TRiO and GEAR UP Facts (all from Postsecondary Opportunity):
TRiO and GEAR UP work with students from the lowest income quartile (below $25,000 for a family of four) whose parents to not have four-year college degrees.
In 2000, the national high school graduation rates for students whose parents had baccalaureate degrees was 93%; for students whose parents had not graduated from college, it was 60%
In 2000, the national high school graduation rates for students who come from a family in the upper income quartile (above $74,000) is 95%; for students from families in the lower quartile (under $25,000), the rate is 65%.
In 2002, Minneapolis and St. Paul had a 54% graduation rate. Suburban and outstate Minnesota had a high school graduation rate of 90%. UB’s graduation rate is 99%.
Although 30% of low-income high school graduates enroll in some postsecondary education, only 5% graduate. 75% of students from high-income families enroll in postsecondary education and 60% of those students graduate. UB’s college enrollment rate is 93% and the graduation/continuation rate is 70%.
If you are from a family in the upper income quartile, your chance of earning a four-year degree by the age of 24 is 53%. If you are from the lowest quartile, your chance is 5%.
In Minnesota, the rate at which low-income youth participate in college is dropping. In 1992, Minnesota sent 48% of their low-income high school graduates to postsecondary program; in 2002 that figure fell to 30%. While only 30% of low-income youth attend college, more than 53% of students from all MN families attend college. UB sends 93% of their low-income youth to college.
TRiO and GEAR UP work. Upward Bound (UB) and Educational Talent Search (ETS) have almost 100% high school graduation rates. Over 91% of UB and ETS graduates attend college. 70% of UB and 58% of ETS students remain in college or have obtained their degrees six years after high school graduation.
Click here to see St. Olaf College Upward Bound Cohort Graduation Results.
Upward Bound Graduate Testimonial Excerpts
"When I ponder what this program has done for me, I have to fight back the tears of gratitude. This program has instilled in me initiative and the drive to succeed. Not only has Upward Bound helped me realize my potential, but also they have helped me realize that I have potential... Considering all that Upward Bound has done for me, I realize that not only has this program changed my life, it has saved my life." Beth Pete, Red Wing High/UB Class of 2003
"My commitment to Upward Bound continued after my graduation as I had the opportunity to assist students in the Twin Cities program in making the decision to go on to college. I worked as a college recruiter and found myself in the position to offer the same opportunity, of a college education, that was offered to me as a result of Upward Bound. I recently received my Master's degree in Social Work and work as a Mental Health Therapist. My experiences in Upward Bound had prepared me well for any challenges that I was to face later in life; graduate school was a challenge I met and conquered." Shadee Hardy, St. Paul Central High/UB Class of 1991
"The ultimate goal of the Upward Bound Program is, of course, to help students on their way to pursuing a college education...I know in my heart that the UB staff helped me achieve this goal. I would like to think that I already possessed many of the academic tools necessary to succeed in high school and in college, but I know that I would have been completely in the dark about the entire college application process had it not been for Upward Bound." Jonathan Tischler, St. Paul Humboldt High/UB Class of 2002
"Since the Upward Bound Program helped me out immensely throughout high school. I decided to give back to the program and become a mentor. Once a month my mentor and I exchange letters and we talk about life and school. There are quarterly activities for us to interact with other mentors and mentees. It is a small way to give back for all the help that Upward Bound provided me." Alicia Smith, St. Paul Humboldt High/UB Class of 2004
"Growing up with Attention deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), and having trouble with the learning process, and growing up in a low-income family, I never dreamed or even thought that I would be a match for higher education until I joined Upward Bound. Upward Bound Has had a tremendous positive effect on me. I am the first one in my immediate family to go on to a 4 year University. I attend St. Cloud State University and I intend on Majoring in Criminal Justice." Sara Ackermann, Red Wing High/UB Class of 2004
"I am a Hmong-American who emmigrated here from Thailand. I'm also the first in my family to attend college and proudly say that because of programs like Upward Bound, I will be graduating this coming May of 2005 with a degree in psychology and minors in dance and coaching. Upward Bound has helped me realized the importance of education, how I could better my life, and what I need to do in order to get to where I wanted to be. If it were not for Upward Bound I would not be here and be who I am today. Upward Bound does not only help students who are minority students. They help students from a variety of backgrounds and cultures as well." Thai Xiong, St. Paul Central High/UB Class of 1999
Click here to read the Upward Bound Graduate Testimonials in their entirety.
