Educational Opportunity Centers Program - ED-GRANT-26-024

Educational Opportunity Centers Program - ED-GRANT-26-024 is sponsored by U.S. Department of Education (Administered by DOL ETA). The Employment and Training Administration at the U. S.

Department of Labor is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Educational Opportunity Centers Program on behalf of the U. S. Department of Education.

Educational Opportunity Centers (84. 066A) | U.S. Department of Education Educational Opportunity Centers (84.

066A) Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) State Educational Agencies (SEAs) Estimated Total Grant Funding Expected Number Of Awards 05/14/2026 - 11:59 PM EDT Applicant Info and Eligibility On Monday, March 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the availability of more than $52 million in funding to support the Educational Opportunity Centers Program, which provides information regarding financial and academic assistance available for qualified individuals who want to enter or continue to pursue a program of postsecondary education; provide assistance to those individuals in applying for admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary education, and improve the financial and economic literacy of program participants.

The closing date for receipt of applications is May 14, 2026. Administered by the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration , on behalf of the Department of Education (ED), the Educational Opportunity Centers Program is fully aligned with America’s Talent Strategy and the reindustrialization agenda of the Trump Administration.

As described in the March 16, 2026 Dear Colleague letter , ED and DOL developed this partnership through an interagency agreement to better employment and earnings outcomes for postsecondary students. In addition, the Educational Opportunity Centers Division will be hosted 10 pre-application technical assistance webinars. Additional details can be found on the Educational Opportunity Centers Applicant Info tab .

The official funding opportunity announcement for the FY 2026 Educational Opportunity Centers Program competition is forthcoming and will be available in the Federal Register. The Educational Opportunity Centers program provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education.

The program also provides services to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants. An important objective of the program is to counsel participants on financial aid options, including basic financial planning skills, and to assist in the application process. The goal of the EOC program is to increase the number of adult participants who enroll in postsecondary education institutions.

An Educational Opportunity Center project may provide the following services: Public information campaigns designed to inform the community about opportunities for postsecondary education and training; Academic advice and assistance in course selection; Assistance in completing college admission and financial aid applications; Assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations; Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants; Guidance on secondary school reentry or entry to a General Educational Development (GED) program or other alternative education program for secondary school dropouts; Individualized personal, career, and academic counseling; Career workshops and counseling; Mentoring programs involving elementary or secondary school teachers, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of these persons; Programs and activities described above that are specially designed for participants who are limited English proficient, participants from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, participants who are individuals with disabilities, participants who are homeless children and youth, participants who are foster care youth, or other disconnected participants; and Other activities designed to meet the purposes of the EOC program Fast Facts Report for the Educational Opportunity Centers Programs: 2018-19 A Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2007-08, With Select Comparative Data, 2002-07 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002-03 and 2003-04, With Select Data From 2000-02 A Profile of EOC: 1999-00 A Profile of EOC: 1998-99 Estimated Available Funds: $52,611,659 Estimated Range of Awards: $238,000 - $3,000,000 For an applicant that has not been designated by their Governor as the state-level applicant, the annual maximum award is $1,300,000 For one state-level applicant that has been designated by their Governor as the state-level applicant, or for any Indian tribe receing points under the competitive preference priortiy, the maximum annual award amount is $3,000,000 FY 2001-2024 Educational Opportunity Center Funding History - The program-level information shows historical funding allocation, number of awards, number of participants, average award, average number of participants and average cost per participant for fiscal years 2001 through 2024.

Fiscal Year Funding Allocation Number of Awards Number of Participants Average Award Average Number of Participants Average Cost per Participant 2024 $65,096,897 179 215,303 $363,670 1,203 $302 2023 $63,934,646 181 217,253 $353,230 1,200 $294 2022 $63,886,164 183 218,953 $349,105 1,196 $292 2021 $61,412,887 170 209,735 $361,252 1,234 $293 2020 $54,926,989 139 192,530 $395,158 1,385 $285 2019 $54,100,779 140 193,530 $386,434 1,382 $280 2018 $51,681,910 140 193,530 $369,157 1.

