Program Description
This discretionary grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year or seven years grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.
Types of Grants
GEAR UP offers state and partnership grants. Partnership grants are competitive six-year matching grants that must support an early intervention component and may support a scholarship component designed to increase college attendance and success and raise the expectations of low-income students.
State grants are competitive six-year matching grants that must include both an early intervention component designed to increase college attendance and success and raise the expectations of low-income students and a scholarship component. For more information about State grants, see below.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Partnership grant, a Partnership must consist of:
- One or more local educational agencies (LEA), and
- One or more degree-granting institutions of higher education (IHE)
Partnerships may also include not less than two (2) other community organizations or entities, such as businesses, professional organizations, State agencies, or other public or private agencies or organizations.
The statutory language of 20 USC §1070a — 21(c)(2) makes the inclusion of community organizations or entities optional; however, if an applicant decides to include community organizations or entities in its eligible Partnership, it must include at least two.
Applicant Information
Previous Application
- GEAR UP Grants Reopening Letter to Applicants (June 11, 2025)
- FY 2025 GEAR UP Partnership Competition (84.334A) Application
Tips and Assistance
Other Resources
Funding
Funding for Partnership Grants
| FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of New Awards | 6 | 4 | 27 | 6 | 0 |
| Total New Award Funding | $12,129,928 | $10,649,909 | $56,917,256 | $14,458,918 | $0 |
| Number of Continuation Awards | 116 | 116 | 93 | 114 | 118 |
| Total Continuation Award Funding | $230,565,745 | $232,511,009 | $180,304,964 | $207,152,702 | $216,333,564 |
| Total Partnership Award Funding | $242,695,673 | $243,160,918 | $237,222,220 | $221,611,620 | $216,333,564 |
| FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of New Awards | 55 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 31 |
| Total New Award Funding | $109,708,512 | $45,163,400 | $7,071,679 | $5,282,840 | $51,420,120 |
| Number of Continuation Awards | 67 | 85 | 87 | 87 | 60 |
| Total Continuation Award Funding | $110,194,807 | $137,858,513 | $157,155,588 | $154,112,772 | $107,268,566 |
| Total Partnership Award Funding | $219,903,319 | $183,021,913 | $164,227,267 | $159,395,612 | $158,688,686 |
Total Funding for GEAR UP Program
The funding and awards in the table below include both State grants and Partnership grants. To see funding and award information for just the State program, please visit the GEAR UP: State (84.334S) grant page.
| FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Program Funding | $388,000,000 | $378,000,000 | $368,000,000 | $365,000,000 | $360,000,000 |
| Total Number of Awards | 159 | 156 | 155 | 160 | 157 |
| FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Program Funding | $350,000,000 | $339,753,985 | $322,754,000 | $301,639,000 | $301,639,000 |
| Total Number of Awards | 161 | 154 | 134 | 127 | 128 |
Legislation
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Chapter 2 (20 U.S.C 1070a-21—1070a-28)
Regulations
- Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations part 694
- Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99
Additional GEAR UP Resources
The following sites may provide information that is useful for those interested in the GEAR UP program, including information about GEAR UP grantees, programs upon which the GEAR UP program was modeled, and strategies for encouraging high-risk middle- and high-school students to prepare for college.
- The College Board
- National Council for Community and Education Partnerships
- Project Grad
- The I Have a Dream Foundation
- National Mentoring Partnership
- America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth
- AVID: Proving Achievement. Lifelong Advantage
Key Staff
| Program Specialist | State Grant | Partnership Grant |
| Ginger Allen 202-987-1973 | Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia, Wyoming | Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia, Wyoming |
| Antoinette Clark 202-453-7121 | Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas | Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Caroline Chung 202-987-1434 | Alaska, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Micronesia, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah | Alaska, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Micronesia, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah |
| David Howe 202-453-7687 | Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Palau, Tennessee, Wisconsin | Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Palau, Tennessee, Wisconsin |
| Reginald Jackson 202-987-1908 | Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina | Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina |
| Nicole Josemans 202-453-7111 | Indiana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington | Indiana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington |
| Marques Thomas 202-453-5775 | District of Columbia, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Dakota, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia | District of Columbia, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Dakota, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia |
| Ben Witthoefft 202-453-7576 | California | California |
Program Description
This discretionary grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year or seven years grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.
