The GEAR UP program aims to support and prepare students from low-income backgrounds for success in postsecondary education by fostering their academic readiness and high school graduation rates. The program also aims to increase student access to financial aid information, promote challenging coursework, and address the academic and career counseling needs of participants. Grants are awarded to partnerships, which include at least one degree-granting institution of higher education (IHE) and one local educational agency (LEA), along with other community or private organizations.

The total available funding for FY 2025 is estimated at $398 million, of which $35 million is allocated for Partnership grants. Awards will range between $200,000 and $5 million, with an average size of $1.2 million. Each Partnership grant will be capped at $800 per student annually. Applicants may propose a project period of either 72 or 84 months if they wish to extend services through the first year of postsecondary education for participating students.

Eligible applicants include partnerships involving at least one degree-granting IHE and one LEA, with additional participation from other community organizations. Applicants must ensure at least a 50% cost-sharing or matching requirement from non-federal sources, which may include in-kind contributions such as mentoring services, waived tuition, or cash donations. In some cases, the Secretary may approve a reduced match percentage for partnerships facing significant economic hardship or serving high-poverty areas.

Applications must outline proposed activities, including required services like financial aid information dissemination, rigorous coursework promotion, and support for high school completion and college enrollment. They may also include mentoring, tutoring, STEM programs, career counseling, and college exposure initiatives. Applicants must demonstrate alignment with program goals through a logic model or conceptual framework and ensure compliance with nondiscrimination laws and administrative requirements.

Competitive priorities include increasing postsecondary access and completion, addressing student social, emotional, and academic needs, and utilizing evidence-based practices. Up to 13 additional points can be awarded based on how well applications address these priorities. Selection criteria evaluate project need, design quality, resource adequacy, personnel qualifications, and evaluation methods.

The application deadline is February 3, 2025, with an intergovernmental review deadline of April 4, 2025. Applicants must adhere to formatting and submission instructions outlined in the Common Instructions for Applicants to Discretionary Grant Programs. Selected grantees must comply with performance reporting requirements and include specific performance measures in their projects, such as high school graduation rates, FAFSA completion, and college enrollment and persistence metrics.