382 $267 2017 $50,649,719 142 199,722 $356,688 1,406 $254 2016 $56,186,996 165 225,678 $340,527 1,368 $249 2015 $46,606,423 126 189,733 $369,892 1,506 $246 2014 $46,876,529 126 189,733 $372,036 1,506 $247 2013 $44,067,484 126 181,581 $349,742 1,441 $243 2012 $45,901,792 126 189,131 $364,300 1,501 $243 2011 $47,676,723 128 192,196 $372,474 1,502 $248 2010 $46,724,127 124 194,445 $376,807 1,568 $240 2009 $46,830,291 124 194,445 $377,664 1,568 $241 2008 $46,830,291 124 194,795 $377,664 1,571 $240 2007 $47,006,891 125 195,795 $376,055 1,566 $240 2006 $47,726,296 135 205,915 $353,528 1,525 $232 2005 $48,971,567 139 217,565 $352,313 1,565 $225 2004 $48,971,567 139 217,265 $352,313 1,563 $225 2003 $47,694,915 138 210,065 $345,615 1,522 $227 2002 i $48,011,311 139 217,836 $345,405 1,567 $220 2001 ii $33,234,295 82 160,836 $405,296 1,961 $207 i The FY 2002 funding includes $570,000 for one-time supplemental grants for technology of $10,000 each for the 57 first-time funded EOC projects.

ii The FY 2001 funding includes one-time supplemental grants of $10,000 per project for technology. Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Subpart 2, Chapter 1, Sections 402A and 402F Official Final Regulations Amending TRIO Regulations , as published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2010. These final regulations amend the Educational Opportunity Centers Program regulations.

Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 644 Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) , 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99 The official funding opportunity announcement for the FY 2026 Educational Opportunity Centers Program competition is forthcoming and will be available in the Federal Register.

FY20 EOC Application FAQs Prior Experience Objectives and Calculations for EOC Projects Operating in Project Years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 Federal TRIO Programs Current-Year Low-Income Levels Federal TRIO Programs Prior-Year Low-Income Levels Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Applicant and Grantee Resources As of January 24, 2024, the TRIO APR website for Educational Opportunity Centers is available for grantees' use in submitting their reports The EOC Program Division hosted 10 pre-application technical assistance webinars with live Question-and-Answer sessions from April 14-20, 2026 (two sessions a day) The webinars were for prospective grant applicants who wished to learn more about the program, its submission requirements, key priorities, and other important competition highlights.

Registration was required to participate. Each session consisted of a recorded presentation followed by a live Q&A segment.

Pre-Application Webinar Slides An institution of higher education (as defined in sections 101 and 102 of the Higher Education Act) A public or private agency of organization, including a community-based organization with experience in serving disadvantaged youth Note: State educational agencies (SEAs) and State workforce agencies may apply as a public organization A secondary school (as defined in 34 CFR 6447(b) Note: Charter schools may apply as a secondary school A combination of the types of institutions, agencies, and organizations describes in (a), (b), and (c) Frequently Asked Questions Select a link below to jump to the relevant page section What is the purpose of the EOC program?

What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds? How often are competitions generally held? What is the duration of the average grant?

What is the average annual grant amount? Is there a cost matching requirement? If so, are in-kind contributions acceptable as part of the grantee's match?

What are the reporting requirements for grantees? What kind of records and data should be maintained or collected in order to complete required reports? What are the requirements for auditing and/or evaluation of funded projects?

Are there program-wide performance measures? What are a few concrete examples of allowable activities? 1.

What is the purpose of the EOC program?

The purpose of the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) Program is to provide information regarding financial and academic assistance available to individuals who desire to pursue a program of postsecondary education; provide assistance to individuals in applying for admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary education, including assistance in preparing necessary applications for use by admissions and financial aid officers; and provide information regarding financial and economic literacy to participants.

2. What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?

An Educational Opportunity Centers project may provide the following services: Public information campaigns designed to inform the community about opportunities for postsecondary education and training; Academic advice and assistance in course selection; Assistance in completing college admission and financial aid applications; Assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations; Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants; Guidance on secondary school reentry or entry to a General Educational Development (GED) program or other alternative education program for secondary school dropouts; Individualized personal, career, and academic counseling; Career workshops and counseling; Mentoring programs involving elementary or secondary school teachers, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of these persons; Programs and activities described above that are specially designed for participants who are limited English proficient, participants from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, participants who are individuals with disabilities, participants who are homeless children and youth, participants who are foster care youth, or other disconnected participants; and Other activities designed to meet the purposes of the EOC Program.

