FY27 Nursing School Grant

FY27 Nursing School Grant

This grant program seeks to increase the number of registered professional nurses with high quality post-secondary credentials to meet the demands of the Illinois economy. Eligible nursing programs include Associate Degrees in Nursing (ADN), Registered Nursing to Baccalaureate Degree Completion Programs (RN-BSN), and Baccalaureate Degrees in Nursing (BSN). Programs must meet accreditation requirements and other eligibility criteria. Nursing schools that meet the eligibility criteria will be able to compete for grant awards. Grant proposals must improve or expand existing nursing programs using strategies that are supported by current research and best practices. Also, proposals must relate to institutional performance measures and goals. Additionally, the Board will be looking for evidence of proposals that will help to close equity gaps in enrollment, course completion, graduation, and/or licensure by student who are African American, Latino, low-income, first-generation college, from rural communities, working adults or students with disabilities.

Details

• Awarding Agency: Board Of Higher Education
• CSFA Number: 601-00-1592
• CSFA Popular Name: Nursing School Grant
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $1,500,000.00
• Expected Number of Awards: 20
• Funding Sources: State
• Capital Grant: No
• Indirect Costs Allowed: No
• Posted Date: 2026-08-19
• Award Period: 2026-07-01 – 2027-06-30

State Award Notices

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The appropriation to the program for Fiscal Year 2027 is $1,500,000, which remains level from Fiscal Year 2026. It is anticipated that there will be multiple grantees with a range of awards up to $150,000, according to the quality of the proposals. The grant period is from the date of last signature to the agreement in 2026 through June 30, 2027. Funds are to be expended or encumbered prior to July 1, 2027.

Awards will be released in two parts:
• Fifty percent upon execution of the grant agreement between IBHE and the grantee; and
• Fifty percent upon submission of the Deliverable outlined in Exhibit B (financial reporting).

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Nursing schools that meet the eligibility criteria will be able to compete for grant awards by submitting grant proposals. These proposals must improve or expand existing nursing programs using strategies that are supported by current research and best practices. Also, proposals must relate to institutional performance measures and goals.

The grant awards for eligible nursing programs shall be determined using a competitive process to review applications. The Board's standards for approval include, but are not limited to, the following criteria, considerations, and weightings:
25% Evidence of effective project objectives and performance goals, including evidence of current research and best practices.
25% Proposed use of funds and budget justification demonstrating an effective use of program resources.
25% Evidence of how an institution will use grant funding to help close equity gaps in enrollment, course completion, graduation, or licensure by students who are African American, Latino, low-income, first-generation college, from rural communities,
working adults, or students with disabilities. Proposals may address more than one of the equity gaps and student populations.
15% Evidence of an effective assessment and evaluation plan for outcomes and related progress achieved through the grant.
10% Evidence of institutional support and sustainability plans for grant-funded activities.

Priority for funding will be given to the following which are listed in order starting with the top priority:
1. Funding for baccalaureate-completion programs to facilitate student articulation from an ADN program offered by a community college to a BSN or RN-BSN program offered by a 4-year institution.
2. Funding for continuation of a Nursing School Grant previously awarded.
3. Funding for a new grant to expand or improve an eligible nursing program.

Reporting

Grantee agrees to submit reports as requested. The first of such reports shall cover the first three months after the Grantee receives notice of the award. Reports must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days following the period covered by the report. Failure to submit the reports may cause a delay or suspension of funding and may impact the assessment of institution risk for future grant awards.
REPORT DUE DATE --
Report #1 Period - Date of Last Signature thru February 26, 2027 - Due on or before March 31, 2027
Report #2 Period - March 1, 2027 thru June 30, 2027 - Due on or before July 31, 2027
Close-Out - Date of Last Signature thru June 30, 2027 - Due on or before August 31, 2027

As required, the Grantee shall agree to provide an adjusted budget to the Grantor (IBHE) no later than 30 days after execution of the agreement.