January 6, 2026
The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced on January 5, 2026 its awarding of $169M in grants from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). The Department announced the competition for these grants on November 10, 2025.
The Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE) is pleased to announce that it is among the recipients of these FIPSE grants.
The Department awarded CPHE a FIPSE grant of $1M to be expended in federal fiscal year FY 2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). Grant funding from the Department will fortify CPHE’s ability to refrain from charging dues and fees to the institutions that will be accredited by CPHE until it is recognized by the Department. CPHE plans to apply for recognition from the Department during federal fiscal year FY 2027.
The Department’s $1M grant to CPHE for federal fiscal year FY 2027 will offset 49% of CPHE’s forecasted budget for that time period, leaving 51% to be supported by other funds.