3. How often are competitions generally held? The EOC Program grant competition is held every four years.

4. What is the duration of the average grant? All EOC grants are funded for five-year grant award cycles.

5. What is the average annual grant amount? The average EOC grant award amount is $370,458.

6. Is there a cost matching requirement? If so, are in-kind contributions acceptable as part of the grantee's match?

The EOC Program does not require cost sharing or matching. 7. What are the reporting requirements for grantees?

What kind of records and data should be maintained or collected in order to complete required reports? All EOC Program grantees are required to submit an annual performance report (APR) documenting progress toward meeting their approved project objectives.

All EOC Program grantees are required to maintain participant records that show -- The basis for the grantee's determination that each participant is eligible to participate in the project; The services that are provided to the participant; The specific educational benefits received by the participant; and To the extent practicable, any services the participant receives during the project year from another Federal TRIO program or another federally-funded program that serves populations similar to those served under the EOC Program.

8. What are the requirements for auditing and/or evaluation of funded projects? Any non-Federal entities expending $500,000 or more a year in federal awards are required to conduct an A-133 audit .

In addition, EOC grantees must have an evaluation plan in place that substantiates formative and summative evaluation measures, as stipulated in the funded application. 9. Are there program-wide performance measures?

The success of the Educational Opportunity Centers Program is measured by the percentage of low-income, first-generation college students who successfully pursue postsecondary education opportunities. 10. What are a few concrete examples of allowable activities?

Providing individualized personal, career and academic counseling; Assisting participants in the completion of admission applications for postsecondary education and financial aid applications; Conducting workshop on financial and economic literacy; and Involving participants in: (1) visits to postsecondary educational institutions; (2) participation in "College Day" activities; and (3) field trips for participants to observe and meet with persons who are employed in various career fields and can act as role models for participants.

Projects Funded for 2025-26 Projects Funded for 2024-25 Projects Funded for 2023-24 Projects Funded for 2022-23 Projects Funded for 2021-22 The U.S. Department of Education's annual Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) report for the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program contains outcome data for two measures -- postsecondary enrollment and percentage of participants classified as both low-income and potential first-generation college students -- and one measure of program efficiency.

To obtain the narrative report and/or data tables, click on the link(s) below.

Grantee-Level Performance Results: 2022-23 2022 - 2023 Grantee Narrative Reports 2022 - 2023 Grantee Data Tables Grantee-Level Performance Results: 2023-24 2023 - 2024 Grantee Narrative Report 2023 - 2024 Grantee Data Tables On Monday, March 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the availability of more than $52 million in funding to support the Educational Opportunity Centers Program, which provides information regarding financial and academic assistance available for qualified individuals who want to enter or continue to pursue a program of postsecondary education; provide assistance to those individuals in applying for admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary education, and improve the financial and economic literacy of program participants.

The closing date for receipt of applications is May 14, 2026. Administered by the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration , on behalf of the Department of Education (ED), the Educational Opportunity Centers Program is fully aligned with America’s Talent Strategy and the reindustrialization agenda of the Trump Administration.

As described in the March 16, 2026 Dear Colleague letter , ED and DOL developed this partnership through an interagency agreement to better employment and earnings outcomes for postsecondary students. In addition, the Educational Opportunity Centers Division will be hosted 10 pre-application technical assistance webinars. Additional details can be found on the Educational Opportunity Centers Applicant Info tab .

The official funding opportunity announcement for the FY 2026 Educational Opportunity Centers Program competition is forthcoming and will be available in the Federal Register. The Educational Opportunity Centers program provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education.

The program also provides services to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants. An important objective of the program is to counsel participants on financial aid options, including basic financial planning skills, and to assist in the application process. The goal of the EOC program is to increase the number of adult participants who enroll in postsecondary education institutions.

