Applications for New Awards; Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program

The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program is a discretionary grant initiative administered by the Office of Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Its primary objective is to support eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) that serve a high percentage of Hispanic students. Through this program, the Department seeks to improve academic attainment among Hispanic students and increase the quality, programmatic offerings, and institutional stability of colleges and universities where a significant portion of the student body identifies as Hispanic. The DHSI Program provides five-year Individual Development Grants to institutions that qualify as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). These grants enable institutions to implement activities that enhance educational quality and institutional capacity. Priority is given to rural applicants and those who have not received a discretionary grant under the program within the past five years. Additionally, applicants are invited—but not required—to propose projects expanding access to distance education, work-based learning, and credentials that align with in-demand industry needs. Eligible applicants must be accredited institutions legally authorized to provide undergraduate education and must meet specific criteria to be classified as HSIs. These include maintaining an undergraduate enrollment where at least 25 percent of full-time equivalent students are Hispanic and demonstrating financial need and low average educational expenditures per student. Applicants are also required to submit documentation confirming these figures, and only institutions verified through the Department's process or granted eligibility waivers are permitted to apply. The total estimated funding available for fiscal year 2025 is approximately $66,944,786, with award sizes ranging between $500,000 and $600,000 per institution per year. A total of 116 awards are expected to be issued. The maximum single-year award cannot exceed $600,000. Grants may not be used to supplant existing funding, and indirect costs are not allowable. Institutions are encouraged to integrate their proposals with broader institutional development plans that enhance academic programs, management practices, and financial operations, particularly for underserved student populations. Applications open on June 3, 2025, and must be submitted by July 3, 2025. The intergovernmental review deadline is October 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov in compliance with the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs. The application narrative is recommended not to exceed 55 pages, and institutions are encouraged to submit a notice of intent to apply to assist the Department in planning the review process. Key contact for the program is Margarita Melendez, who can be reached via email at Margarita.Melendez@ed.gov or by phone at (202) 987–0408. Institutions may award subgrants to eligible educational and nonprofit entities as part of their project plans. This grant program is subject to intergovernmental review and the open licensing requirement for grant deliverables. Projects are expected to align with the performance measures defined by the Department, including degree completion rates and persistence rates among Hispanic students.

Applicants are encouraged to include logic models and cite supporting evidence. Up to 20 additional points for rural/new applicants.