Federal grant programs / Department of Commerce

Educational Partnership Program (11.481)

Also known as José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$81.9 million
• Grant awards8
• Typical award$9.5 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$13.2 million
• Size rank865 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceCooperative agreements

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $16.5 million in fiscal 2021 to $13.2 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 865th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• Awards went to recipients in 4 states and territories.

What the program funds

To advance development of NOAA mission-aligned postsecondary education, research, policy and natural resource management programs aimed at increasing education, training and graduation rates in NOAA related STEM disciplines for U.S. post secondary students. All Educational Partnership Program components are awarded through national competitive processes. Partnerships and capacity building are achieved through collaboration of academic institutions, with NOAA scientists and managers, at award institutions and at NOAA sites increasing resources in atmospheric, oceanic, environmental sciences, and remote sensing technologies. The award is to generate future workforce expertise, for the benefit of the nation.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Lead institutions applying to become a Cooperative Science Center award recipient must have a Ph.D. degree program in the science or technology disciplines (ocean, marine and environmental sciences and remote sensing technology) that directly supports NOAA mission.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Funds may be used to support student tuition assistance, stipends, professional development and coaching, conference/workshop participation in the U.S., course development, research, faculty and program enhancement and students undertaking course work and/or research in NOAA related sciences at Cooperative Science Center institutions. No less than 50% of a total award may be used for direct student support at all Center institutions. For the cooperative agreement, due to the strong and on-going NOAA engagement in award performance, the indirect cost rate is capped at 25 percent and only applied to the fifty percent of annual funding that is for non-direct student support. Funds may only be used on activities that educate and train students in NOAA mission disciplines. Students who receive support under EPP awards must be US citizens and no international travel is allowed under awards made through this program. Eighty percent of total financial assistance awards must be awarded to MSIs. Non MSI may only receive a total of 20% of total financial assistance through this program.;

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title This program has no statutory formula, Part This program has no statutory formula, Subpart This program has no statutory formula,Public Law Public Law 110–69.These awards are authorized under the America COMPETES Act Public Law 110–69 which states that “NOAA shall conduct, develop, support, promote, and coordinate formal and informal educational activities at all levels to enhance public awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship by the general public and other coastal stakeholders.” These awards support Executive Order 14283, the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

$45 K in Undergraduate Scholarships; $3.5 - $4.0M annually to Cooperative Science Centers

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: The Educational Partnership Program (EPP) awards continued to advance the postsecondary education, research and professional development of U.S. students attending higher education institutions. The program also increases opportunities for students pursuing a postsecondary degree in NOAA mission-aligned sciences, as well as collaborate on research, and build institutional capacity at the Cooperative Science Centers. More than 75 additional students completed their studies, by September 30, 2025, earning undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees and gained knowledge, technical skills and practical experience to enter, succeed and advance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in NOAA mission aligned careers. The CSC students presented innovative research at major conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing the high caliber of research emerging from the Cooperative Science Centers. The commitment to workforce development was strengthened through targeted initiatives like the Annual Center-Wide Cohort Experience (ACE) and specialized workshops and seminars. The center-wide training activities ensured the students acquired the core competencies and cutting-edge technical skills including use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), supercomputing, and using NOAA data that are all necessary to tackle complex environmental challenges.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Almost all of the money went to colleges and universities.

By state

Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.