Eligibility for SOSU Upward Bound:
Often students who want to apply for Upward Bound are curious about the eligibility requirements for
our program. The following information is provided to help you when students ask about their
eligibility for our program.

Our program is designed for students who want to pursue a post-secondary education immediately
after high school. If a student plans to go into the military immediately after high school, it would
conflict with the goals of our program.

We select almost exclusively freshman students for our program. It is our goal to work with
students during all four years of high school. Occasionally, we select students as sophomores, but
this is rare and requires special circumstances (new transfer to school, missed opportunity to apply
as a freshman, etc.).

The majority of our students selected are considered “first generation” college students.
Specifically that means the student’s parents/guardians did not graduate with a four year college
degree. The student can still be considered “first generation” even if a parent/guardian has a twoyear degree and/or attended a four-year college without earning a four-year degree.

The majority of our students selected are considered “low income” (according to the Federal TRiO
Income Guidelines listed below). Note: Income is based on “taxable income” so students from
families who have higher gross incomes may still be eligible based on “taxable income”.

ALL students selected for Upward Bound must be considered either “first generation” OR “low
income”. Not all students selected have to meet both criteria; however, two-thirds of our students
must be considered both “first generation” and “low income” students.

It is important for students who apply to realize that Upward Bound is a four year commitment.
Students are asked to attend monthly meetings during the academic year. Students are also
expected to attend our summer program on the SOSU campus after each year of high school.
Length of summer programs or as follows:
Freshmen – two weeks (typically early July)
Sophomores – four weeks (typically all of June)
Juniors – six weeks (typically all of June and early July)
Seniors – eight weeks (typically June and July)
Note: Students arrive on campus each Sunday evening during the summer. Students go home on
Thursday evenings. Classes and activities during the summer primarily take place from Monday
through Thursday. Occasionally we have weekend activities scheduled during the academic year
and summer.
This chart is used to determine the financial eligibility of students applying for SOSU Upward Bound.
Remember this is not the only way a student is eligible for Upward Bound, but it is considered. Be
sure to use your “Taxable Income” when determining financial eligibility from this chart.
Taxable Income is indicated on:
Line 27 of Tax Form 1040A
Line 43 of Tax Form 1040
Line 6 of Tax Form 1040 EZ
Federal TRIO Programs
Current-Year Low-Income Levels
(Effective January 26, 2012 until further notice)
Size of Family
Unit
48 Contiguous States,
D.C., and Outlying
Jurisdictions
Alaska
Hawaii
1
$16,755
$20,955
$19,290
2
$22,695
$28,380
$26,115
3
$28,635
$35,805
$32,940
4
$34,575
$43,230
$39,765
5
$40,515
$50,655
$46,590
6
$46,455
$58,080
$53,415
7
$52,395
$65,505
$60,240
8
$58,335
$72,930
$67,065
For family units with more than eight members, add the following amount for
each additional family member: $5,940 for the 48 contiguous states, the District
of Columbia and outlying jurisdictions; $7,425 for Alaska; and $6,825 for Hawaii.
The term "low-income individual" means an individual whose family's taxable
income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level
amount.
The figures shown under family income represent amounts equal to 150 percent
of the family income levels established by the Census Bureau for determining
poverty status. The poverty guidelines were published by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services in the Federal Register, Vol. 77, No. 17, January 26,
2012, pp. 4034-4035.