Upward Bound Project

The Montclair State University – Upward Bound Project (UB) delivers educational opportunities for currently enrolled high school students from Paterson, New Jersey, who come from low-income families and/or who are potential first-generation college-bound. UB provides fundamental support for participants to succeed in their current level of education as well as preparing them for their pursuit of higher education.

Upward Bound Program Overview Presentation

Emphasis is made on the adolescent as a whole by offering additional support via tutoring, counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment activities/trips, work-study, financial literacy and personal development.

Upward Bound students work together with staff and faculty to become motivated, organized and able to enroll and complete a post-secondary education.

Guest speakers will be invited to speak with the UB students and encourage them to pursue careers in the fields of health, science, mathematics, technology and education.

Montclair State University Upward Bound students have graduated from institutions such as Barnard College, the University of Notre Dame, the Pratt Institute, Rutgers University, The Graduate School at Montclair State University and the New Jersey Medical School, just to name a few.

The Upward Bound Impact

• According to data from the Department of Education, nationally 91% of Upward Bound participants who graduate from high school enroll in a post-secondary degree program the year of their graduation. This is compared to 41% of students not enrolled in an Upward Bound program. Staying in Upward Bound for longer periods is associated with better student outcomes.

The project is at no cost to the individual or families through a grant from the United States Department of Education.