Eligibility Requirements:
Must be a high school freshman, sophomore, or junior (9th, 10th, or 11th grader).
Must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status.
Must meet at least one of the two criteria below:
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
Meet federal income guidelines. The guidelines look at both the “taxable income” (Line 40 on the IRS 1040, on line 6 of the 1040EZ, on line 27 of the 1040A form) 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.
Must have a desire to attend and graduate from a two or four-year college or university.
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.
Must be currently enrolled in or have completed Algebra I.
Must be able to secure transportation to all required Upward Bound events and the Summer Academy.
(Travel assistance is provided from Shirley, England, and Lonoke.)
Must attend one of the following Upward Bound “target area high schools”:
Beebe Program Target Schools
Heber Program Target Schools
Heber Springs High School
Concord High School
West Side Greers Ferry High School
Shirley High School
South Side Bee Branch High School
Clinton High School
