Program Description
Veterans Upward Bound is designed to motivate and assist veterans in the development of academic and other requisite skills necessary for acceptance and success in a program of postsecondary education. The program provides assessment and enhancement of basic skills through counseling, mentoring, tutoring and academic instruction in the core subject areas. The primary goal of the program is to increase the rate at which participants enroll in and complete postsecondary education programs.
Required Services
All Veterans Upward Bound projects must provide instruction in mathematics through pre-calculus, laboratory science, foreign language, composition and literature. Projects may also provide short-term remedial or refresher courses for veterans who are high school graduates but have delayed pursuing postsecondary education. Projects are also expected to assist veterans in securing support services from other locally available resources such as the Veterans Administration, state veterans agencies, veteran associations, and other state and local agencies that serve veterans.
Other services include:
- Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants
- Instruction in reading, writing, study skills, and other subjects necessary for success in education beyond high school
- Academic, financial, or personal counseling
- Tutorial services
- Mentoring programs
- Information on postsecondary education opportunities
- Assistance in completing college entrance and financial aid applications
- Assistance in preparing for college entrance exams
- Information on the full range of Federal Student financial aid programs and benefits
- Guidance and assistance in alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts that lead to receipt of a regular secondary school diploma, entry into general education development (GED) programs or postsecondary education
Funding History
The program-level information below shows historical funding allocation, number of awards, number of participants, average award, average number of participants and average cost per participant for fiscal years 2011 through 2024.
| Fiscal Year | Funding Allocation | Number of Awards | Number of Participants | Average Award | Average Number of Participants | Average Cost Per Participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $22,253,222 | 68 | 8,973 | $327,253 | 132 | $2,480 |
| 2023 | $22,066,756 | 68 | 8,973 | $324,511 | 132 | $2,459 |
| 2022 | $20,557,756 | 65 | 8,598 | $316,273 | 132 | $2,391 |
| 2021 | $18,815,149 | 60 | 7,898 | $313,586 | 132 | $2,382 |
| 2020 | $19,228,457 | 60 | 7,898 | $320,474 | 132 | $2,435 |
| 2019 | $19,064,429 | 62 | 8,157 | $307,491 | 132 | $2,337 |
| 2018 | $18,384,370 | 62 | 8,157 | $296,522 | 132 | $2,254 |
| 2017 | $18,186,172 | 64 | 8,407 | $284,159 | 131 | $2,163 |
| 2016 | $13,852,595 | 49 | 6,587 | $282,706 | 134 | $2,103 |
| 2015 | $13,548,241 | 49 | 6,566 | $276,495 | 134 | $2,063 |
| 2014 | $13,706,511 | 49 | 6,566 | $279,725 | 134 | $2,087 |
| 2013 | $13,068,144 | 50 | 6,404 | $261,363 | 128 | $2,041 |
| 2012 | $14,392,377 | 51 | 6,831 | $282,203 | 134 | $2,107 |
| 2011 | $13,180,173 | 47 | 5,780 | $280,429 | 123 | $2,280 |
Legislation
- Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Chapter 1, Sec. 402C
- 20 U.S.C. 1070a-13
Regulations
- Official Final Regulations Amending TRIO Regulations, as published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2010. These final regulations amend the Veterans Upward Bound program regulations
- Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 645
- Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR, Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99
Guidance
- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards - The Department worked closely with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to streamline some federal circulars into a single guidance document, and make conforming changes to Department regulations. The combined document is known as the "Uniform Guidance" and is codified at 2 CFR 200.
Applicant information
The last competition for this program was held in FY 2022. View the Notice Inviting Applicants for FY 2022 Veterans Upward Bound Program, published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2022.
Eligibility
Who May Apply:
- Institutions of higher education
- Public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth
- Combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations
- As appropriate to the purpose of the program, secondary schools
Participant Eligibility
Participants must meet military service requirements stipulated in the authorizing statute and be low-income, prospective first-generation college students who are preparing to enter a postsecondary institution. The program requires that at least two-thirds of the participants in a project be both low-income and first-generation. The remaining participants must be either low-income or first-generation military veterans who served in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for more than 180 days and received other than a dishonorable discharge; was discharged because of a service connected disability; was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces called to active duty for a period of more than 30 days; or was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support of a contingency operation on or after September 11, 2001; and have a high risk for academic failure.
FY 2025
- VUB Projects Funded for 2025-26
- Total Projects: 62
FY 2024
- VUB Projects Funded for 2024-25
- Total Projects: 68
FY 2023
- VUB Projects Funded for 2023-24
- Total Projects: 68
FY 2022
- VUB Projects Funded for 2022-23
- Total Projects: 65
FY 2021
- VUB Projects Funded for 2021-22
- Total Projects: 60
Program Description
Veterans Upward Bound is designed to motivate and assist veterans in the development of academic and other requisite skills necessary for acceptance and success in a program of postsecondary education. The program provides assessment and enhancement of basic skills through counseling, mentoring, tutoring and academic instruction in the core subject areas. The primary goal of the program is to increase the rate at which participants enroll in and complete postsecondary education programs.
