National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship
Purpose
The purpose of the NNF program, Assistance Listing 10.210, is to provide funding to support new graduate (master’s, DVM, or doctoral) student training and completion of degree programs to develop human capital to participate in meeting the mission of the USDA to increase the pipeline of domestic agricultural students. The NNF program offers funding for eligible full-time students pursuing graduate studies at the master’s, DVM, or doctoral levels within the food and agricultural sciences. The NNF program awards institutional grants to offer funding for eligible full-time students pursuing graduate studies at the master’s, DVM, and/or doctoral levels within the food and agricultural sciences. Fellows must be new graduate students (‘new’ is defined in Part III A); and citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. Awards made by the NNF program are specifically intended to support graduate programs that engage outstanding students who are citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States of America to pursue and complete their degrees in areas where there is a need for the development of scientific and professional expertise in the food and agricultural sciences. NNF awards invest in graduate training and relevant experiential learning for individuals who demonstrate their potential to successfully complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of the USDA.
Important Dates
- Posted Date: August 13, 2026
- Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Eligibility
- Land-grant Institutions (1862, 1890, 1994)
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed
- Colleges & universities having significant minority enrollments & a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food & agricultural sciences
- Other colleges & universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food & agricultural sciences
- Research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities
Contact Information
- For more Information Contact: Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program Contact
- Contact for Electronic Access Problems: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov
Funding Information
- Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-HEP-011737
- Assistance Listing Number: 10.210
- Previously Funded Awards: REEIS Link
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $14,000,000
- Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No Match Required
- Range of Awards: $78,000 - $705,000
- Topics: Education