OpenFederal grant23-584

IUSE: Innovation in Two-Year College STEM Education (ITYC)

U.S. National Science FoundationCloses Dec 9, 2026(57 days left)

Does this fit your business?

This NSF program funds accredited two-year colleges to improve STEM education through curriculum development, student support, and college-wide capacity building. Only two-year colleges may apply as lead applicants; for-profit businesses, small businesses, and nonprofits should not bother applying, and four-year universities can only participate as partners behind a two-year college lead.

Best for
Accredited two-year colleges (Associate's Colleges and Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges per Carnegie Classifications), Two-year colleges offering undergraduate STEM degree programs, Two-year colleges leading collaborative proposals with university or nonprofit partners as subawards
Not for
For-profit businesses and small businesses of any kind, Nonprofit organizations, Four-year universities, Master's and doctoral institutions (except as partners behind a two-year college lead)
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Arts & CultureLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Education & TrainingLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Environment & ConservationLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Finance & BankingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Food & BeverageLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
ManufacturingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Technology & SoftwareLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
Education, Research, Curriculum development, Faculty development, Student support
Who can apply
Colleges and universities

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
December 9, 2026.
Who can apply for this grant?
Only accredited two-year colleges of higher education that offer undergraduate STEM degree programs may submit proposals. Baccalaureate, Master's, and Doctoral institutions and professional organizations may participate only as subawards or collaborators, with the two-year college as lead. For-profit businesses and small businesses cannot apply.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
No. Only accredited two-year colleges may apply, and the facts state that for-profit businesses and small businesses are not eligible.
Can a nonprofit apply?
No. The facts state this program does not accept nonprofit applicants; only two-year colleges may submit proposals.

Summary

NSF grants of up to $500,000 (up to $600,000 for institutions new to NSF funding) for accredited two-year colleges to improve STEM education through student-centered innovation, curriculum and pathway development, and college-wide capacity building. Only two-year colleges may apply; other institutions may partner as subawards.

About this grant

The National Science Foundation (NSF) plays a prominent role in the improvement of undergraduate STEM education at the Nation's colleges and universities. Through the IUSE: Innovation in Two-Year College STEM Education (ITYC) program, the agency seeks to extend this effort by making an intentional investment in the country's two-year institutions of higher education, or two-year colleges. The twin goals of the ITYC program are to (1) center students in the effort to advance innovation and promote success in STEM education at two-year colleges, and (2) enhance the capacity of two-year colleges to harness the talent and potential of their student and faculty populations through innovative disciplinary, multi-department, and college-wide efforts. These goals will be achieved by investing in projects at two-year colleges that contribute to student success in STEM-based foundational courses and academic pathways for both majors and non-majors. Project activities may be in any discipline that is currently supported by NSF funding, which includes the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. Collectively, projects in the ITYC program will make progress towards ensuring that two-year college students and faculty have the resources to participate in and contribute to the broader STEM enterprise.

Aligned with the goals above, the ITYC program features two tracks: (1) A Focus on the Academic Experiences of Two-Year College Students and (2) Leveraging Two-Year College Strengths and Innovation. Each Track can support projects requesting up to $500,000 for a duration of up to three years. For institutions that have not received NSF funding in the past five years, an additional $100,000 may be added to the budget which may be used by the institution to support and carry out grant-funded activities over four years. This would result in a total maximum budget of $600,000 for a project over four years. Institutions that have been funded as part of a collaborative award with their own NSF Award Number are not eligible for this incentive, however, institutions that have had a subaward from another institution are eligible.

This program is open to two-year colleges, which includes the following institutions, as described by Carnegie Classifications:

- Associate's Colleges: Institutions at which the highest-level degree awarded is an associate degree. This may include transfer as well a career and technical oriented colleges.

- Baccalaureate / Associate's Colleges: Institutions that award at least one baccalaureate degree but confer at least 50% of their degrees at the associate level.

The ITYC program is aligned with NSF's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) framework, which is a comprehensive effort to accelerate improvements in the quality and effectiveness of undergraduate education in STEM fields.

Who can apply

Our reading of the listing: for-profit businesses are not eligible for this one.

Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

Proposals may only be submitted by two-year colleges of higher education (either Associate’s College or Baccalaureate / Associate’s Colleges) that are accredited and offer undergraduate educational degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  Baccalaureate, Master’s, and Doctoral institutions, and Professional Organizations may partner with a two-year college as a subaward or as a collaborator.  For all collaborative proposals, two-year colleges must be the lead organization.  Please see PAPPG Chapter II.E.3 for additional guidance on collaborative proposals.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Education
  • Science
  • Workforce

Program contact

U.S. National Science Foundationgrantsgovsupport@nsf.gov703-292-4203

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