Scholarships for Students at 1890 Institutions (1890 Scholarships)
🏛 National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 3, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for the 19 designated 1890 Land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University. Eligible schools must have a competitive scholarship awards process in place. The program supports recruiting, engaging, and retaining undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in food and agricultural sciences.
Institutions use grant funds to provide scholarships and mentoring to outstanding students. The goal is to build a highly skilled food and agricultural systems workforce. Both baccalaureate and graduate degrees (master's and doctoral) are supported.
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Program description
The purpose of the 1890 Scholarships Program, under Assistance Listing Number 10.524, is to provide scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring, and training of undergraduate and graduate students at the 1890 Land-grant institutions. These scholarships are intended to encourage outstanding students at 1890 institutions to pursue and complete baccalaureate and graduate (i.e., master’s and doctoral) degrees in the food and agricultural sciences (see Appendix III for definition) that would lead to a highly skilled food and agricultural systems workforce.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal grant application form)
- NIFA Cover Page Supplement
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Institutional commitment letter
- Scholarship awards process documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Angela Tatum Policy Specialist
- 📧 grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov
- 📞 0000000000
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.524 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$1,920,000
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$752,631
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$751,832
-
$505,263
-
$505,263
-
$505,263
-
$505,263
-
$505,263
-
$505,263
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$505,263
Top States by Funding
- DE 4 awards $3.4M
- AL 6 awards $3.0M
- NC 5 awards $2.8M
- TN 4 awards $2.3M
- KY 4 awards $2.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.524). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $9,600,000 | |
| 2025 | $9,600,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $9,600,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only the 19 designated 1890 Land-grant institutions can apply. Your institution must have a competitive scholarship awards process in place. Individual students cannot apply directly.
What are 1890 Land-grant institutions?
These are historically Black colleges and universities that received land-grant designation after 1890. The list includes Tuskegee University and 18 other partner schools.
What can scholarship funds support?
Funds support scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students in food and agricultural sciences. Mentoring and training programs for students are also eligible activities.
What degrees are covered?
Baccalaureate (bachelor's), master's, and doctoral degrees in food and agricultural sciences are all eligible. The focus is on building workforce capacity in these fields.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing or matching funds are required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your institution's competitive scholarship process and past success recruiting strong students. Show how you evaluate and select scholarship recipients fairly.
- Connect scholarship investments to workforce outcomes. Demonstrate how graduates are moving into food and agriculture careers.
- Detail mentoring and support services beyond scholarships. Include academic advising, internships, and career pathways for scholars.
- Document diversity recruitment efforts. Show how your scholarships reach underrepresented groups in agriculture and food sciences.
- Align your proposal with NIFA priorities like sustainability, food security, and climate adaptation. Explain how your scholars will address these challenges.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying from institutions not on the official 1890 Land-grant list. Only the 19 designated schools are eligible. Failing to document a competitive scholarship awards process meeting program requirements. Proposing scholarships without mentoring, training, or workforce development components.
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