Required Services
All Veterans Upward Bound projects must provide instruction in mathematics through pre-calculus, laboratory science, foreign language, composition and literature. Projects may also provide short-term remedial or refresher courses for veterans who are high school graduates but have delayed pursuing postsecondary education. Projects are also expected to assist veterans in securing support services from other locally available resources such as the Veterans Administration, state veterans agencies, veteran associations, and other state and local agencies that serve veterans.
Other services include:
- Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants
- Instruction in reading, writing, study skills, and other subjects necessary for success in education beyond high school
- Academic, financial, or personal counseling
- Tutorial services
- Mentoring programs
- Information on postsecondary education opportunities
- Assistance in completing college entrance and financial aid applications
- Assistance in preparing for college entrance exams
- Information on the full range of Federal Student financial aid programs and benefits
- Guidance and assistance in alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts that lead to receipt of a regular secondary school diploma, entry into general education development (GED) programs or postsecondary education
Funding History
The program-level information below shows historical funding allocation, number of awards, number of participants, average award, average number of participants and average cost per participant for fiscal years 2011 through 2024.
| Fiscal Year | Funding Allocation | Number of Awards | Number of Participants | Average Award | Average Number of Participants | Average Cost Per Participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $22,253,222 | 68 | 8,973 | $327,253 | 132 | $2,480 |
| 2023 | $22,066,756 | 68 | 8,973 | $324,511 | 132 | $2,459 |
| 2022 | $20,557,756 | 65 | 8,598 | $316,273 | 132 | $2,391 |
| 2021 | $18,815,149 | 60 | 7,898 | $313,586 | 132 | $2,382 |
| 2020 | $19,228,457 | 60 | 7,898 | $320,474 | 132 | $2,435 |
| 2019 | $19,064,429 | 62 | 8,157 | $307,491 | 132 | $2,337 |
| 2018 | $18,384,370 | 62 | 8,157 | $296,522 | 132 | $2,254 |
| 2017 | $18,186,172 | 64 | 8,407 | $284,159 | 131 | $2,163 |
| 2016 | $13,852,595 | 49 | 6,587 | $282,706 | 134 | $2,103 |
| 2015 | $13,548,241 | 49 | 6,566 | $276,495 | 134 | $2,063 |
| 2014 | $13,706,511 | 49 | 6,566 | $279,725 | 134 | $2,087 |
| 2013 | $13,068,144 | 50 | 6,404 | $261,363 | 128 | $2,041 |
| 2012 | $14,392,377 | 51 | 6,831 | $282,203 | 134 | $2,107 |
| 2011 | $13,180,173 | 47 | 5,780 | $280,429 | 123 | $2,280 |
Legislation
- Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Chapter 1, Sec. 402C
- 20 U.S.C. 1070a-13
Regulations
- Official Final Regulations Amending TRIO Regulations, as published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2010. These final regulations amend the Veterans Upward Bound program regulations
- Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 645
- Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR, Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99
Guidance
- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards - The Department worked closely with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to streamline some federal circulars into a single guidance document, and make conforming changes to Department regulations. The combined document is known as the "Uniform Guidance" and is codified at 2 CFR 200.
Applicant information
The last competition for this program was held in FY 2022. View the Notice Inviting Applicants for FY 2022 Veterans Upward Bound Program, published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2022.
Eligibility
Who May Apply:
- Institutions of higher education
- Public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth
- Combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations
- As appropriate to the purpose of the program, secondary schools
Participant Eligibility
Participants must meet military service requirements stipulated in the authorizing statute and be low-income, prospective first-generation college students who are preparing to enter a postsecondary institution. The program requires that at least two-thirds of the participants in a project be both low-income and first-generation. The remaining participants must be either low-income or first-generation military veterans who served in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for more than 180 days and received other than a dishonorable discharge; was discharged because of a service connected disability; was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces called to active duty for a period of more than 30 days; or was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support of a contingency operation on or after September 11, 2001; and have a high risk for academic failure.
FY 2025
- VUB Projects Funded for 2025-26
- Total Projects: 62
FY 2024
- VUB Projects Funded for 2024-25
- Total Projects: 68
FY 2023
- VUB Projects Funded for 2023-24
- Total Projects: 68
FY 2022
- VUB Projects Funded for 2022-23
- Total Projects: 65
FY 2021
- VUB Projects Funded for 2021-22
- Total Projects: 60