OPE: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Program

The U.S. Department of Education is soliciting applications for its Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Program.

Donor Name: U.S. Department of Education

State: All States

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 12/03/2025

Size of the Grant: More than $1 million

Grant Duration: 4 Years

Details:

The FIPSE Special Projects Program provides grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), combinations of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies, as the Secretary deems necessary, to support innovative projects concerning one or more areas of
national need identified by the Secretary. This competition focuses on supporting four areas of national need – 1) advancing the understanding of and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in postsecondary education, 2) promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses, 3) promoting accreditation reform, and 4) supporting capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs.

The Priorities are as follows:

Advancing the Understanding and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education
- Absolute Priority 1: Advancing Artificial Intelligence to Improve Educational Outcomes of Postsecondary Students
- Absolute Priority 2: Ensuring Future Educators and Students Have Foundational Exposure to AI and Computer Science
Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses
- Absolute Priority 3: Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses
  - Competitive Preference Priority 1 (0 or 10 points): Civic Institutes at Institutions of Higher Education
  - Competitive Preference Priority 2 (0 or 10 points): Non-IHE Nonprofit Organizations That Educate Students to Promote Freedom and Engage in Civil Discourse
Promoting Accreditation Reform
- Absolute Priority 4: Supporting Institutions in Changing Accrediting Agencies
- Absolute Priority 5: Supporting the Creation of New Accrediting Agencies
Capacity-Building for High-Quality Short-Term Programs
- Absolute Priority 6: Creation of New High-Quality Short-Term Programs
- Absolute Priority 7: Expansion of Existing High-Quality Short-Term Programs

Funding Information

Estimated Available Funds: $167,000,000
- Absolute Priorities 1 and 2: $1,000,000 – $4,000,000
- Absolute Priority 3: $1,000,000 – $4,000,000
- Absolute Priorities 4 and 5: $600,000 – $1,000,000
- Absolute Priorities 6 and 7: $1,000,000 – $4,000,000

Project Period

Estimated Range of Awards (for the 48-month project period).

Eligibility Criteria

Institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)), consortia of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies including State higher education agencies as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1003(22). An eligible entity may submit only one (1) grant application under an area of national need as the lead applicant. An entity can be included as a partner in multiple applications.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.