The U.S. Department of Education has awarded more than $186 million in TRIO grants, easing concerns among education advocates that the money might be redirected or not awarded at all. Hundreds of colleges and universities are among the first recipients, and the department still has until the end of September to announce more awards.
Key facts
- The department announced $142.5 million in TRIO Talent Search grants to 326 entities.
- It also announced $44.7 million in TRIO Educational Opportunity Center grants to 102 entities.
- More than 80% of the grantees announced so far are colleges and universities.
- The department has until the end of September to announce a second slate of awardees.
- Advocates had worried the programs could be reshaped or redirected under the new funding approach.
What does this mean for students and applicants?
For students, prospective college students and adults seeking postsecondary help, the awards mean many existing TRIO programs can keep serving them. Talent Search is designed to help disadvantaged students apply to, enroll in and graduate from college, while Educational Opportunity Centers support adults pursuing college access.
In the initial round, the average annual Talent Search grant was about $437,000, and the average Educational Opportunity Center grant was about $439,000. The department said the remaining award decisions are still to come, so the full impact will depend on the second slate.
Frequently asked questions
How much money did the Education Department announce?
The department announced more than $186 million in TRIO funding overall, split between $142.5 million for Talent Search grants and $44.7 million for Educational Opportunity Center grants.
Who got the grants?
Initial awardees include 326 entities for Talent Search and 102 entities for Educational Opportunity Centers, and more than 80% of the grantees announced so far are colleges and universities.
Why the announcement matters
The awards brought relief to TRIO advocates after earlier concerns that the administration might redirect the money or reduce support for long-running college-access programs. The initial slate also suggests many institutions that have previously received awards are continuing in the competitions.
Among the larger grants, the Executive Office of the State of Ohio received a $10 million annual Talent Search award, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction received $5.3 million. For Educational Opportunity Centers, the largest awards included $3 million for the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education and $2.9 million for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.
Marshall University’s Zachary Jenkins said his program received a $625,000 annual award, the full amount it applied for.
