Career & College Preparation Grants
Last updated July 22, 2026
There are currently 848 active college prep grants in Grantable's free grants database, drawn from federal, state and foundation sources and updated daily.
Find the college prep grants matched to your org
Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 848 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.
Showing 1–24 of 848
About college prep grants
College prep grants fund programs that help students prepare for, enroll in, and succeed in postsecondary education, with a focus on low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. The largest federal sources are the U.S. Department of Education's Federal TRIO programs (including Upward Bound and Talent Search) and GEAR UP. Private foundations and college-access nonprofits also fund advising, test prep, and transition support.
College Prep Grants by state
Browse college prep grants available to organizations in 4 states.
Frequently Asked Questions
What college prep grants are available?
College prep grants support college awareness, advising, tutoring, test preparation, financial-aid help, and summer bridge programs. The federal TRIO programs (such as Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services) and GEAR UP are the cornerstone funding sources, both administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Many private foundations and regional college-access organizations also fund programs that increase enrollment and completion for underserved students.
Which organizations fund college prep programs?
College prep is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Education through competitive TRIO and GEAR UP grants awarded to colleges, states, and nonprofit organizations. GEAR UP grants are typically six-year matching awards that frequently go to states, while TRIO grants go to institutions and community organizations. Private funders, including foundations focused on educational opportunity and college access, supplement federal funding for advising and scholarship-readiness programs.
Who is eligible for college prep grants?
Eligibility varies by program, but federal college-prep funding generally targets students from low-income families and students who would be first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. Grantees are usually colleges, universities, state agencies, school districts, and nonprofit organizations rather than individual students.
Get a shortlist of college prep grants built for your organization
Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.
Find my grants — emailed to meHere's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 grants
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per grant profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning