No. 23-598 · U.S. National Science Foundation
Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research
- Award range
- Not specified
- Expected awards
- ~35
- Application deadline
- Oct 20, 2026
- Posted
- Jun 8, 2023
- Last verified
- 5 days ago
At a glance
AI summaryThis program funds research by faculty researchers at accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities in science, engineering, math, education research, and other NSF-supported fields. It is meant to strengthen connections between HBCU researchers and NSF core research programs, with the goal of helping them later apply for regular NSF disciplinary funding. Proposals may only be submitted by accredited HBCUs, and the principal investigator must be a full-time faculty member or researcher at the submitting HBCU. NSF expects about 30 to 35 awards with total funding of $28 million, and the award type may be a standard grant or continuing grant. There are no proposal limits by organization, but an individual may serve on only one proposal per deadline and no more than two HBCU-EiR awards in their career.
AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement
What it funds
Official description from grants.gov
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research (HBCU-EiR) program was established in response to direction provided in the Senate Commerce and Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Report (Senate Report 115-139), and is built on prior and continuing efforts by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This report provided guidance to NSF to establish the HBCU Excellence in Research program "to provide opportunities for both public and private HBCUs, particularly for those who have not been successful in larger NSF Research & Related Activities competitions, in order to stimulate sustainable improvement in their research and development capacity" ( https://congress.gov/congressional-report/115th-congress/senate-report/139/1 ). EiR supports such capacity building by funding research projects aligned with NSF's research programs. The program aims to establish stronger connections between researchers at HBCUs and NSF's research programs.
Who can apply
- Others
“Proposals may only be submitted by accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that have faculty members who conduct research in science and/or engineering and/or STEM education.” — From the announcement
Program history
USASpending.govAssistance listing 47.041 · Engineering
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.041), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 604 | $407,608 | $200,000 – $550,000 |
| FY 2025 | 1,537 | $389,666 | $282,237 – $549,621 |
| FY 2024 | 1,761 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,862 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 2,238 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 2,436 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 10,438 — award counts are complete.
- NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY $7,674,141 · FY 2026
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY $4,000,000 · FY 2025
- NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY $3,848,048 · FY 2025
- CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY $3,000,000 · FY 2025
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY $3,000,000 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Aug 19, 2026
Assistance listing 47.049 · Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.049), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 762 | $299,931 | $121,337 – $500,000 |
| FY 2025 | 2,247 | $482,485 | $249,935 – $627,333 |
| FY 2024 | 2,571 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 2,745 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 2,640 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 2,567 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 13,532 — award counts are complete.
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES $7,039,283 · FY 2026
- WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION $5,950,041 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM $4,950,000 · FY 2026
- AUBURN UNIVERSITY $2,998,544 · FY 2025
- THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY $2,831,003 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Aug 21, 2026
Assistance listing 47.050 · Geosciences
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.050), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 628 | $389,288 | $209,626 – $543,580 |
| FY 2025 | 920 | $368,108 | $202,000 – $593,558 |
| FY 2024 | 1,251 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,285 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 1,315 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 1,504 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 6,903 — award counts are complete.
- EARTHSCOPE CONSORTIUM INC. $59,141,331 · FY 2025
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO $6,457,844 · FY 2025
- REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN $6,000,000 · FY 2025
- CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY $4,780,833 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER $2,999,998 · FY 2026
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.070 · Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.070), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 1,087 | $380,991 | $250,087 – $530,369 |
| FY 2025 | 1,560 | — | — |
| FY 2024 | 1,919 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 2,178 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 2,045 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 1,910 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 10,699 — award counts are complete.
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO $11,000,000 · FY 2026
- CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY $10,000,000 · FY 2026
- THE MORGRIDGE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH, INC. $9,000,000 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES $9,000,000 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE $9,000,000 · FY 2026
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.074 · Biological Sciences
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.074), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 573 | $566,575 | $308,334 – $894,239 |
| FY 2025 | 826 | $569,960 | $350,857 – $899,906 |
| FY 2024 | 1,075 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,137 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 1,240 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 1,243 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 6,094 — award counts are complete.
- WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY $2,600,000 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK $2,432,713 · FY 2025
- CLEMSON UNIVERSITY $2,400,000 · FY 2025
- THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY $2,200,000 · FY 2025
- THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK $2,000,000 · FY 2026
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.075 · Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.075), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 113 | $528,600 | $237,499 – $775,500 |
| FY 2025 | 559 | $210,247 | $37,874 – $406,540 |
| FY 2024 | 839 | $193,570 | $94,373 – $399,241 |
| FY 2023 | 869 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 895 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 958 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 4,233 — award counts are complete.
- REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN $10,999,998 · FY 2024
- UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE $8,399,997 · FY 2024
- NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER $7,998,747 · FY 2025
- ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY $6,430,848 · FY 2026
- REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA $5,200,000 · FY 2024
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.076 · STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources)
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.076), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 542 | $400,000 | $193,868 – $750,000 |
| FY 2025 | 805 | $632,661 | $336,311 – $1,300,000 |
| FY 2024 | 1,421 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,305 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 1,344 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 1,191 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 6,608 — award counts are complete.
- PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE $31,161,280 · FY 2026
- MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY $23,000,000 · FY 2026
- GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP $16,902,789 · FY 2025
- REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE $15,387,498 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO $14,088,417 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.079 · Office of International Science and Engineering
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.079), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 54 | $402,500 | $206,285 – $597,486 |
| FY 2025 | 110 | $443,613 | $274,824 – $478,396 |
| FY 2024 | 127 | $344,984 | $263,421 – $512,493 |
| FY 2023 | 128 | $281,771 | $150,000 – $417,907 |
| FY 2022 | 107 | $299,888 | $162,654 – $678,098 |
| FY 2021 | 127 | $299,945 | $200,596 – $398,431 |
- INTERNAT HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAMM $33,000,000 · FY 2025
- THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY $25,200,000 · FY 2023
- AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE $22,676,043 · FY 2022
- GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP $20,210,752 · FY 2021
- DUKE UNIVERSITY $20,203,733 · FY 2021
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.083 · Integrative Activities
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.083), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 202 | $393,157 | $294,209 – $900,000 |
| FY 2025 | 388 | $481,647 | $269,767 – $887,105 |
| FY 2024 | 700 | $495,028 | $298,038 – $943,263 |
| FY 2023 | 700 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 477 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 151 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 2,618 — award counts are complete.
- GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP $28,999,998 · FY 2025
- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON $22,294,445 · FY 2024
- THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO $19,998,055 · FY 2024
- UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA $19,982,835 · FY 2025
- ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY, INC. $19,041,217 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 5, 2026
Assistance listing 47.084 · NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.084), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 380 | $304,939 | $50,000 – $1,240,759 |
| FY 2025 | 931 | $305,000 | $77,375 – $1,120,119 |
| FY 2024 | 1,061 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,118 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 642 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 289 | — | — |
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 4,421 — award counts are complete.
- THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES $20,000,000 · FY 2026
- ACTIVATE GLOBAL INC $14,978,985 · FY 2025
- CORNELL UNIVERSITY $8,000,000 · FY 2025
- OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY $7,500,000 · FY 2026
- TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY $7,500,000 · FY 2026
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 6, 2026
Change history
Since we first indexed it- Jul 25, 2026 Grant announcement document replaced