An Educational Opportunity Center project may provide the following services: Public information campaigns designed to inform the community about opportunities for postsecondary education and training; Academic advice and assistance in course selection; Assistance in completing college admission and financial aid applications; Assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations; Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants; Guidance on secondary school reentry or entry to a General Educational Development (GED) program or other alternative education program for secondary school dropouts; Individualized personal, career, and academic counseling; Career workshops and counseling; Mentoring programs involving elementary or secondary school teachers, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of these persons; Programs and activities described above that are specially designed for participants who are limited English proficient, participants from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, participants who are individuals with disabilities, participants who are homeless children and youth, participants who are foster care youth, or other disconnected participants; and Other activities designed to meet the purposes of the EOC program Fast Facts Report for the Educational Opportunity Centers Programs: 2018-19 A Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2007-08, With Select Comparative Data, 2002-07 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002-03 and 2003-04, With Select Data From 2000-02 A Profile of EOC: 1999-00 A Profile of EOC: 1998-99 Estimated Available Funds: $52,611,659 Estimated Range of Awards: $238,000 - $3,000,000 For an applicant that has not been designated by their Governor as the state-level applicant, the annual maximum award is $1,300,000 For one state-level applicant that has been designated by their Governor as the state-level applicant, or for any Indian tribe receing points under the competitive preference priortiy, the maximum annual award amount is $3,000,000 FY 2001-2024 Educational Opportunity Center Funding History - The program-level information shows historical funding allocation, number of awards, number of participants, average award, average number of participants and average cost per participant for fiscal years 2001 through 2024.

Fiscal Year Funding Allocation Number of Awards Number of Participants Average Award Average Number of Participants Average Cost per Participant 2024 $65,096,897 179 215,303 $363,670 1,203 $302 2023 $63,934,646 181 217,253 $353,230 1,200 $294 2022 $63,886,164 183 218,953 $349,105 1,196 $292 2021 $61,412,887 170 209,735 $361,252 1,234 $293 2020 $54,926,989 139 192,530 $395,158 1,385 $285 2019 $54,100,779 140 193,530 $386,434 1,382 $280 2018 $51,681,910 140 193,530 $369,157 1.

382 $267 2017 $50,649,719 142 199,722 $356,688 1,406 $254 2016 $56,186,996 165 225,678 $340,527 1,368 $249 2015 $46,606,423 126 189,733 $369,892 1,506 $246 2014 $46,876,529 126 189,733 $372,036 1,506 $247 2013 $44,067,484 126 181,581 $349,742 1,441 $243 2012 $45,901,792 126 189,131 $364,300 1,501 $243 2011 $47,676,723 128 192,196 $372,474 1,502 $248 2010 $46,724,127 124 194,445 $376,807 1,568 $240 2009 $46,830,291 124 194,445 $377,664 1,568 $241 2008 $46,830,291 124 194,795 $377,664 1,571 $240 2007 $47,006,891 125 195,795 $376,055 1,566 $240 2006 $47,726,296 135 205,915 $353,528 1,525 $232 2005 $48,971,567 139 217,565 $352,313 1,565 $225 2004 $48,971,567 139 217,265 $352,313 1,563 $225 2003 $47,694,915 138 210,065 $345,615 1,522 $227 2002 i $48,011,311 139 217,836 $345,405 1,567 $220 2001 ii $33,234,295 82 160,836 $405,296 1,961 $207 i The FY 2002 funding includes $570,000 for one-time supplemental grants for technology of $10,000 each for the 57 first-time funded EOC projects.

ii The FY 2001 funding includes one-time supplemental grants of $10,000 per project for technology. Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Subpart 2, Chapter 1, Sections 402A and 402F Official Final Regulations Amending TRIO Regulations , as published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2010. These final regulations amend the Educational Opportunity Centers Program regulations.

Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 644 Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) , 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99 Applicant Info and Eligibility The official funding opportunity announcement for the FY 2026 Educational Opportunity Centers Program competition is forthcoming and will be available in the Federal Register.

FY20 EOC Application FAQs Prior Experience Objectives and Calculations for EOC Projects Operating in Project Years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 Federal TRIO Programs Current-Year Low-Income Levels Federal TRIO Programs Prior-Year Low-Income Levels Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Applicant and Grantee Resources As of January 24, 2024, the TRIO APR website for Educational Opportunity Centers is available for grantees' use in submitting their reports The EOC Program Division hosted 10 pre-application technical assistance webinars with live Question-and-Answer sessions from April 14-20, 2026 (two sessions a day) The webinars were for prospective grant applicants who wished to learn more about the program, its submission requirements, key priorities, and other important competition highlights.

Registration was required to participate. Each session consisted of a recorded presentation followed by a live Q&A segment.

Pre-Application Webinar Slides An institution of higher education (as defined in sections 101 and 102 of the Higher Education Act) A public or private agency of organization, including a community-based organization with experience in serving disadvantaged youth Note: State educational agencies (SEAs) and State workforce agencies may apply as a public organization A secondary school (as defined in 34 CFR 6447(b) Note: Charter schools may apply as a secondary school A combination of the types of institutions, agencies, and organizations describes in (a), (b), and (c) Frequently Asked Questions Select a link below to jump to the relevant page section What is the purpose of the EOC program?

