May 12, 2025, at 2pm ET
Who has won Aeronautics grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Aeronautics (43.002) awarded $357 million across 242 grant awards, an average of $1.5 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose State University Research Foundation | California | 2 | $61.8 million |
| The Boeing Company | Missouri | 13 | $59.3 million |
| Georgia Tech Research Corp | Georgia | 13 | $14.9 million |
| Wichita State University | Kansas | 5 | $14.0 million |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 6 | $14.0 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 NNH24ZEA001N-USRC still open?
No. It closed on June 26, 2025.
Who can apply for University Student Research Challenge (USRC)?
NASA Headquarters accepted applications from any type of organization.
What is the deadline for University Student Research Challenge (USRC)?
Closed June 26, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
Who has won Aeronautics grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were San Jose State University Research Foundation, The Boeing Company, Georgia Tech Research Corp. The program made 242 awards worth $357 million in that time.