Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (84.116)
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (Assistance Listing 84.116) is run by the Department of Education. It awarded $1.3 billion in 955 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.4 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $989,000. Half of the 955 awards fell between $513,307 and $1.6 million, and they ranged from $17,000 to $50.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$1.3 billion
- Grant awards955
- Typical award$989,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$72.5 million
- Size rank218 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $37.8 million in fiscal 2021 to $72.5 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 218th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 23% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 52 states and territories.
What the program funds
To provide assistance to support institutional reforms and innovative strategies designed to improve postsecondary instruction, quality, and to expand postsecondary opportunities. For community project funding, to provide direct funding for activities selected by Congress.
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
Eligible applicants for FIPSE project grants include institutions of higher education, other public and private non-profit institutions and agencies and combinations of these institutions and agencies. Entities identified for Congressionally directed spending or community project funding under FIPSE are eligible.
What the money can and cannot pay for
The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) provides project grants for activities sponsored by institutions of higher education that develop and demonstrate more effective approaches to postsecondary teaching and learning. In fiscal year 2024, Congress appropriated $7 million for the Open Textbooks Pilot (OTP) initiative (84.116T), , $9 million for the Centers of Excellence for Veterans Student Success (CEVSS) program (84.116G), $10 million for the Basic Needs Grant program, $45 million for the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) program (84.116W), $45 million for Postsecondary Student Success Grants (PSSG), $50 million for the HBCU, TCCU, and MSI Research and Development Infrastructure program, and $5 million for the Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education (TGIY) program (84.116Y). In fiscal year 2024, Congress also appropriated $202.3 million for community project funding/Congressionally directed spending (84.116Z). For these projects, grant activities must be consistent with the project description and the explanatory statement accompanying the Department’s appropriations act and regulations in 34 C.F.R. 75.104(a). Funds must be used to carry out the goals and activities presented in the entity’s application.
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.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
The estimated range and average size of awards differs by activity. In fiscal year 2024 Congress funded seven unique activities under FIPSE, in addition to community project funding/Congressionally directed spending. Funded activities can differ from cycle to cycle.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (84.116) awarded$1.3 billion across 955 grant awards, an average of $1.4 million per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 70% of the money, state and local governments 16% and nonprofits 11%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 688 | $931 million | 70% |
| State and local governments | 197 | $209 million | 16% |
| Nonprofits | 41 | $153 million | 11% |
| Businesses | 16 | $24.9 million | 1.9% |
| Other | 7 | $9.7 million | 0.7% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 6 | $9.3 million | 0.7% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 13 | $127 million |
| California | 96 | $119 million |
| Texas | 53 | $85.8 million |
| New York | 53 | $72.6 million |
| Vermont | 11 | $53.2 million |
| Georgia | 34 | $51.8 million |
| Illinois | 43 | $47.9 million |
| Virginia | 32 | $41.2 million |
| Massachusetts | 29 | $36.6 million |
| Maryland | 28 | $34.5 million |
| Michigan | 28 | $33.1 million |
| Missouri | 18 | $32.9 million |
| Nevada | 22 | $32.7 million |
| Florida | 28 | $31.1 million |
| New Jersey | 34 | $29.4 million |
| Oregon | 21 | $27.8 million |
| North Carolina | 14 | $27.7 million |
| Pennsylvania | 26 | $25.9 million |
| Ohio | 25 | $23.2 million |
| New Mexico | 15 | $23.2 million |
| South Carolina | 20 | $23.2 million |
| Maine | 21 | $23.1 million |
| Kansas | 17 | $22.9 million |
| Louisiana | 12 | $21.6 million |
| Arizona | 14 | $21.0 million |
| West Virginia | 31 | $20.8 million |
| Minnesota | 17 | $20.4 million |
| Mississippi | 20 | $19.8 million |
| Kentucky | 17 | $19.4 million |
| Colorado | 13 | $18.9 million |
| Washington | 16 | $17.8 million |
| Rhode Island | 19 | $15.5 million |
| Tennessee | 8 | $13.6 million |
| Oklahoma | 9 | $13.3 million |
| South Dakota | 5 | $12.2 million |
| Wisconsin | 15 | $12.0 million |
| New Hampshire | 13 | $10.4 million |
| Puerto Rico | 6 | $9.8 million |
| Hawaii | 6 | $6.7 million |
| District of Columbia | 3 | $6.6 million |
| Montana | 3 | $5.8 million |
| Connecticut | 7 | $5.7 million |
| Indiana | 6 | $5.4 million |
| Delaware | 6 | $5.4 million |
| Utah | 7 | $5.3 million |
| Iowa | 5 | $5.2 million |
| Nebraska | 3 | $4.7 million |
| North Dakota | 2 | $3.9 million |
| Arkansas | 3 | $3.4 million |
| Alaska | 5 | $3.0 million |
| Wyoming | 2 | $2.5 million |
| Idaho | 1 | $1.3 million |