Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Undergraduate Program
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified May 26, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that are accredited and offer undergraduate STEM degree programs. Applicants must be faculty or institutional leaders at eligible HBCUs. The institution must actively engage in undergraduate STEM education. HBCUs developing new STEM programs are particularly encouraged to apply.
Five funding tracks are available: Targeted Infusion Projects, Research on Broadening Participation, Research Initiation Awards, Implementation Projects, and Broadening Participation Research Centers. Each track has specific PI requirements and funding goals. Some tracks support education innovation, while others focus on research and institutional change.
Proposals must demonstrate alignment with the selected track and institutional STEM goals. Faculty should contact an HBCU-UP Program Officer before submitting to discuss suitability. The program supports both short-term enhancements and comprehensive, multi-year institutional efforts.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
HBCU-UP provides awardsto strengthen STEM undergraduate education and research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).Support is available through thefollowing tracks:
- Targeted Infusion Projects (TIP), which provide support to achieve a short-term, well-defined goal for enhancing and innovating undergraduate STEM education at an HBCU.
- Research on Broadening Participation in STEMprojects (BPR), which provide support for researchthat seeks to create and study new theory-driven models and innovations related to the participation and success of underrepresented groups in STEM undergraduate education, especially African Americans.
- Research Initiation Awards (RIA), which provide support for STEM faculty with no prior or recent research funding to pursue research at the home institution, another research-intensive institution, an NSF-funded research center, or a national laboratory.
- Implementation Projects (IMP), which provide support to design, implement, study, and assess comprehensive institutional efforts for increasing the number of students receiving undergraduate degrees in STEM and enhancing their preparation by strengthening STEM education and research.
- Broadening Participation Research Centers (BPRC),which provide support to create centers that conduct research on STEM education and broadening participation and build the intellectual infrastructure to facilitate the creation, integration, and transfer of new knowledge.
- Other Funding Opportunities include EArly-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), Rapid Response Research (RAPID), conference, and planning grants.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NSF SF-424 form (R&R)
- Project narrative/proposal
- Budget and budget justification
- Institutional commitment letter
- Letters of support (institutional leaders for institutional tracks)
- CV(s) of PI and key personnel
- Biographical sketches of senior personnel
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.076 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$116,005,485
-
$111,205,673
-
$82,631,883
-
$50,428,430
-
$45,382,137
-
$42,090,891
-
$41,100,753
-
$39,174,893
-
$33,116,189
-
$30,232,784
Top States by Funding
- CA 18 awards $419.3M
- MA 4 awards $209.8M
- TX 7 awards $123.0M
- NY 5 awards $115.7M
- IL 5 awards $96.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.076). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,087,560,000 | |
| 2025 | $1,169,550,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $286,650,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for HBCU-UP grants?
Only accredited HBCUs offering undergraduate STEM degrees may apply. The PI requirements vary by track—some require faculty, others institutional leaders directing implementation.
What are the main funding tracks?
Five tracks include Targeted Infusion Projects (short-term goals), Research on Broadening Participation (theory-driven studies), Research Initiation Awards (faculty research start-up), Implementation Projects (institutional transformation), and Broadening Participation Research Centers (research centers).
What is the typical award range?
Awards typically range from $300,000 to $9,000,000 depending on track and project scope. The program has a total funding pool of $62.25 million annually.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is October 6, 2026. Interested applicants should contact a Program Officer early to discuss alignment before proposing.
Do I need cost sharing or matching funds?
No cost sharing is required for this grant. All eligible project costs can be fully funded.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact an HBCU-UP Program Officer before writing your proposal to confirm your institution and project fit one of the five tracks.
- Align your proposal clearly with one specific track and explain how the project addresses STEM education goals or broadening participation.
- For Research Initiation Awards, highlight faculty members with little or no prior federal research funding and their research potential.
- Build a strong narrative about institutional commitment and how the project will scale or sustain STEM education improvements.
- Use data on student demographics, retention, and STEM degree completion to support claims about broadening participation impact.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying from an institution ineligible for HBCU status or without accredited STEM programs. Proposing a PI who doesn't meet track-specific requirements (e.g., non-faculty PI for RIA track). Failing to demonstrate institutional commitment or a realistic plan for implementation and sustainability.
Similar grants
- OPEN EducationUSA AI/STEM and Sports Diplomacy Grant — U.S. Mission to Georgia
- OPEN Freedom250 Advancing U.S. Artificial Intelligence Leadership in Algeria — U.S. Mission to Algeria
- OPEN Change 1 to Training and Employment Guidance Letter 02-25, Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund Grant Program — Employment and Training Administration
- OPEN Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program — Health Resources and Services Administration
- OPEN U.S. Embassy to the United Kingdom Public Diplomacy Section Annual Program Statement — U.S. Mission to the United Kingdom