Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP), run by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who complete associate or baccalaureate degrees in STEM fields. The program focuses on both established STEM disciplines and emerging areas, reflecting NSF's interest in strengthening the national pipeline of technically trained graduates. In practical terms, STEP supports efforts that help more students enter STEM programs, persist through key academic milestones, and ultimately finish their degrees, with an emphasis on changes that institutions can implement at scale.

This opportunity solicits two distinct kinds of proposals. Type 1 proposals are geared toward full implementation at academic institutions, meaning the work is expected to move beyond planning or small pilots and into institutionally grounded actions that measurably increase STEM degree completion. These projects can be led by a single institution or structured as broader collaborations, including partnerships with business and industry or consortia of multiple institutions. A notable emphasis is placed on improving student movement through the education system, especially transitions that often cause attrition, such as transfer pathways from two-year to four-year institutions. The solicitation explicitly notes that associate-degree-granting institutions that can demonstrate a strong record of articulation into STEM bachelor's programs may be eligible even if they do not themselves grant associate degrees specifically in STEM, highlighting the program's interest in strengthening transfer and completion routes rather than restricting eligibility to a narrow set of department labels.

Type 2 proposals, by contrast, focus on educational research related to STEM associate or baccalaureate degree attainment. Instead of implementing institutional change as the primary aim, Type 2 projects are intended to generate knowledge about what works, why it works, and under what conditions students are more likely to complete STEM degrees. Eligibility for Type 2 is broad: any individual or organization that is eligible to submit proposals to NSF may apply, which typically includes universities, nonprofit organizations, and other research-performing entities that meet NSF proposal requirements. This category supports work that can inform the field at large, potentially shaping future interventions and policy decisions around STEM persistence and completion.

In terms of funding scale and administrative details, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number 08-569 with an estimated total funding amount of $26,000,000 and an expectation of about 20 awards. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which can make participation more feasible for institutions and organizations that have limited ability to contribute non-federal funds. The CFDA number associated with the program is 47.076 (Education and Human Resources), placing STEP within NSF's broader portfolio dedicated to education, workforce development, and learning research.

The solicitation history included a posted date of March 4, 2009, and it reflects multiple cycles with deadlines. A Letter of Intent was optional, with listed due dates of August 18, 2009 and August 17, 2010, followed by full proposal deadlines of September 29, 2009 and September 28, 2010. The most recent closing date shown in the source data is September 28, 2010, indicating the final deadline for that iteration of the opportunity. Applicants were directed to NSF Publication 08-569 for the full announcement details. For access issues, the listing provided a Grants.gov support email (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov), and it also noted separate help for problems linking to the announcement.

Overall, STEP is best understood as an NSF effort to drive tangible increases in STEM degree production through two complementary mechanisms: implementation grants that help institutions change practices and structures in ways that improve student outcomes, and research grants that build evidence on strategies that support STEM degree attainment. The eligibility language and collaboration encouragement make it clear that NSF expected many proposals to address systemic barriers and transition points, especially in pathways connecting two-year and four-year programs, while still allowing a wide range of institutional contexts and partnership models.

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