Welcome to the TRIO Programs
The TRIO Programs are federally funded programs dedicated to helping first-generation, low-income students succeed in their precollege performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. These programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRIO programs (initially just three programs). While student financial aid programs help overcome financial barriers to higher education, these programs help overcome class, social, and cultural barriers to higher education.
TRiO services are available as early as middle school and through graduate studies through eight programs. Baton Rouge Community has two pre-college TRIO programs: Upward Bound and Educational Opportunity Center.
Upward Bound (UB)
The Upward Bound Program provides pre-college academic assistance to low-income, potential
first-generation college students in the high school core curriculum areas of mathematics,
English, science, and foreign language. The Program also addresses other college preparatory
needs of high school students including financial aid assistance, academic/career
counseling, and GEE/ACT testing assistance.
Click here for more information about Upward Bound (UB).
Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)
The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) assists first-generation college and low-income
individuals 19 years of age or older, or those younger than 19 who are enrolled in
an Adult Education Center, living within an 11-parish target area (East and West Baton
Rouge Parishes, Evangeline Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish, Livingston Parish, Iberville
Parish, East and West Feliciana Parishes, St. Helena Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, and
Washington Parish) in furthering their education beyond high school and HISET. The
program provides various forms of aid in the areas of (1) Academic Assistance, (2)
Career Exploration, (3) Enrollment Advising, and (4) Financial Aid Counseling. All
services are free.
Click here for more information about the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC).
Why TRIO Matters
- The United States must boost its academic and economic competitiveness globally. In order to foster and maintain a healthy economy and compete globally, the United States needs a strong, highly educated, competent workforce. To be on par with other nations, the country needs students, no matter their background, who are academically prepared and motivated to achieve success.
- Low-income students are being left behind. Only 38% of low-income high school seniors go straight to college as compared to 81% of their peers in the highest income quartile. Then, once enrolled in college, low-income students earn bachelor's degrees at a rate that is less than half of that of their high-income peers: 21% as compared with 45%.
- The growing achievement gap in our country is detrimental to our success as a nation. There is a tremendous gap in educational attainment between America's highest and lowest income students - despite similar talents and potential. While there are numerous talented and worthy low-income students, relatively few are represented in higher education, particularly at America's more selective four-year colleges and universities. While nearly 67% of high-income, highly-qualified students enroll in four-year colleges, only 47% of low-income, highly-qualified students enroll. Even more startling, 77% of the least-qualified, high-income students go on to college, while roughly the same proportion of the most-qualified low-income students that go on to college.
