Preserve TRIO, GEAR UP, and AmeriCorps
TRIO, GEAR UP and national and community service programs play an important role in the college access and success movement. Support for these federal programs will help more students engage with advisers and others who can help them advising the path to and through college. In rural areas and urban neighborhoods, these programs are often the only source of college counseling and support available to low-income students.
The Trump Administration proposed to eliminate all three programs in its fiscal year 2026 budget. NCAN is working to maintain these programs and their outsized and cost-effective impact on college advising and success.
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps was established in 1993 as a domestic answer to the Peace Corps. It provides funding to community-based organizations to help reduce poverty, improve education, and foster civic engagement through community service. AmeriCorps participants may be eligible to receive an Education Award, which provides as much as the maximum Pell Grant in scholarship aide or to pay off student loans, in return for their service. AmeriCorps has played a vital role in expanding the pool of college access counselors, mentors, and more, and reach more students in need. AmeriCorps in turn has held up NCAN members, such as College Possible, as examples of programs that provide significant return on investment for students, taxpayers, participants, and communities.
TRIO and GEAR UP
TRIO programs serve students from low-income families, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities at every stage of the educational pipeline. Starting in middle school, TRIO provides academic tutoring, career counseling, financial literacy education, and college preparation support. Programs like Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and McNair Scholars have proven track records of helping participants overcome obstacles and succeed academically. TRIO students persist and graduate at higher rates than their peers facing similar challenges, demonstrating that targeted support makes a measurable difference.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs reaches students as early as middle school, providing sustained support through high school graduation. GEAR UP partners states and institutions with entire cohorts of students, creating college-going cultures in underserved communities. The program offers rigorous coursework, college visits, financial aid counseling, and scholarships. By intervening early and maintaining support over multiple years, GEAR UP helps students build the academic foundation and confidence needed for college success. Students in GEAR UP are more likely to take advanced courses, graduate from high school, and enroll in college.
NCAN counts many TRIO and GEAR UP programs as members and works to fund and strengthen these programs through federal policy.
