The Department offers several kinds of grants:
- grants to help students attend college. Students can use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to apply for Pell Grants and other aid for college.
- formula grants to agencies using formulas determined by Congress. There is no application process.
- discretionary grants to organizations, agencies, and individuals.
These are awarded using a competitive process. Anyone who meets the
eligibility requirements can apply.
Discretionary grants are what people usually
have in mind when thinking about applying for a grant from the
Department. The remainder of this page is devoted to discretionary
grants and the questions people often ask.
What discretionary grants am I eligible for?
Use the Guide to Education Programs to identify programs you are eligible to apply for.
Which grant competitions are accepting applications now?
Discretionary grant application packages lists most ED competitions that are currently open, with links to application information for each competition.
Most ED competitions are announced in Federal Register Notices, which provide information on rules, deadlines, and how to apply.
IES funding opportunities
provides information on research funding opportunities run by the
Institute for Education Sciences, including funding for unsolicited
grants.
Grants.gov lists discretionary grant competitions from across the federal government, including many ED competitions.