Centers of Excellence (93.157)
Centers of Excellence (Assistance Listing 93.157) is run by the Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It awarded $123 million in 39 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $3.1 million per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $2.2 million. Half of the 39 awards fell between $691,071 and $3.0 million, and they ranged from $5,000 to $14.9 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$123 million
- Grant awards39
- Typical award$2.2 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$26.7 million
- Size rank748 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $22.2 million in fiscal 2021 to $26.7 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 748th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 90% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 20 states and territories.
What the program funds
The goal of this program is to assist eligible schools in supporting programs of excellence in health professions education for underrepresented minority (URM) individuals. The Centers of Excellence (COE) program is a catalyst for institutionalizing a commitment to underrepresented minority (URM) students/faculty and to serve as a national resource and educational center for diversity and minority health issues. Additionally, the COE program will help to strengthen the national capacity to produce a culturally competent healthcare workforce whose diversity is representative of the United States population.
Forecast opportunities
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include designated HBCUs and health professions schools that are accredited schools of allopathic medicine; osteopathic medicine; dentistry; pharmacy; or a graduate program in behavioral or mental health; or other public and nonprofit health or educational entities that meet the required conditions regarding: underrepresented minorities as described in Section 736 of the Public Health Service Act. Native American Centers of Excellence are eligible, as specified in statute. Eligible applicants must also have: (1) a significant number of underrepresented minority individuals enrolled in the schools; (2) been effective in assisting underrepresented minority students of the schools to complete the program of education and receive the degree involved; (3) been effective in recruiting underrepresented minority individuals to enroll in and graduate from the school, including providing scholarships and other financial assistance to such individuals and encouraging underrepresented minority students from all levels of the educational pipeline to pursue health professions careers; and (4) made significant recruitment efforts to increase the number of underrepresented minority individuals serving in faculty or administrative positions at the school.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Health professions schools awarded a COE grant are required to use funds to offer programming that will meet the following seven legislative purposes of the program: (1) Increase the competitive applicant pool for health professions schools; (2) Expand programs to enhance underrepresented minority student academic performance; (3) Improve recruitment, training and retention of underrepresented minority faculty; (4) Improve information resources curriculum, clinical education and cultural competency of graduates as it relates to minority health issues; (5) Facilitate faculty and student research on health issues affecting underrepresented minority groups; (6) Engage students in practice-based training in community-based settings serving significant numbers of underrepresented minority individuals; and (7) Provide stipends, as appropriate. In addition, the four designated HBCU institutions must also propose activities to carry out the following purposes: (1) Develop a plan to achieve institutional improvements, including financial independence, to enable the school to support programs of excellence in health professions education for underrepresented minority individuals; and (2) Provide improved access to the library and informational resources of the school.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. The recipient must agree to maintain non-federal funding for grant activities at a level which is not less than expenditures for such activities during the fiscal year prior to receiving the award.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): FY 2023 : range: $3,000,000 to $3,168,266; Average; Average: $3,084,133 FY 2024 range: $2,966,653 to $3,000,000; Average: $2,843,326 FY 2025: range est. $3,000,000; Average est. $3,000,000 Non-HBCUs: FY 2023 : range: $503,475 to $686,000; Average $594,738 FY 2024 range $503,475 to $686,000; Average; $594,738 FY 2025: est.range est.: $503,475 to $686,000; Average est.: $594,738
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Centers of Excellence (93.157) awarded $123 million across 39 grant awards, an average of $3.1 million per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 0.9% of the money.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 37 | $122 million | 99% |
| Colleges and universities | 2 | $1.1 million | 0.9% |
By state
16 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 2 | $29.7 million |
| Alabama | 1 | $14.7 million |
| Louisiana | 1 | $14.4 million |
| Texas | 7 | $14.1 million |
| California | 7 | $11.8 million |
| District of Columbia | 4 | $6.2 million |
| New York | 3 | $5.8 million |
| Hawaii | 1 | $3.4 million |
| Oregon | 1 | $3.4 million |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $3.3 million |
| New Jersey | 2 | $3.3 million |
| New Mexico | 1 | $2.7 million |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $2.7 million |
| Illinois | 1 | $2.1 million |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Montana | 1 | $1.9 million |
| Michigan | 1 | $690,814 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $395,720 |
| Washington | 1 | $78,237 |
| Colorado | 1 | $40,000 |