USDA 1890 Scholarships Program: Ag, Food Science & Agribusiness Awards at the 19 1890 Land-Grant HBCUs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture pays for HBCU students to study food and agriculture — and it is one of the largest, least-known pots of money available exclusively to students at Black land-grant universities.

Through the 1890 Scholarships Program, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) sends scholarship funding directly to the 19 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. Each school then runs its own competitive selection process and awards the money to its own students. For fiscal year 2026, NIFA is distributing $67.2 million across these institutions — roughly $1.1 million to $5.6 million per school.

Since the program was authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, NIFA has invested $92 million to support 3,274 scholarships — an average of about $28,000 per scholarship. Many 1890 institutions use their allocation to build full-ride packages covering tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

Who Is Eligible

• You have been accepted for admission to one of the 19 1890 Land-Grant Institutions (or are already enrolled there).
• You will enroll within one year of that acceptance.
• You intend to pursue a career in food and agricultural sciences, agribusiness, energy, or financial management.
• Undergraduate and graduate students are both supported.

The 19 1890 Land-Grant Institutions

Alabama A&M University • Alcorn State University • Central State University • Delaware State University • Florida A&M University • Fort Valley State University • Kentucky State University • Langston University • Lincoln University (MO) • North Carolina A&T State University • Prairie View A&M University • South Carolina State University • Southern University • Tennessee State University • Tuskegee University • University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff • University of Maryland Eastern Shore • Virginia State University • West Virginia State University

How to Apply — Read This Part Carefully

Students do not apply to USDA for this program. USDA awards the grant to the university; the university awards the scholarship to you. To get one:

1. Contact the financial aid office and the College of Agriculture at your 1890 institution and ask specifically about "USDA NIFA 1890 Scholarships Program" funding for the current award year.
2. Complete your FAFSA and your school's institutional scholarship application — most 1890 schools select from that pool.
3. Declare or indicate an eligible major in food and agricultural sciences, agribusiness, energy, or financial management.
4. Ask about deadlines early. Each campus sets its own; they commonly fall in the spring for the following fall term.

Note: the September 10, 2026 date published by NIFA is the deadline for institutions to submit their grant proposals — it is not a student application deadline.

Don't Confuse This With the 1890 National Scholars Program

USDA also runs a separate, student-facing program called the 1890 National Scholars Program, which awards full tuition, fees, books, and room and board directly to selected high school seniors and current students, plus a USDA employment track. That one you apply to directly through USDA, typically with a deadline in early March. Both are worth pursuing — they are different programs with different applications.

Questions

NIFA's group mailbox for this program is 1890Scholarships.Applications@usda.gov. For student-level questions about your own award, your campus financial aid office is the faster and better answer.