Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 527
The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program is a National Science Foundation grant opportunity designed to expand the United States STEM workforce by helping academically capable low-income students earn degrees in high-demand STEM fields. The program traces back to the 1998 American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act, which tied H-1B visa-related funding to long-term domestic workforce development. While it originally focused on scholarships for math, engineering, and computer science, subsequent legislation allowed NSF to broaden eligibility to most STEM disciplines that NSF funds, as long as institutions can show those degrees align with national or regional workforce needs.
At its core, S-STEM is not just a scholarship program. NSF’s approach is built on the idea that tuition support alone is not enough to improve retention and graduation in STEM, especially for students facing financial strain. As a result, grants are awarded to institutions of higher education so they can both provide scholarships and implement, adapt, and study evidence-based academic and co-curricular supports. These supports can include structured advising, cohort models, tutoring, undergraduate research experiences, mentoring, bridge programs, career development, transfer pathways (particularly for 2-year to 4-year transitions), and other activities beyond standard coursework that research suggests improve student outcomes. A strong emphasis is placed on social mobility, with the expectation that scholarship-supported degree pathways should lead to rewarding employment opportunities after graduation.
Student eligibility is specific: S-STEM scholars must be domestic students who are low-income, have demonstrated unmet financial need, and show academic ability, talent, or potential. Eligible students may be enrolled in associate, bachelor’s, or graduate programs, as long as the degree is in an S-STEM-eligible discipline. On the institutional side, applicants must clearly analyze and describe the student population they intend to serve, including academic needs and barriers, and present a coherent plan for how scholarships and support structures will improve recruitment, persistence, and graduation.
S-STEM-eligible degree programs span a wide range of levels: Associate of Arts/Science/Engineering/Applied Science; Bachelor of Arts/Science/Engineering/Applied Science; Master of Arts/Science/Engineering; and doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or comparable). Eligible disciplines generally include fields in which NSF supports research, along with related technology fields (for example, biotechnology, engineering technology, chemical technology, and information technology). There are important exclusions: clinical degree programs are not eligible (including medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and similar programs not funded by NSF), and business degrees are also excluded, including undergraduate Business Administration degrees (BBA/BSBA/BABA) as well as MBA and doctoral Business Administration programs. Because boundaries can be nuanced, NSF strongly encourages prospective applicants to consult program officers if there is any uncertainty about whether a discipline or degree qualifies.
NSF also signals clear priorities around workforce relevance. Proposals are expected to connect scholarship pathways to labor-market demand, and NSF is particularly interested in fields framed as critical national needs. Examples highlighted include quantum computing and quantum science, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science and computer engineering, data science, and computational science applied to frontier STEM areas. Institutions are not limited to these examples, but they do need to make a strong, evidence-backed case that their targeted field(s) represent an urgent U.S. workforce need, especially where interdisciplinary training is important.
Collaboration is another key theme. The program encourages partnerships across institution types and across campus roles, including collaborations among STEM faculty, researchers, and academic administrators, as well as engagement with researchers who study student success factors (including educational, behavioral, and social science perspectives). External partnerships are also welcomed where they strengthen career pathways and workforce alignment, such as relationships with industry, local community organizations, national laboratories, and federal, state, or local government entities.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NSF grant (CFDA 47.076) under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. The listed opportunity information includes a funding opportunity number of 23-527, an award ceiling of $5,000,000, and an expected 90 awards. The original posting date is December 4, 2022, and the original closing date shown is March 29, 2023 (with references to different proposal tracks, including Track 1 and Tracks 2, 3, and collaborative planning grants). The program especially encourages proposals from 2-year colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, predominantly undergraduate institutions, and public institutions in urban, suburban, and rural settings, reflecting an intent to broaden participation and strengthen STEM degree completion in a wide variety of communities and educational environments.Apply for 23 527
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 04, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 29, 2023 Tracks 2, 3 amp Collaborative Planning Grants Track 1 proposals. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 90 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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NSF S-STEM Program (NSF 23-527) FAQs
What is the NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) Program?
The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program is a National Science Foundation grant opportunity that supports institutions of higher education in expanding the U.S. STEM workforce. It does this by funding scholarships for academically capable low-income students in high-demand STEM fields and by supporting evidence-based academic and co-curricular activities that improve recruitment, retention, and graduation.
Is S-STEM only a scholarship program?
No. S-STEM is designed around the idea that financial support alone is not enough to improve STEM student outcomes. NSF funds institutions so they can provide scholarships and also implement, adapt, and study supports shown to improve persistence and degree completion (for example advising, tutoring, mentoring, cohort models, bridge programs, research experiences, and career development).
Who applies for S-STEM funding: students or institutions?
Institutions of higher education apply to NSF for S-STEM grants. Students do not apply directly to NSF through this opportunity; instead, scholarship support is administered by the funded institution.
What is the main goal of the S-STEM Program?
The main goal is to expand the United States STEM workforce by helping academically capable low-income students earn degrees in STEM fields that align with national or regional workforce needs, supporting social mobility and pathways to rewarding employment after graduation.
Why does NSF emphasize supports beyond tuition assistance?
NSF’s approach reflects research and experience suggesting that students facing financial strain often benefit from structured academic and co-curricular supports in addition to scholarships. S-STEM projects are therefore expected to combine scholarship funding with intentional, evidence-based strategies to improve student success.
