Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

Objective

Provides 6-or 7-year grants to States and Partnerships to provide support, and maintain a commitment, to eligible students from low-income backgrounds, including students with disabilities, to assist the students in obtaining a secondary school diploma (or its recognized equivalent) and to prepare for, and succeed in, postsecondary education. GEAR UP has two major service components. All projects provide a comprehensive set of early intervention services including mentoring, tutoring, academic and career counseling, services to increase parental involvement, and other college preparation activities like exposure to college campuses and financial aid information and assistance. Some projects provide college scholarships to participating students.

Who Can Apply

• State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals)
• Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)
• Other public institution/organization
• Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)

A State, or a partnership consisting of one or more local educational agencies and one or more degree granting institutions of higher education.

Who Benefits

• Individual/Family
• Minority group
• Anyone/general public
• Student/Trainee
• Black
• American Indian
• Spanish Origin
• Asian
• Other Non-White
• U.S. Citizen
• Women
• Youth (16-21)
• Low Income
• Education (9-12)
• Education (13+)

Low-income students and students in high-poverty schools.

Assistance Types

• Project Grants

Program Contact

gaby.watts@ed.gov
(202)987-0429