Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC)

Background
The Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC) is administered by the Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. The EOC Program aims to provide information about financial and academic assistance for individuals seeking to pursue postsecondary education. It also assists in applying for admission to educational institutions and enhances financial and economic literacy among participants.

Grant Details
The EOC Program supports counseling and assistance for low-income, first-generation, and other priority adults (age 19 and older) who seek to enter or return to postsecondary education. Projects must deliver personalized guidance on admissions, financial aid, and economic literacy while expanding accessible pathways, including Registered Apprenticeships and high-quality short-term postsecondary programs. Each project must serve a minimum of 850 participants annually with an annual per-participant cost not exceeding $280. The maximum annual award is $1,300,000 for non-state-level applicants and $3,000,000 for state-level applicants designated by their Governor or Indian tribes receiving competitive preference points. The estimated available funds total $52,611,659 with approximately 55 awards expected.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, public or private agencies or organizations (including community-based organizations), secondary schools (including charter schools), or combinations thereof. There is no requirement for cost sharing or matching funds.

Period of Performance
The project period is set for 60 months.

Grant Value
The estimated range of awards is between $238,000 and $3,000,000 per grant.

Place of Performance
The specific geographic locations are not detailed in the provided document.