National Institute of Food and Agriculture · Department of Agriculture

Higher Education Challenge Grants Program

Open · Opportunity USDA-NIFA-CGP-011315 · Assistance Listing 10.217

Deadline: Due Oct 15, 2026 · 8 days left
Award size: $150K – $750K
Total available: $5.7M · about 36 awards
Cost share / match ?: Not required
Who can apply: Other (see eligibility)
Where: Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. The deadline is in 8 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

Available in Gibson County (nationwide program)
No cost share required
Only 8 days left to apply
Tennessee recipients since 2023: 4

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

About this grant

The purpose of HEC, under assistance listing 10.217, is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, and student recruitment and retention. The HEC program is focused on developing and improving formal master’s or doctorate degree-level food and agricultural sciences education and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine, such as a doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM).

Eligibility (from the notice)

Eligibility Requirements Land-grant Institutions and other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences and confer a graduate degree in at least one discipline or area of food and agricultural sciences are eligible to apply. Institutions offering degrees should be accredited by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants to support their own graduate education.

Who in Tennessee has won this program

4 awards to Tennessee recipients in 3 counties since federal FY2023 · 0 in Gibson County. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee recipients
Recipient	Where	Amount	FY
University Of Tennessee	Knoxville, Knox County	$740K	2024
University Of Tennessee	Knoxville, Knox County	$150K	2024
University Of Tennessee	Chattanooga, Hamilton County	$134K	2021
University Of Tennessee	Martin, Weakley County	$28K	2019

Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.

About the program (10.217)

Higher Education - Institution Challenge Grants Program — Institution Challenge, Multicultural Scholars & Graduate Fellowships Grant Program (Institution Higher Education Challenge) [Formerly: Challenge or HEC Grants]

How applications are judged

Within guidelines established for the program as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The most current NOFOs are available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/higher-education-challenge-hec-grants-program

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.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

Something wrong with this listing? Tell us

Key facts