What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds? How often are competitions generally held? What is the duration of the average grant?

What is the average annual grant amount? Is there a cost matching requirement? If so, are in-kind contributions acceptable as part of the grantee's match?

What are the reporting requirements for grantees? What kind of records and data should be maintained or collected in order to complete required reports? What are the requirements for auditing and/or evaluation of funded projects?

Are there program-wide performance measures? What are a few concrete examples of allowable activities? 1.

What is the purpose of the EOC program?

The purpose of the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) Program is to provide information regarding financial and academic assistance available to individuals who desire to pursue a program of postsecondary education; provide assistance to individuals in applying for admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary education, including assistance in preparing necessary applications for use by admissions and financial aid officers; and provide information regarding financial and economic literacy to participants.

2. What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?

An Educational Opportunity Centers project may provide the following services: Public information campaigns designed to inform the community about opportunities for postsecondary education and training; Academic advice and assistance in course selection; Assistance in completing college admission and financial aid applications; Assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations; Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants; Guidance on secondary school reentry or entry to a General Educational Development (GED) program or other alternative education program for secondary school dropouts; Individualized personal, career, and academic counseling; Career workshops and counseling; Mentoring programs involving elementary or secondary school teachers, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of these persons; Programs and activities described above that are specially designed for participants who are limited English proficient, participants from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, participants who are individuals with disabilities, participants who are homeless children and youth, participants who are foster care youth, or other disconnected participants; and Other activities designed to meet the purposes of the EOC Program.

3. How often are competitions generally held? The EOC Program grant competition is held every four years.

4. What is the duration of the average grant? All EOC grants are funded for five-year grant award cycles.

5. What is the average annual grant amount? The average EOC grant award amount is $370,458.

6. Is there a cost matching requirement? If so, are in-kind contributions acceptable as part of the grantee's match?

The EOC Program does not require cost sharing or matching. 7. What are the reporting requirements for grantees?

What kind of records and data should be maintained or collected in order to complete required reports? All EOC Program grantees are required to submit an annual performance report (APR) documenting progress toward meeting their approved project objectives.

All EOC Program grantees are required to maintain participant records that show -- The basis for the grantee's determination that each participant is eligible to participate in the project; The services that are provided to the participant; The specific educational benefits received by the participant; and To the extent practicable, any services the participant receives during the project year from another Federal TRIO program or another federally-funded program that serves populations similar to those served under the EOC Program.

8. What are the requirements for auditing and/or evaluation of funded projects? Any non-Federal entities expending $500,000 or more a year in federal awards are required to conduct an A-133 audit .

In addition, EOC grantees must have an evaluation plan in place that substantiates formative and summative evaluation measures, as stipulated in the funded application. 9. Are there program-wide performance measures?

The success of the Educational Opportunity Centers Program is measured by the percentage of low-income, first-generation college students who successfully pursue postsecondary education opportunities. 10. What are a few concrete examples of allowable activities?

Providing individualized personal, career and academic counseling; Assisting participants in the completion of admission applications for postsecondary education and financial aid applications; Conducting workshop on financial and economic literacy; and Involving participants in: (1) visits to postsecondary educational institutions; (2) participation in "College Day" activities; and (3) field trips for participants to observe and meet with persons who are employed in various career fields and can act as role models for participants.

Projects Funded for 2025-26 Projects Funded for 2024-25 Projects Funded for 2023-24 Projects Funded for 2022-23 Projects Funded for 2021-22 The U.S. Department of Education's annual Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) report for the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program contains outcome data for two measures -- postsecondary enrollment and percentage of participants classified as both low-income and potential first-generation college students -- and one measure of program efficiency.

To obtain the narrative report and/or data tables, click on the link(s) below.

Grantee-Level Performance Results: 2022-23 2022 - 2023 Grantee Narrative Reports 2022 - 2023 Grantee Data Tables Grantee-Level Performance Results: 2023-24 2023 - 2024 Grantee Narrative Report 2023 - 2024 Grantee Data Tables Associated Federal Register Notice FY 2026 Competition Announcement Grant Applicants / Grantees Higher Education Institutions Educational Opportunity Centers Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Page Last Reviewed: May 28, 2026