FY 26 Postsecondary Student Success Grant 84.116M

The FY 2026 Postsecondary Student Success Grant 84.116M, solicited under ED-GRANT-26-038, aims to enhance student outcomes in higher education through data-driven, evidence-based interventions focused on retention, credit accumulation, transfer, and completion, with a particular emphasis on College-to-Career Pathways that integrate career-connected learning and advising. Applicants must propose scalable projects with clear logic models, measurable performance targets linked to resources and activities, and plans for rigorous evaluation using standards aligned with the What Works Clearinghouse. The program is administered by the Office of Postsecondary Education under the Department of Labor and falls under the Assistance Listing Number 84.116M, with awards governed by EDGAR regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99, as well as the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Part 200 and OMB’s Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension rules. Indirect costs are capped at eight percent of modified total direct costs, while administrative expenses are not subject to program-specific limits. All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain an active Grants.gov account, and submissions must include the SF-424, SF-424A, Budget Narrative, Abstract, Project Narrative, Evidence Form, PSSG Project Profile, and lobbying certifications, all uploaded as non-fillable PDFs. The application period opens May 28, 2026, and closes June 29, 2026, with a 48-month performance period. Evaluation is conducted by a panel of non-Federal reviewers using a 100-point scoring system weighted toward evidence-building quality (30 points), significance (15 points for early-phase and 15 points for mid-phase applicants), applicant capacity to scale (10 points), efficiency at scale (5 points), and dissemination plan (5 points). Successful applicants are required to submit independent evaluation reports to ERIC, track baseline and target performance metrics, and comply with all federal civil rights laws including Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title II of the ADA. Equipment purchases must meet the $10,000 threshold per unit, and all direct costs must be categorized under personnel