Types of Grants
GEAR UP offers state and partnership grants. Partnership grants are competitive six-year matching grants that must support an early intervention component and may support a scholarship component designed to increase college attendance and success and raise the expectations of low-income students.
State grants are competitive six-year matching grants that must include both an early intervention component designed to increase college attendance and success and raise the expectations of low-income students and a scholarship component. For more information about State grants, see below.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Partnership grant, a Partnership must consist of:
- One or more local educational agencies (LEA), and
- One or more degree-granting institutions of higher education (IHE)
Partnerships may also include not less than two (2) other community organizations or entities, such as businesses, professional organizations, State agencies, or other public or private agencies or organizations.
The statutory language of 20 USC §1070a — 21(c)(2) makes the inclusion of community organizations or entities optional; however, if an applicant decides to include community organizations or entities in its eligible Partnership, it must include at least two.
Applicant Information
Previous Application
- GEAR UP Grants Reopening Letter to Applicants (June 11, 2025)
- FY 2025 GEAR UP Partnership Competition (84.334A) Application
Tips and Assistance
Other Resources
Funding
Funding for Partnership Grants
| FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of New Awards | 6 | 4 | 27 | 6 | 0 |
| Total New Award Funding | $12,129,928 | $10,649,909 | $56,917,256 | $14,458,918 | $0 |
| Number of Continuation Awards | 116 | 116 | 93 | 114 | 118 |
| Total Continuation Award Funding | $230,565,745 | $232,511,009 | $180,304,964 | $207,152,702 | $216,333,564 |
| Total Partnership Award Funding | $242,695,673 | $243,160,918 | $237,222,220 | $221,611,620 | $216,333,564 |
| FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of New Awards | 55 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 31 |
| Total New Award Funding | $109,708,512 | $45,163,400 | $7,071,679 | $5,282,840 | $51,420,120 |
| Number of Continuation Awards | 67 | 85 | 87 | 87 | 60 |
| Total Continuation Award Funding | $110,194,807 | $137,858,513 | $157,155,588 | $154,112,772 | $107,268,566 |
| Total Partnership Award Funding | $219,903,319 | $183,021,913 | $164,227,267 | $159,395,612 | $158,688,686 |
Total Funding for GEAR UP Program
The funding and awards in the table below include both State grants and Partnership grants. To see funding and award information for just the State program, please visit the GEAR UP: State (84.334S) grant page.
| FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Program Funding | $388,000,000 | $378,000,000 | $368,000,000 | $365,000,000 | $360,000,000 |
| Total Number of Awards | 159 | 156 | 155 | 160 | 157 |
| FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Program Funding | $350,000,000 | $339,753,985 | $322,754,000 | $301,639,000 | $301,639,000 |
| Total Number of Awards | 161 | 154 | 134 | 127 | 128 |
Legislation
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Chapter 2 (20 U.S.C 1070a-21—1070a-28)
Regulations
- Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations part 694
- Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99
Additional GEAR UP Resources
The following sites may provide information that is useful for those interested in the GEAR UP program, including information about GEAR UP grantees, programs upon which the GEAR UP program was modeled, and strategies for encouraging high-risk middle- and high-school students to prepare for college.
- The College Board
- National Council for Community and Education Partnerships
- Project Grad
- The I Have a Dream Foundation
- National Mentoring Partnership
- America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth
- AVID: Proving Achievement. Lifelong Advantage
Key Staff
| Program Specialist | State Grant | Partnership Grant |
| Ginger Allen 202-987-1973 | Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia, Wyoming | Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia, Wyoming |
| Antoinette Clark 202-453-7121 | Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas | Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Caroline Chung 202-987-1434 | Alaska, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Micronesia, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah | Alaska, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Micronesia, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah |
| David Howe 202-453-7687 | Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Palau, Tennessee, Wisconsin | Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Palau, Tennessee, Wisconsin |
| Reginald Jackson 202-987-1908 | Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina | Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina |
| Nicole Josemans 202-453-7111 | Indiana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington | Indiana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington |
| Marques Thomas 202-453-5775 | District of Columbia, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Dakota, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia | District of Columbia, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Dakota, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia |
| Ben Witthoefft 202-453-7576 | California | California |
Funds statewide initiatives that aim to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.