Eligibility Criteria

Per federal regulations, § 645.3, the following requirements must be met in order to participate in an Upward Bound project. 

An individual is eligible to participate in a Regular, Veterans, or a Math and Science Upward Bound project if the individual meets all of the following requirements:

A.   (1) Is a citizen or national of the United States;

        (2) Is a permanent resident of the United States;

        (3) Is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and provides evidence from the

             Immigration and Naturalization Service of his or her intent to become a permanent resident;

        (4) Is a permanent resident of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands;

        (5) Is a resident of the Freely Associated States—the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall

             Islands, or the Republic of Palau.

    (Applicants must meet either (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) - only one of the above conditions must be met.)

B.    (1) A potential first-generation college student; and/or

         (2) A low-income individual.

C.     Has a need for academic support, as determined by the grantee, in order to pursue successfully a program of

          education beyond high school.

D.     At the time of initial selection, has completed the eighth grade but has not entered the twelfth grade and is at least 13

          years old but not older than 19, although the Secretary may waive the age requirement if the applicant demonstrates

          that the limitation would defeat the purposes of the Upward Bound program. However, a veteran as defined in

          §645.6, regardless of age, is eligible to participate in an Upward Bound project if he or she satisfies the eligibility

          requirements in paragraphs A, B, and C of this section.

                                                  (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 and 1070a–13)