Higher Education programs expand participation in community service by supporting innovative service-learning programs carried out through institutions of higher education, acting as civic institutions to meet the human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs of neighboring communities.

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to individual higher education institutions and to consortia of such institutions. In addition to statutory priorities, each year, the Corporation for National and Community Service determines priorities to focus the grant competitions. Programs are required to provide at least 50 percent of the cost of implementing the program through state, local and private resources. To be eligible for assistance under this part, an institution of higher education shall demonstrate that it meets the minimum requirements of the Higher Education Act relating to the participation of students in the Federal Work-Study program in community service activities, or has received a waiver of those requirements from the Secretary of Education.

• Learn about Learn and Serve America grant opportunities 

Campuses of Service

Under the provisions of The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the Corporation for National and Community Service may annually designate up to 25 institutions of higher education as Campuses of Service. These institutions will be awarded funds to be used to develop or disseminate service-learning models and information on service-learning best practices to other institutions of higher education