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GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Education, administered by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. This discretionary grant program aims to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. School administrators would be involved in implementing programs to achieve this goal.
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Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP): Partnership (84. 334A) | U.S. Department of Education Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP): Partnership (84.
334A) Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) 06/25/2025 - 11:59 PM EDT Applicant Info and Eligibility The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) 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.
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.
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. GEAR UP Grants Reopening Letter to Applicants (June 11, 2025) FY 2025 GEAR UP Partnership Competition (84.
334A) Application FY 2025 GEAR UP Partnership Program: Pre-Application Technical Assistance Workshop (Webinar Slide Deck) FY 2025 GEAR UP Partnership Applicant Resource Brochure Frequently Asked Questions: GEAR UP Competitions Funding for Partnership Grants Category 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 Category 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 .
Category 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 Category 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 ) 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.
National Council for Community and Education Partnerships The I Have a Dream Foundation National Mentoring Partnership America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth AVID: Proving Achievement.
Lifelong Advantage 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 The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) 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.
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.
Applicant Info and 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. GEAR UP Grants Reopening Letter to Applicants (June 11, 2025) FY 2025 GEAR UP Partnership Competition (84.
334A) Application FY 2025 GEAR UP Partnership Program: Pre-Application Technical Assistance Workshop (Webinar Slide Deck) FY 2025 GEAR UP Partnership Applicant Resource Brochure Frequently Asked Questions: GEAR UP Competitions Funding for Partnership Grants Category 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 Category 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 .
Category 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 Category 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 ) 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.
National Council for Community and Education Partnerships The I Have a Dream Foundation National Mentoring Partnership America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth AVID: Proving Achievement.
Lifelong Advantage 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 Grant Applicants / Grantees State / Local Education Agencies Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) GEAR UP: State Grants (ALN: 84.
334S) Funds statewide initiatives that aim to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Page Last Reviewed: August 17, 2026
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and partnerships with institutions of higher education and community organizations. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is funded by U.S. Department of Education, administered by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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