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What is TRiO?

Our nation has asserted a commitment to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance.  In support of this commitment, Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. 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 students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.

The Federal TRIO Programs are educational opportunity outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes six outreach and support programs targeted to serve and assist low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects and a dissemination partnership program to encourage the replication or adaptation of successful practices of TRIO projects at institutions and agencies that do not have TRIO grants.

Who is served in TRIO programs?

• Students in grades six through college
• Students from families with taxable incomes below the federal poverty levels
• Students both of whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree

What are the TRIO programs?

• Student Support Services
• Upward Bound
• Educational Talent Search
• McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement
• Veterans Upward Bound
• Math/Science Upward Bound

What are the TRIO programs at Northern Kentucky University?

• Student Support Services
• Upward Bound
• Educational Talent Search