Rural Postsecondary & Economic Development (RPED) Program (84.116W)

The purpose of the Rural Postsecondary & Economic Development (RPED) Grant Program is to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region.

This funding opportunity aims to advance America’s Talent Strategy, which emphasizes reindustrializing America, expanding earn-while-you-learn models including Registered Apprenticeships (29 CFR part 29 and 5 CFR 362.102), and building a skilled American workforce capable of powering the nation’s manufacturing resurgence, energy dominance, and technological leadership. Through demand-driven training, stronger employer partnerships, deploying talent marketplaces and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled learning, including the AI Literacy Framework, and employment records or digital wallets, projects funded here should expand economic opportunity and help rural communities create sustainable talent pipelines that support the reskilling of America. 

Eligible applicants should propose bold, results-oriented initiatives that align postsecondary education, including Registered Apprenticeships, with regional workforce needs, reduce barriers for rural students, and deliver measurable gains in completion and employment outcomes.

Applicant Information

FY 2026 Competition Timeline

• Application available: May 21, 2026
• Application deadline: June 23, 2026

FY 2026 Competition Resources

• FY 2026 Rural Postsecondary & Economic Development (RPED) Program Competition: Application Notice and Instructions
• FY 2026 RPED Program Competition: Frequently Asked Questions
• FY 2026 RPED Program Competition: Technical Assistance Webinar Slides
• FY 2026 RPED Program Competition: Technical Assistance Webinar Recording 
• FY 2026 RPED Program Competition: Pre-Application Technical Assistance Live Q&A Slides

Call for Peer Reviewers

ED sought individuals to serve as peer reviewers and assess grant program applications for the FY 2026 Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) Program grant competition.

For more information, please review the Call for Peer Reviewers: Rural Postsecondary Education and Economic Development Grant Program.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1001), that are public or private nonprofit IHEs, and public and private nonprofit organizations and agencies.

Note: “Public agencies” includes State Education Agencies and State Higher Education Agencies.

Note: An applicant that is a nonprofit organization may, under 34 CFR 75.51, demonstrate its nonprofit status by providing:

1. Proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
2. A statement from a state taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual.
3. A certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or
4. Any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.

Funding

FY 2026

Estimated Available Funds:  $45,000,000
Estimated Range of Awards:  $1,500,000- $2,500,000 for the 48-month project period
Average Award:  $2,250,000 for the 48-month project period
Maximum Annual Award:  $2,500,000 for the 48-month project period
Estimated number of awards: 20
Project Period:  48 months

Note: ED is not bound by any estimates.

FY 2024

Number of new awards: 21
Number of supplemental awards (to make an FY 2023 award whole): 1
Average award (of new awards): $2,096,574
Total FY 2024 appropriation: $44,839,829

FY 2023

Number of new awards: 22
Average award (of new awards): $2,025,000
Total FY 2023 appropriation: $44,550,000

FY 2022

Number of new awards: 16 
Number of supplemental awards (to make an FY 2021 award whole): 1
Average award (of new awards): $1,211,565 
Total FY 2022 appropriation: $19,955,950

FY 2021

Number of new awards: 9
Average award (to include supplemental award made in FY 2022): $1,168,122
Total FY 2021 appropriation: $9,942,192

Legislation

20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d; the Explanatory Statement accompanying Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75).

Regulations

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The Supplemental Priorities; (e) 2025 Supplemental Priorities); (f) Secretary’s Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness (91 FR 18780). 

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes. 

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only.

Performance Reports

If you receive a grant under this competition, you must ensure that the necessary processes and systems are developed to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).

At the end of the project period, the grantee must submit a Final Performance Report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If a grantee receives a multi-year award, it must submit an Annual Performance Report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c).

Performance Measures

ED has developed the following performance measures for the purposes of the reporting to ED under 34 CFR 75.110.

ED developed the following program performance indicators to evaluate the overall effectiveness of this program:

• Program Performance Measure 1: The number and percentage of project participants that received direct student services supported by the grant (i.e., career and/or college exploration and advising opportunities, workforce development programming, etc.).
• Program Performance Measure 2: The number and percentage of project participants enrolled in a postsecondary education program.
• Program Performance Measure 3: The number and percentage of project participants who complete a postsecondary credential, including through completion of a Registered Apprenticeship program, and/or transfer to a 4-year institution
• Program Performance Measure 4: The number and percentage of project participants active in internships, Registered Apprenticeships, or other work experiences.

These measures constitute the indicators of success for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project. If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your project's annual performance report (34 CFR 75.590).

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