education · DOL-OPE
Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program
Office of Postsecondary Education · ED-GRANT-26-036
Award Range
$1.5M – $2.5M
Total Program Funding
$45.0M
Expected Awards
20
Deadline
June 23, 2026
GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview
Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program. Office of Postsecondary Education . The purpose of the RPED Grant Program is to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region. $1,500,000-$2,500,000 per award; $45,000,000 total program funding; ~20 awards expected.
Who Should Apply
Private universities/colleges, Nonprofits (501c3), Nonprofits (non-501c3), Other eligible entities, Public universities/colleges
Who Should NOT Apply
Organizations not matching the eligible applicant types listed above
Key Requirements (Plain English)
- •Eligible applicants are Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U
- •Deadline: 2026-06-23
💡 GrantQuick Tip
High-value award — invest significantly in proposal quality. Consider hiring a grant writer.
Competitiveness: High — limited number of awards
What This Grant Funds
Attachments
Who Can Apply
Eligible Applicant Types
Funding Details
- Minimum Award
- $1.5M
- Maximum Award
- $2.5M
- Total Program Funding
- $45.0M
- Expected Number of Awards
- 20
- Cost Sharing Required?
- No
- Funding Instrument
- grant
Key Dates
Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time.
Agency Contact
Jymece Seward RPED@ed.gov
RPED@ed.govReady to apply?
View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov