# Higher Education - Institution Challenge Grants Program (10.217)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/10-217-higher-education-institution-challenge-grants-program/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Higher Education - Institution Challenge Grants Program is run by Department of Agriculture. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $19.4 million in 71 grants, about $272,909 per award.

## Objectives

The purpose of the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program, under assistance listing 10.217, is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified state, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $5.1 million | 18 |
| 2022 | -$332,104 | 0 |
| 2023 | $6.0 million | 24 |
| 2024 | $8.9 million | 30 |
| 2025 | -$248,978 | 0 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. | Georgia | $1.5 million |
| Texas Tech University System | Texas | $1.1 million |
| The Pennsylvania State University | Pennsylvania | $1.1 million |
| North Carolina State University | North Carolina | $982,507 |
| South Dakota State University | South Dakota | $866,984 |
| Washington State University | Washington | $778,559 |
| The Curators of the University of Missouri | Missouri | $763,328 |
| The University Corporation | California | $750,000 |
| Texas State University | Texas | $750,000 |
| Rutgers, the State University | New Jersey | $749,996 |
| Cal Poly Corporation | California | $745,198 |
| The Administrators of Tulane Educational Fund | Louisiana | $740,000 |
| University of Tennessee | Tennessee | $740,000 |
| Arizona State University | Arizona | $740,000 |
| Colorado State University | Colorado | $729,463 |
| Kansas State University | Kansas | $723,922 |
| University of Connecticut Health Center | Connecticut | $719,756 |
| Texas a & M University Kingsville | Texas | $712,389 |
| Purdue University | Indiana | $530,646 |
| The Ohio State University | Ohio | $428,193 |