---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1161q"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1161q"
heading: "Grants to rural-serving institutions of higher education"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1161q"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance"
  - "Subchapter IX — Additional Programs"
  - "Part Q — Rural Development Grants for Rural-Serving Colleges and Universities"
---

# §1161q. Grants to rural-serving institutions of higher education

- (a) **Purposes—** The purposes of this section are—
  - (1) to increase enrollment and graduation rates of [secondary school](/usc/20/1003.md?p=16) [graduates](/usc/20/1061.md?p=1) and nontraditional students from rural areas at two-year and four-year institutions of higher education, and their articulation from two-year degree programs into four-year degree programs; and
  - (2) to promote economic growth and development in rural America through partnership grants to consortia of rural-serving institutions of higher education, [local educational agencies](/usc/20/1003.md?p=11), and regional employers.
- (b) **Definitions—** For the purposes of this section:
  - (1) **Rural-serving institution of higher education—** The term “rural-serving [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a)” means an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) that primarily serves rural areas.
  - (2) **Rural area—** The term “rural area” means an area that is defined, identified, or otherwise recognized as rural by a governmental agency of the [State](/usc/20/1003.md?p=21-A) in which the area is located.
  - (3) **Nontraditional student—** The term “nontraditional student” means an individual who—
    - (A) delays enrollment in an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) by three or more years after [secondary school](/usc/20/1003.md?p=16) graduation;
    - (B) attends an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) part-time; or
    - (C) attends an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) and—
      - (i) works full-time;
      - (ii) is an [independent](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=d) student, as defined in [section 1087vv of this title](/usc/20/1087vv.md);
      - (iii) has one or more dependents other than a spouse;
      - (iv) is a single parent; or
      - (v) does not have a [secondary school](/usc/20/1003.md?p=16) diploma or the recognized equivalent of such a diploma.
  - (4) **Regional employer—** The term “regional employer” means an employer within a rural area.
- (c) **Partnership—**
  - (1) **Required partners—** A rural-serving [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a), or a consortium of rural-serving institutions of higher education, that receives a grant under this section shall carry out the activities of the grant in partnership with—
    - (A) one or more [local educational agencies](/usc/20/1003.md?p=11) serving a rural area; and
    - (B) one or more regional employers or local boards (as such term is defined in [section 3102 of title 29](/usc/29/3102.md)) serving a rural area.
  - (2) **Optional partners—** A rural-serving [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a), or a consortium of rural-serving institutions of higher education, that receives a grant under this section, may carry out the activities of the grant in partnership with—
    - (A) an [educational service agency](/usc/20/1088.md?p=f) (as defined in [section 7801 of this title](/usc/20/7801.md)); or
    - (B) a [nonprofit](/usc/20/1003.md?p=13) organization with demonstrated expertise in rural education at the secondary and postsecondary levels.
- (d) **Grants authorized—**
  - (1) **In general—** From amounts made available under [subsection (g)](#g), the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible rural-serving institutions of higher education or a consortium of such institutions, to carry out the activities described in [subsection (f)](#f).
  - (2) **Duration—** A grant awarded under this section shall be awarded for a period not to exceed three years.
  - (3) **Maximum and minimum grants—** No grant awarded under this section shall be less than $200,000.
  - (4) **Special considerations—** In awarding grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) shall give special consideration to applications that demonstrate the most potential and propose the most promising and innovative approaches for—
    - (A) increasing the percentage of [graduates](/usc/20/1061.md?p=1) of rural [secondary schools](/usc/20/1003.md?p=16) attending rural-serving institutions of higher education;
    - (B) meeting the employment needs of regional employers with [graduates](/usc/20/1061.md?p=1) of rural-serving institutions of higher education; and
    - (C) improving the health of the regional economy of a rural area through a partnership of [local educational agencies](/usc/20/1003.md?p=11) serving the rural area, rural-serving institutions of higher education, and regional employers.
  - (5) **Limitation—** A rural-serving [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) shall not receive more than one grant under this section.
- (e) **Applications—** Each rural-serving [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) may reasonably require.
- (f) **Required use of funds—** A rural-serving [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) that receives a grant under this section shall use grant funds for at least three of the following four purposes:
  - (1) To improve postsecondary enrollment rates for rural [secondary school](/usc/20/1003.md?p=16) students at rural-serving institutions of higher education, which may include—
    - (A) programs to provide students and families with counseling related to applying for postsecondary education, and Federal and [State](/usc/20/1003.md?p=21-A) financial assistance for postsecondary education;
    - (B) programs that provide students and families of rural high schools access and exposure to campuses, classes, programs, and internships of rural-serving institutions of higher education, including covering the cost of transportation to and from such institutions; and
    - (C) other initiatives that assist students and families in applying for and developing [interest](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=6) in attending rural-serving institutions of higher education.
  - (2) To increase enrollment rates of nontraditional students in degree programs at rural-serving institutions of higher education, which may include—
    - (A) programs to provide nontraditional students with counseling related to applying for postsecondary education, and Federal and [State](/usc/20/1003.md?p=21-A) financial assistance for postsecondary education;
    - (B) community outreach initiatives to encourage nontraditional students to enroll in a rural-serving [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a); and
    - (C) programs to improve the enrollment of nontraditional students in two-year degree programs and the transition of nontraditional students articulating from two-year degree programs to four-year degree programs.
  - (3) To create or strengthen academic programs at rural-serving institutions of higher education to prepare [graduates](/usc/20/1061.md?p=1) to enter into high-need occupations in the regional and local economies.
  - (4) To provide additional career training to students of rural-serving institutions of higher education in fields relevant to the regional economy.
- (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as many be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–329, title VIII, § 861, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title VIII, § 801, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3423; amended Pub. L. 113–128, title V, § 512(n)(6), July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1711; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(oo)(12), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2180.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 114–95 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7801 of this title.

2014—Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 113–128 substituted “local boards (as such term is defined in section 3102 of title 29)” for “local boards (as such term is defined in section 2801 of title 29)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.

### Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–128 effective on the first day of the first full program year after July 22, 2014 (July 1, 2015), see section 506 of Pub. L. 113–128, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3101 of Title 29, Labor.