The Department of Education’s (ED) has announced the process for the designation of eligible institutions and waiver applications due April 7, 2025 (link)! Receiving designation makes an institution of higher education (IHE) eligible to apply for specific ED grant programs. These designations are awarded to IHE with a significant number of minority students, students in need of financial assistance, and which expend a significant amount of their institutional budget on core educational expenses.
Process Overview
This process (known as the eligibility matrix) is applicable to programs authorized under:
- Title III, part A of the HEA: Strengthening Institutions Program (Part A SIP), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (Part A ANNH), Predominantly Black Institutions (Part A PBI), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (Part A NASNTI), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (Part A AANAPISI).
- Title III, part F of the HEA: Hispanic-Serving Institutions STEM and Articulation (Part F HSI STEM and Articulation), Predominantly Black Institutions (Part F PBI), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (Part F ANNH), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (Part F NASNTI), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (Part F AANAPISI).
- Title V part A of the HEA: Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (Part A HSI).
- Title V part B of the HEA: Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (Part B PPOHA).
This process also has implications on waiving cost sharing requirements for certain programs (such as ED UISFL and TRIO SSS), as well as federal work study so we’d highly encourage you to check your eligibility even if the above programs are not of interest this year.
How to Check Eligibility
To check your institution’s eligibility, go to https://HEPIS.ed.gov/, and log into the system using a Login.gov account. If you are not sure whether you have an account in the system, click the “Request Account” button. If you do not have an account, the system will walk you through setup. Note that it may take up to five business days to verify user identity and to complete new account setup, so please allow enough time to complete the application. If the Grant Eligibility Application system is open for new applications, you may check your institution’s eligibility status by clicking the “View pre-Eligibility Information” button. Your institution’s eligibility information will display.
If the system does not show that your institution is eligible for a program, you can apply for a waiver or reconsideration using the process described in the federal register notice and application booklet (to be updated soon by Dept of Ed). The application process mirrors that used in previous years. You will first complete an application on the website at https://HEPIS.ed.gov/. If you remain ineligible based on your application, you will choose the waiver option(s) on the website to submit the required information and supporting documentation. The Department estimates that all reviews and decisions will be made approximately two weeks after the deadline, although this has varied in the past. Once all waiver decisions are made, the data from the eligibility system will be used to build a final EM that will be published on the Department’s eligibility website https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-higher-education/eligibility-designations-higher-education-programs. The matrix will be published likely in Spring/Summer 2025.
Basis for Eligibility
To qualify as an eligible institution under the grant programs listed in this notice, your institution must satisfy several criteria, including those that relate to the enrollment of needy students and to the Core Expenses per FTE student count for the specified base year. An institution is considered to have an enrollment of needy students if it meets either of the following two criteria: (1) at least 50 percent of its degree-seeking students received financial assistance under the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, or FWS programs; or (2) the percentage of its undergraduate degree-seeking students who were enrolled on at least a half-time basis and received Federal Pell Grants exceeded the median percentage of undergraduate degree students who were enrolled on at least a half-time basis and received Federal Pell Grants at comparable institutions that offer similar instruction. For the Core Expenses per FTE Student requirement, an institution satisfies this program eligibility requirement if its Core Expenses for the 2022-2023 base year are less than the average Core Expenses of its comparable institutional category. *Note that this eligibility can vary based on specific programs such as PBI, so it’s important to go into the system to check your eligibility (see above for instructions).
The following table identifies base year 2022-2023 median Federal Pell Grant percentages and average Core Expenses per FTE student for the four categories of comparable institutions:
GIS Ask us Anything Session: 2025 ED Eligibility Process
Not sure what the ED eligibility designation means for programs like Title III and Title V? Join our upcoming Ask Us Anything Session to get clear, actionable insights tailored to your institution. Secure your spot now: Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 11:30am ET. We’ll break down how this process affects funding opportunities, cost-sharing waivers, and what steps you need to take.
Register Here!
Grants Intelligence Service (GIS)
GIS provides curated tools to help small and mid-sized colleges and universities understand the ED Eligibility Matrix. GIS Advisors lead one-on-one sessions with members to explain the ED Eligibility Matrix, assist with the waiver process, and provide recommendations and intelligence on grant programs for eligible applicants. Advisors regularly advise members on which waiver option to pursue and how to best demonstrate their evidence. GIS can also provide strategic guidance on applying for grants that can help your college or university work towards achieving ED Eligibility.
Become a GIS member today to navigate the ED eligibility process with certainty!
