Program Requirements

How to Apply

Our program has reached capacity for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please add your name onto our WAIT LIST. When a spot becomes available, you will be contacted via email with the application link for submission.

If you will be an incoming Fall 2026 student and thereafter, please still add your name onto our WAIT LIST. Once our 2026-2027 application becomes available come Spring 2026 (early April), it will be emailed to you.

Adding your name onto our wait list does not guarantee acceptance in the program.

Please review our program's eligibility requirements below to check if you are eligible to apply. Due to limited space in our program, priority will be given to students who are

both low income eligible AND first generation OR
both low income eligible AND have a disability who require educational accommodations.

Students who are first-generation AND have disabilities who require educational accommodations are considered as having only one federal eligibility requirement.

Contact Us with questions.

Federal Eligibility Requirements:

Eligible students must be an undergraduate and:

be a United States citizen or permanent resident AND
low income student* (check the table income levels) OR
first generation college student (Means an individual neither of whose natural or adoptive parents received a baccalaureate degree; or a student who, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with and received support from only one natural or adoptive parent and whose supporting parent did not receive a baccalaureate degree.) OR
individual with disabilities as defined by ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (Means a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an “impairment.”)

All applicants to our program must:

be undergraduate students who are admitted full time to Portland State University, 12 credits or more per term. Can be co-enrolled with certain Oregon community colleges and Clark College, check for more information on co-admission.
have fewer than 135 college credits or have two or more years remaining until graduation
demonstrate academic need
1. successful applicants must have a 2.5 or higher overall college grade point average or
2. first term Freshman students must have a 3.0 or higher high school grade point average
3. other examples of "academic need" may be working 20+ hours a week, family responsibilities or English Language Proficiency

*Family meets Federal Government Income Eligibility Guidelines and verified by Portland State University.

Important Dates and Applications:

Our program has reached capacity for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please add your name onto our WAIT LIST. When a spot becomes available, you will be contacted via email with the application link for submission.

If you will be an incoming Fall 2026 student and thereafter, please still add your name onto our WAIT LIST. Once our 2026-2027 application becomes available come Spring 2026 (early April), it will be emailed to you.

Adding your name onto our wait list does not guarantee acceptance in the program.

Please review our program's eligibility requirements below to check if you are eligible to apply. Due to limited space in our program, priority will be given to students who are

both low income eligible AND first generation OR
both low income eligible AND have a disability who require educational accommodations.

Students who are first-generation AND have disabilities who require educational accommodations are considered as having only one federal eligibility requirement.

Contact Us with questions.

Application Process:

Once we receive your application, we will reach out via email to students to schedule a one hour intake appointment.
Students are notified of their acceptance into the program during their intake appointment.

Portland State University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to its students. TRIO Student Support Services is funded by the United States Department of Education.

Contact Us with questions.

Selection Process

When there is limited space in the TRIO Student Support Services, priority will be given to:

Students who are both low income eligible AND *first-generation.
Students who are both low income eligible AND have *disabilities who require educational accommodations.
Alumni of other TRIO programs, Upward Bound, Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Center, and Student Support Services from other institutions.
Most importantly, students who are motivated to make full use of our program’s services and to become a successful Portland State graduate. It is expected that participants meet with an SSS advisor at least once a term.

*Students who are first-generation AND have disabilities who require educational accommodations is considered as having only one federal eligibility requirement.