What kinds of student supports can S-STEM projects include?
Examples described for S-STEM include structured advising, cohort models, tutoring, undergraduate research experiences, mentoring, bridge programs, career development activities, transfer pathways (especially 2-year to 4-year transitions), and other activities beyond standard coursework that research suggests improve outcomes.
Who is eligible to receive an S-STEM scholarship (as a student)?
S-STEM scholars must be domestic students who are low-income, have demonstrated unmet financial need, and show academic ability, talent, or potential. Students must be enrolled (or supported) in an S-STEM-eligible discipline at an eligible degree level.
What does "low-income with unmet financial need" mean in this program context?
Based on the opportunity description, students must be low-income and have demonstrated unmet financial need. The specific method an institution uses to determine unmet need is not detailed in the provided information, but the requirement is explicit that both low-income status and unmet need must be demonstrated.
What degree levels can be supported under S-STEM?
S-STEM-eligible degrees span multiple levels, including associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or comparable), as long as the program is in an eligible discipline.
Which associate degrees are mentioned as eligible?
The opportunity description lists Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Engineering, and Associate of Applied Science as eligible degree types, when offered in S-STEM-eligible disciplines.
Which bachelor’s degrees are mentioned as eligible?
The opportunity description lists Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, and Bachelor of Applied Science as eligible degree types, when offered in S-STEM-eligible disciplines.
Which graduate degrees are mentioned as eligible?
The opportunity description lists Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or comparable) as eligible, when offered in S-STEM-eligible disciplines.
What disciplines are generally eligible under S-STEM?
Eligible disciplines generally include fields in which NSF supports research, along with related technology fields. Examples of related technology fields provided include biotechnology, engineering technology, chemical technology, and information technology.
Are clinical degree programs eligible for S-STEM?
No. Clinical degree programs are specifically described as not eligible. Examples provided include medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and similar programs that are not funded by NSF.
Are business degrees eligible for S-STEM?
No. Business degrees are specifically excluded, including undergraduate Business Administration degrees (BBA/BSBA/BABA), as well as MBA and doctoral Business Administration programs.
What if our program sits on the boundary of an eligible and ineligible discipline?
The opportunity description notes that boundaries can be nuanced and that NSF strongly encourages prospective applicants to consult program officers if there is uncertainty about whether a discipline or degree qualifies.
How does S-STEM connect scholarships to workforce demand?
Proposals are expected to connect scholarship pathways to labor-market demand and show how the targeted degree pathways align with national or regional workforce needs. NSF emphasizes that supported pathways should lead to rewarding employment opportunities after graduation.
Does NSF prioritize any specific STEM areas as critical workforce needs?
Yes. Examples highlighted as critical national needs include quantum computing and quantum science, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science and computer engineering, data science, and computational science applied to frontier STEM areas.
Are institutions limited to the example fields NSF lists?
No. Institutions are not limited to those examples, but they are expected to make a strong, evidence-backed case that the field(s) they target represent urgent U.S. workforce needs, especially where interdisciplinary training is important.
What is expected of applicant institutions in describing the student population?
Applicant institutions are expected to analyze and describe the student population they intend to serve, including academic needs and barriers, and present a coherent plan for how scholarships and support structures will improve recruitment, persistence, and graduation.
Does S-STEM encourage partnerships or collaboration?
Yes. The program encourages partnerships across institution types and campus roles, including collaboration among STEM faculty, researchers, and academic administrators, and engagement with researchers who study factors affecting student success (including educational, behavioral, and social science perspectives).
Are external partners allowed or encouraged in S-STEM projects?
Yes. External partnerships are welcomed where they strengthen career pathways and workforce alignment. Examples include relationships with industry, local community organizations, national laboratories, and federal, state, or local government entities.
Does the program support transfer pathways from 2-year to 4-year institutions?
Yes. Transfer pathways, particularly 2-year to 4-year transitions, are explicitly mentioned as an example of activities that can be included to improve student outcomes.
What types of institutions are especially encouraged to submit proposals?
The opportunity description especially encourages proposals from 2-year colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, predominantly undergraduate institutions, and public institutions in urban, suburban, and rural settings.
What is the funding opportunity number for this S-STEM solicitation?
The listed funding opportunity number is 23-527.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is identified as a discretionary NSF grant with CFDA 47.076.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $5,000,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity information states an expected 90 awards.
What are the posting and closing dates shown in the opportunity information?
The original posting date shown is December 4, 2022, and the original closing date shown is March 29, 2023.
Are there different proposal tracks mentioned for S-STEM?
Yes. The description references different proposal tracks, including Track 1 and Tracks 2 and 3, as well as collaborative planning grants.
Where did the S-STEM Program originate?
The opportunity description traces the program back to the 1998 American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act, which tied H-1B visa-related funding to long-term domestic workforce development.
Has the scope of eligible disciplines changed over time?
Yes. The description indicates that the program originally focused on scholarships for math, engineering, and computer science, and that subsequent legislation allowed NSF to broaden eligibility to most STEM disciplines NSF funds, as long as institutions can demonstrate alignment with national or regional workforce needs.
What category is this grant listed under?
The opportunity is listed under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
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