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Eligibility Requirements

  1. Must be a high school freshman or sophomore (9th or 10th grader).

  2. Must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status.

  3. Must meet at least one of the two criteria below:
    A.) Be a potential first-generation college student. A first-generation college student is one whose parents or legal guardians, with whom the student currently lives, have not earned a four-year college degree
    OR
    B.) Meet federal income guidelines. The guidelines look at both the “taxable income” (Line #15 on IRS 1040) of the parent/guardian that the student currently lives with, and the number of people in the household (see current income guidelines here). Any student applicant that is currently in foster care is automatically income eligible.

  4. Must have a desire to attend and graduate from a two or four-year college or university.

  5. Must show the willingness to make a long-term commitment to the program. Students are expected to participate fully and remain involved until graduation from high school.

  6. Must be currently enrolled in or have completed Algebra I.

  7. Must be able to secure transportation to all required Upward Bound events and the Summer Academy. Students that attend high school outside of the Fort Smith area, are eligible to receive a travel stipend.

  8. Must attend one of the following Upward Bound “target schools”:
    Alma High School
    Cedarville High School
    Future School of Fort Smith
    Hackett High School
    Mansfield High School
    Mulberry High School
    Northside High School
    Van Buren High School
    Van Buren Freshman Academy