New US Department of Education Grant Priorities for Institutions of Higher Education — November 2025
Synopsis
In mid November 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released new funding priorities for FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. The new ED funding priorities signal a major shift in priority areas for federal IHE grantmaking and an emphasis on supporting innovation and workforce pathways in today’s tech-infused economy and efforts to promote free speech in civil forums at a time of deep ideological divisions nationally and on college campuses. These priority areas are AI in education, civil discourse, accreditation reform, and the promotion of short-term workforce-focused programs (both existing programs and new programs). The deadline for these ED FIPSE grants is December 3, 2025, giving grant seekers a very short runway to adjust to the realign their programing, ensure stakeholder engagement, and draft and submit their proposals.
Summer at UPenn (© EdProcommunications)
Why the New ED Grant Priorities Matter for Higher Ed
The federal government’s grant guidance often shapes where institutions invest resources, build partnerships, and design programs. With the latest FIPSE competition, the ED is signalling four major “areas of national need” that institutions must address if they hope to secure funding.
The priorities that the Education Department is announcing align with the following areas of defined need:
Expanding the understanding and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in education
Protecting and promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses
Promoting accreditation reform
Supporting capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs emphasizing workforce development
Because the estimated available funds total about $167 million for FY 2025, this is a significant opportunity. Grant-seekers should use this update to align their proposals, track deadlines, and position themselves for the FY 2025 competition.
About the FY2025 FIPSE Grant Deadlines and Elimination of the Department of Education
For such a significant set of priorities and funding appropriations, it is notable that the Department of Education is providing institutions very little time to prepare and submit proposals, arguably raising questions about the quality of programs and approaches that will be proposed and funded.
At the same time, Reuters and other major news outlets are reporting on the Trump administration’s current efforts to dismantle the Department of Education entirely, prompting reporters at Inside Higher Ed to ask “who will conduct the competition, as the majority of OPE staff were laid off in the department’s most recent reduction in force and one of the awards focuses on workforce Pell, a new grant program that has yet to undergo regulatory negotiations.”
It may be fair to presume that the rush to receive the current proposals (by the December 3rd 2025 deadline) and announce grant awards by December 31, 2025 is due in part to the recent and prolonged government shutdown and these plans to eliminate the Department of Education by shifting current Department of Education functions to four other federal departments: Labor, State, Interior, and HHS, as recently reported by Reuters.
U.S. Department of Education FY2025 Higher Education Grants — What’s To Know?
Estimated available funds total about $167 million for FY2025
This is a competitive grant process with a very short timeline for grant-seekers
Deadline for submission is December 3, 2025
Grants awards are announced by December 31, 2025
Key themes include: AI in Higher Ed; Workforce Development Programs; Civil Discourse on HE Campuses; Accreditation Reform in Higher Ed
INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR for Grant-Seekers: US Dept. of Education has scheduled an FIPSE Special Programs Informational Webinar for Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST. Register Here for the Webinar.
How will the proposed elimination of the U.S. Department of Education impact funding mechanisms and programs?
A Closer Look: What Are the ED’s FY 2025 Grant Priorities?
Here are the key priority areas and corresponding funding amounts for the FIPSE Special Projects Program:
1. $50M — AI in Higher Education: “Leveraging AI to improve student outcomes”
The Advancing AI to Improve Educational Outcomes of Postsecondary Students priority will support projects that use AI to enhance teaching, learning, and student success in education
The Ensuring Future Educators and Students Have Foundational Exposure to AI and Computer Science priority will support projects that broaden access to AI and expand computer science course offerings
2. $60M — Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses
Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses supports initiatives to foster respectful deliberation and debate on college and university campuses
Goals include countering the erosion of free expression, due to censorship, harassment, and even violent unrest
This priority will support activities such as seminars, speaker series, conferences, debates, and other learning opportunities that include a range of viewpoints and encourage dialogue
3. $7M — Accreditation Reform in Higher Education
Addressing barriers to switching accreditation agencies and to the creation of new agencies
The Supporting Institutions in Changing Accrediting Agencies to make it easier for colleges and universities to change their accrediting agencies in light of cost barriers
The Supporting the Creation of New Accrediting Agencies priority supports the development and launch of new accrediting agencies — to foster much-needed competition and increased choice
4. $50M — Capacity-Building for High-Quality Short-Term Programs
Supports the creation and expansion of workforce aligned academic programs eligible for Workforce Pell Grants under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Priority one supports the development of new short-term programs that meet the eligibility requirements of the Workforce Pell Grants program.
Priority two supports the expansion of existing short-term programs
Timeline & Funding — Department of Education FIPSE Release — FY2025
Current Competition: FY 2025
Application Available: November 12, 2025
Application Deadline: December 3, 2025
FY 2025 Estimated Available Funds: $167,000,000
Of this amount, we estimate allocating across the areas of national need and absolute priorities as follows:
Advancing AI in Education (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2): $50,000,000, including $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 1 and $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 2.
Promoting Civil Discourse (Absolute Priority 3): $60,000,000
Accreditation Reform (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5): $7,000,000, including $3,500,000 under Absolute Priority 4 and $3,500,000 under Absolute Priority 5.
Capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs (Absolute Priorities 6 and 7): $50,000,000, including $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 6 and $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 7.
What This Means for Grant-Seeking Higher Education Institutions
For colleges, universities, and other eligible entities, the practical takeaway is:
Align your project proposals with one of the four priority challenge areas above (AI, civil discourse, accreditation reform, short-term workforce programs).
Highlight innovation and measurable impact — the ED emphasises performance targets and baseline data in the application.
Timing matters — with a narrow window (Nov 12 to Dec 3rd), you’ll need rapid coordination of partners, budgets, and narrative.
Partner wisely — if your institution doesn’t currently have the internal AI capacity or short-term credential ecosystem, consider collaborating with tech vendors, workforce partners, or other institutions.
Find a Professional Grant Development Partner — EdPro Communications offers flexible partnerships for grant-seekers, providing research driven grant narratives, white papers, and case studies informed by research, evidence, and years of education insights.
Be sure to highlight and amplify new FIPSE priorities
Leverage the “press-release” moment — this new priority set gives you a communication hook: “Responding to ED’s FY 2025 priority announcement” can help your institution’s marketing and internal alignment.
“Under the Trump Administration, we are witnessing a transformative shift in higher education, one that is setting a new course for a brighter future. From restoring freedom of speech and fostering viewpoint diversity, to reimagining an archaic accreditation system and prioritizing workforce-driven programs, there is a growing recognition that bold, seismic change is essential to restoring confidence in our Nation’s higher education system.”
Higher Education Grants: How To Stay Up To Date?
Remember to learn more about and register for the US Dept. of Education FIPSE webinar.
NOTE: The webinar and transcript will also be available afterwards on the FIPSE grants website and on GRANTS.GOV.
Main Contact: FIPSE-SP@ed.gov
Program Contacts:
Dr. Stacey Slijepcevic, Stacey.Slijepcevic@ed.gov, 202-453-6150
Kurrinn Abrams, Kurrinn.Abrams2@ed.gov, 202-987-1920
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