Frequently Asked Questions: Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success

The CEVSS program supports institutions of higher education in developing model programs that coordinate comprehensive academic, financial, physical, and social support services to help veteran students succeed in postsecondary education.

Eligible applicants are Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov by June 23, 2026, no later than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

All applications should be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. In addition, applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045), which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.

All applicants—whether ineligible, unsuccessful, or successful—are notified by email.

No. This program does not require cost sharing or matching.

Required activities include establishing a Center of Excellence, creating a veteran support team, providing a coordinator, monitoring veteran student outcomes, and sustaining the Center after the grant period. 

Permissible activities include outreach, counseling, tutoring, financial aid assistance, housing support, cultural programs, support groups, military base coordination, and other services needed for veteran success.

• One Absolute Priority:
  • Establishing a Center of Excellence that meets all statutory criteria, as listed in the Application Notice and Instructions.
• One Competitive Preference Priority (worth up to 10 points):
  • Projects aligned with career pathways and workforce readiness, as listed in the Application Notice and Instructions.

Applications are evaluated using selection criteria totaling 100 points, covering:

• Need for project
• Significance
• Quality of project design
• Adequacy of resources
• Quality of the evaluation plan

• Estimated total funding: $9,000,000
• Estimated award range: $1.5M–$3M (over 36 months)
• Average award: $2.25M
• Estimated number of awards: 4

Yes. This program uses an unrestricted indirect cost rate. Grantees may use their negotiated rate or apply for a temporary rate.

No. Grantees may not issue subgrants to carry out project activities.

Applicants must have:

• An active SAM.gov registration
• A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
• An active Grants.gov account

Registration steps should be started early, as activation can take several weeks.

A complete application includes:

• Standard Forms (SF-424, SF-424A)
• Project Abstract
• Project Narrative
• Budget Narrative
• Priority Narratives (Absolute and Competitive Preference, if applicable)
• Assurances and Certifications (e.g., lobbying forms)

Grantees must report data on:

• Institutionalization of the program
• Veteran enrollment
• Veteran persistence
• Veteran completion
• Federal cost per successful outcome

Registered Apprenticeship participants must be included in reporting.

Grantees with multiyear awards must submit an interim, annual performance reports, and a final report at the end of the project. Reports are submitted through the Higher Education Programs: Institutional Service Grant Database.

If applications receive the same score, ED considers:

1. Number of enrolled veteran students
2. Distribution across institution types, sizes, geography, and rural/urban balance
3. Lowest indirect cost amount (if still tied)