Assistance to Tribally Controlled Community Colleges and Universities (15.027)
Assistance to Tribally Controlled Community Colleges and Universities (Assistance Listing 15.027) is run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $693 million in 115 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $6.0 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $949,473. Half of the 115 awards fell between $628,592 and $9.6 million, and they ranged from $26,480 to $74.1 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$693 million
- Grant awards115
- Typical award$949,473
- Awarded in FY 2025$128 million
- Size rank302 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $374 million in fiscal 2021 to $128 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 302nd largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 78% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 13 states and territories.
What the program funds
To provide grants for the operation and improvement of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to insure continued and expanded educational opportunities for Indian students, and to allow for the improvement and expansion of the physical resources of such institutions.
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
Colleges chartered by Federally Recognized Indian Tribes or tribal organizations which are governed by a board of directors, are in operation more than one year, admit students with a certificate of graduation from a secondary institution or equivalent, provide certificates, associate, baccalaureate and graduate degrees, are nonprofit and nonsectarian, and are accredited by a nationally recognized agency or association.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds must not be used in connection with religious worship or sectarian instruction. Funds may be used for the general operating costs of the Tribally Controlled Community College to defray, at the determination of the College, expenditures for academic, educational and administrative purposes and for the operation and maintenance of the College.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Colleges must submit the Tribe's approval of the application by March 1 of the fiscal year preceding the year in which they wish to be eligible for funding. Evidence that all administrative systems are in place such as accounting, personnel and property must be submitted by July 1 of the preceding year in which they wish to be eligible for funding.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
FY 2015: Range is $273,790 to $13,598,820; Average $2,467,250. The amount of the award is determined by the number of eligible Indian students enrolled in the college. Indian Tribes may choose to supplement the funding provided by the grant program by identifying additional amounts in the Tribal Priority Allocations portion of the Bureau of Indian Affairs budget.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Non-competitive grants to Tribally Controlled Community Colleges and UniversitiesFiscal Year2026: Non-competitive grants to Tribally Controlled Community Colleges and Universities
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Assistance to Tribally Controlled Community Colleges and Universities (15.027) awarded $693 million across 115 grant awards, an average of $6.0 million per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 18% of the money, tribes 12% and colleges and universities 0.1%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 28 | $481 million | 69% |
| Nonprofits | 84 | $127 million | 18% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 2 | $84.7 million | 12% |
| Colleges and universities | 1 | $914,285 | 0.1% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | 25 | $153 million |
| Arizona | 8 | $125 million |
| South Dakota | 12 | $106 million |
| North Dakota | 15 | $87.7 million |
| Michigan | 11 | $40.8 million |
| Minnesota | 12 | $40.3 million |
| Washington | 4 | $33.6 million |
| Wisconsin | 7 | $30.6 million |
| Nebraska | 8 | $28.3 million |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $17.7 million |
| New Mexico | 3 | $14.9 million |
| Alaska | 4 | $12.6 million |
| Virginia | 2 | $2.4 million |