TRIO Facts
TRIO is Educational Opportunity for Low-Income, First Generation College and Disabled Americans.
Our nation has asserted a commitment to providing educational opportunity for all
Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance.
In support of this commitment, Congress established a series of programs to help low-income
Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America's
economic and social life. These Programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRIO Programs (initially just three programs).
While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to
higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural
barriers to higher education.
Who is Served
As mandated by Congress, two-thirds of the students served must come from families
with incomes at 150% or less of the federal poverty level and in which neither parent
graduated from college. More than 2,800 TRIO projects currently serve close to 790,000
low-income Americans. Many programs serve students in grades six through 12. Thirty-five
percent of TRIO students are Whites, 35% are African-Americans, 19% are Hispanics,
4% are Native Americans, 3% are Asian-Americans, and 4% are listed as "Other," including
multiracial students. More than 7,000 students with disabilities and approximately
6,000 U.S. veterans are currently enrolled in the TRIO programs as well.
How it Works
More than 1,000 colleges, universities, community colleges, and agencies now offer
TRIO Programs in America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. TRIO funds are distributed
to institutions through competitive grants.