{"id":57715,"date":"2026-05-14T08:04:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/?post_type=iie-news&p=57715"},"modified":"2026-05-14T10:47:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:47:57","slug":"american-passport-project-awards-1m-in-institutional-grants-for-pell-eligible-college-students","status":"publish","type":"iie-news","link":"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/news\/american-passport-project-awards-1m-in-institutional-grants-for-pell-eligible-college-students\/","title":{"rendered":"American Passport Project Awards\u00a0$1M in\u00a0Institutional Grants for Pell-Eligible College Students\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 Approximately 6,000 U.S. College Students Have Received Microgrants to Cover the Cost of U.S. Passport Applications to Date<\/em> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 2026 \u2014 The IIE Center for International Opportunities (CIO)<\/a> has selected 40 U.S. colleges and universities with IIE American Passport Project<\/a> grants to provide study abroad opportunities for 1,000 Pell-eligible college students across the U.S. Now in its sixth year, the program has reached approximately 6,000 total students\u2014bringing IIE closer to its goal of enabling 10,000 U.S. students to obtain their passports by 2030. Recipient colleges and universities disburse the funds among Pell-eligible college students who aspire to study abroad; the grants cover the cost of obtaining a U.S. passport.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study abroad among American college students continues to increase, according to the Open Doors Report<\/a>. But cost persists as a barrier. The IIE American Passport Project advances IIE\u2019s commitment to promoting international education and exchange, so more American students can gain the associated academic and career benefits. The grants cover the cost of applying for a U.S. passport, a critical first step to studying abroad. In addition, it prioritizes students early in their higher education experience, providing ample time to go through the study abroad planning process with advising and support from their home institutions.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEducation and exchange drive innovation, diplomacy, and long-term stability by preparing leaders to navigate interconnected markets, emerging technologies, and global challenges,\u201d says Jason Czyz, IIE\u2019s President and CEO. \u201cIIE supports opportunities that allow participants to gain global perspective, build networks, and develop lasting skills. Obtaining a passport is an essential first step to pursuing these experiences.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open to IIENetwork<\/a> member institutions, the IIE American Passport Project aims to reach institutions that serve a variety of U.S. student populations. To date, the program has issued more than 250 grants to higher education institutions in 42 states and the District of Columbia. The sixth cohort of recipients includes four community colleges, and two new states represented through Montana State University and North Dakota State University. IIE selected the institutional recipients based in part on demonstrated efforts to prioritize student populations from low-income backgrounds, students who have not traveled abroad as an adult or in a learning environment, and students in their first year at the institution.  Learn more about the IIE American Passport Project<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please join us in congratulating the following IIENetwork U.S. member institutions!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n