The U.S. Department of Education announced today the allocation of over $44.5 million in grants under the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) program. These funds aim to enhance postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion rates among rural students by developing high-quality career pathways aligned with high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors.
"Rural communities face unique challenges in educating, training, and developing high-skill workers—yet they are also home to students with unique skills and potential," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "These dedicated funds will ensure that students in rural areas have access to postsecondary credentials and other resources that lead to high-quality career pathways and economic success."
Applicants for the RPED grant program were encouraged to provide programs supporting secondary students' access to postsecondary education, including partnerships with career pathways, and strategies for community college students transitioning to four-year institutions.
The FY24 RPED grantees include:
- Chattahoochee Valley Community College, Alabama: $2,226,554 for improving rural student success through career pathways.
- George Corley Wallace State Community College, Alabama: $2,227,500 for opportunities to transfer to four-year institutions or directly into the workforce.
- Unite Inc., Alabama: $2,179,248 for services promoting college enrollment among rural first-generation and low-income high school students.
- Palo Verde College, California: $2,227,500 for online and rural services targeting dual enrollment and new college students.
- University of Indianapolis, Indiana: $2,033,672 for relationship-centered learning and integrated hands-on curriculum leading to dual credit and workforce credentials.
- Independence Community College, Kansas: $2,225,606 for enhancing post-secondary career opportunities for high school students.
- Newman University, Kansas: $2,103,308 for academic and career supports in fields such as agribusiness and nursing.
- Western Kentucky University: $2,035,668 for supports aiding postsecondary education success in teacher college pathways.
- University of Montana-Missoula College: $1,815,359 for expanding health science CTE programs related to college preparedness.
- Nebraska Children and Families Foundation: $2,227,500 for implementing student success programs advancing systemic change in postsecondary education access.
- New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation: $1,804,726 for targeted remote education supports bridging the digital divide.
- Halifax Community College (North Carolina): $2 182 035for creating a Student Academic Support Center
-Marion Technical College Ohio:$1 714 423for increasing postsecondary enrollment degree attainment among rural students
Ohio University:$2022519for increasing underserved student enrollment completion in Advanced Manufacturing STEM fields
Black Hills State University South Dakota:$1993247for creating supports increasing postsecondary education access success
University of South Dakota School of Education:$2227335for creating a teacher fellowship program
The Garrett Center on Transition Disability Studies at Sam Houston State University Texas:$2219533for providing wraparound services aiding transition from school employment
Grays Harbor College Washington:$2227500for holistic individual support tailored meet needs each individual rural student
Heritage University Washington:$811773for creating pathway train diverse nursing workforce
EdVenture Group Inc West Virginia:$1956655for providing secondary school students technical education experiences aligned with high-growth industries starting eighth grade Southern Regional Education Board West Virginia:$2175937for academic career supports aiding success fields business accounting education Western Technical College Wisconsin$2202231developing pathways Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Registered Apprenticeship opportunities within education information technology manufacturing healthcare industries
For more information about the program visit Rural Postsecondary & Economic Development (RPED) Program.
