The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program: Cultivating the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program stands as a testament to the enduring partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the nineteen 1890 land-grant universities. Established in 1992, this program aims to bolster educational and career opportunities for students from rural or underserved communities across the country, nurturing a diverse pipeline of talent in food, agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences.

Program Overview

Managed by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), the 1890 National Scholars Program provides recipients with comprehensive financial support, covering full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. This allows scholars to fully immerse themselves in their studies at one of the 1890 land-grant universities, focusing on degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship may also incorporate valuable work experience at USDA, providing practical skills and insights to complement their academic learning.

The program is an integral component of USDA’s Next Generation efforts, reflecting the department's commitment to cultivating a skilled and diverse workforce for the future of agriculture. In Fiscal Year 2024, USDA awarded 94 of these prestigious scholarships, demonstrating its ongoing investment in the program.

The 1890 Land-Grant Universities

The 1890 Institutions, established through the Morrill Act of 1890, play a vital role in expanding access to higher education, particularly for Black students who were historically excluded from many institutions. These nineteen universities are located in eighteen states and each has a college of agriculture, making them eligible for funding under certain NIFA programs. These institutions are:

Alabama A&M University
Alcorn State University, Mississippi
Central State University, Ohio
Delaware State University
Florida A&M University
Fort Valley State University, Georgia
Kentucky State University
Langston University, Oklahoma
Lincoln University, Missouri
North Carolina A&T State University
Prairie View A&M University, Texas
South Carolina State University
Southern University, Louisiana
Tennessee State University
Tuskegee University, Alabama
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Virginia State University
West Virginia State University

These institutions are at the forefront of strengthening research, extension, and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences.

Eligible Disciplines

USDA 1890 National Scholars are required to pursue studies in one of the following disciplines:

Agriculture
Agricultural Business/Management
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Engineering/Mechanics
Agricultural Production and Technology
Agronomy or Crop Science
Animal Sciences
Botany
Food Sciences/Technology
Forestry and Related Sciences
Home Economics/Nutrition
Horticulture
Natural Resources Management
Soil Conservation/Soil Science
Farm and Range Management
Other related disciplines (e.g., citizen science, pre-veterinary medicine)

This broad range of disciplines ensures that scholars have diverse avenues to contribute to the agricultural sector.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale).
Have a minimum of 21 ACT, 1080 SAT scores.
Have been accepted for admission or are currently attending one of the nineteen 1890 Land-Grant Universities.
Study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related academic disciplines.
Demonstrate leadership and community service.
Submit an official transcript from each high school and college attended, with the school seal and an authorized official's signature.
Submit a 250-500 word essay for each of the following questions: How will the USDA 1890 National Scholarship support your career aspirations?

These requirements ensure that selected scholars are academically strong, committed to service, and passionate about pursuing careers in agriculture-related fields.

Application Process

The 2025 application cycle has closed, but interested students can sign up to receive updates on the next 1890 National Scholars Program application opening, along with information about other USDA opportunities.

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Career Development and Service Commitment

A key feature of the program is its commitment to career development. Upon completing their degrees, scholars are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with the USDA, as stipulated under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Section 12519). To uphold the program’s mission, scholars must commit to a year of service with the USDA for each year of financial assistance received. This ensures that scholars contribute their skills and knowledge to the department and the broader agricultural community.

Federal Support for Land-Grant Institutions

The 1890 National Scholars Program is just one facet of the federal government's support for land-grant institutions. NIFA administers federal funds for LGUs through two primary grant types: capacity grants (formula funds) and competitive grants. Capacity grants are distributed among eligible institutions based on statutory formulas and generally require one-to-one nonfederal matching funds. Recipient institutions develop Plans of Work (subject to NIFA's approval) and decide which of their own projects to support. NIFA awards competitive grants directly to specific projects proposed by eligible applicants and selected through a national peer-review process. Grants of either type may focus on agricultural research, education, extension, or some combination of the three (integrated activities).

Certain grant programs are specific to particular LGU types, and others are open to a variety of applicants. In addition to grant programs established through legislation, USDA has managed the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program as a departmental initiative since 1992. USDA partners with the 1890 Institutions to provide students of food, agriculture, and related disciplines with scholarships and temporary USDA employment.

Federal support of the colleges and universities that comprise the LGU system has strengthened agricultural research, education, and extension.

Historical Context and Funding Considerations

The Morrill Act of 1890 (26 Stat. §321 et seq.) led to establishment of the 1890 Institutions. It provided funding for LGUs and prohibited racial discrimination in student admissions for recipient institutions. The act considered compliant those states that created separate institutions "of like character" for White and non-White students.

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Some argue that differences in federal support for the 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institutions constitute inequities that Congress may consider addressing. Others may argue that institutional differences-including the numbers of students served, types of degrees awarded, and focal missions-should factor into federal funding allocations and programmatic decisions affecting the LGU system. The original LGUs receive the greatest proportion of federal capacity funds specific to agricultural research and extension, accounting for 82% of such funding in 2020, followed by the 1890 (18%) and 1994 Institutions (0%). Although the 1862 Institutions are the most numerous and serve the greatest number of students, some argue that historical funding for agricultural research and extension at the 1890 Institutions has been insufficient.

Congress first authorized annual capacity grants specifically for research and extension at the 1890 Institutions in the National Agricultural Research, Education, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA). NARETPA originally required these appropriations to equal not less than 15% (research) and 4% (extension) of the capacity grant appropriations for 1862 Institutions. The 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246) increased these requirements to 30% (research) and 20% (extension).

Incomplete state matching of federal capacity grants to 1890 Institutions has been a concern for some observers because it reduces total funding for these institutions. Federal capacity grants for the LGU system generally require one-to-one nonfederal matching funds. These funds typically come from state-level appropriations, but they also can come from the universities themselves or some other nonfederal entity. Current law permits USDA to waive up to 50% of the matching requirements for 1890 Institutions if the state is unlikely to provide sufficient funds. The law does not permit waivers for most 1862 Institutions.

NIFA Grant Programs Supporting 1890 Institutions

NIFA provides various grant programs to support the 1890 Institutions, including capacity grants and competitive grants.

Capacity Grants

NARETPA (P.L. 95-113, Title XIV) authorizes three capacity grants for the 1890 Institutions.

Extension Capacity Grants (§3221): One-to-one matching funds are required, and USDA may grant a waiver of up to 50% of the matching funds.
Research Capacity Grants (§3222): One-to-one matching funds are required, and USDA may grant a waiver of up to 50% of the match.
Facilities Grants (§3222b): Provides capacity grant funding to acquire and improve agricultural and food science facilities and equipment. Matching funds are not required.

Competitive Grants

1890 Centers of Excellence (COE) Program (§5926(d)): Calls for USDA to fund at least three COE focused on specified areas related to food and agriculture.
Capacity Building Grants (§3152(b)(4)): Provides grants to improve the 1890 Institutions' capacity in food and agricultural sciences.
Competitive Scholarships Grants (§3222a): Provides support for students intending to pursue careers in agriculture and food sciences.

Central State University: An Example of 1890 Land-Grant Institution Impact

Central State University, an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, exemplifies the mission of these universities to educate students in ag-STEM fields. The university extends scholarships to support aspiring farmers, scientists, and natural resource managers. Central State's Land-Grant programs are integral to its mission, with research focuses including honey bee biology and sustainable nutrition science. The university's goals include helping to solve food insecurity, water contamination, and other global challenges.

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