Upward Bound

We help eligible area high school students find academic success in high school and prepare for success in college.

A national study showed that Upward Bound graduates are four times more likely to earn an undergraduate degree than students of similar backgrounds who did not participate in UB!

Upward Bound is a TRIO program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. There are over 800 Upward Bound programs across the country. Our program is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Eligibility is determined by family taxable income and parents' education level. We serve students in 9th through 12th grade who go to high schools in La Crosse and Monroe counties with programming from September through August. Successful UB students will participate fully during the all four years of high school during both the academic and summer components. 

UB and TRIO programs do produce successful students! Just ask Oprah Winfrey, John Quiñones, Angela Bassett, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Donna Brazile, Patrick Ewing, Henry Bonilla, and Viola Davis!

The Academic Year component: During the school year, UB offers weekly tutoring sessions where high-achieving UWL student tutors help with homework and teach academic skills that will help students in high school and college. We also offer several college visits; monthly Saturday events; special leadership workshops; test preparation and practice; help with college, scholarship and financial aid applications and more!

The Summer Session, a six week component, is like a practice college. Students live on the UWL campus, take high school classes in math, science, language arts, world languages and study skills. The classes help them get a head start on the coming academic year and reinforce valuable study, time management and test taking skills. UWL student tutors help supervise in the residence hall and provide tutoring daily. Seniors get a jump on college preparation in a senior seminar where they can explore college and career options and start college applications. As a conclusion the sixth week of the program, we spend four days a regional large city for more college and career exploration and to experience new arts, culture and recreation options. Summer ends with a Graduation and Awards Ceremony.

The Bridge program is an opportunity for students to transition from high school to college in a supportive environment. Every summer, selected Bridge students attend UW-La Crosse while living in the residence hall with the UB summer program, working in the UB office and receiving mentoring and tutoring from Upward Bound teachers and staff.

There are many success stories among our graduates, who have gone on to become doctors, teachers, lawyers, university professors, counselors, medical technicians, accountants, engineers, planners, artists, actors and more! Dr. Bee Lo, N.D., UWL Upward Bound graduate and National TRIO Achiever, 2000, said, "I can truly say that Upward Bound was the key that unlocked the doors to higher education and the bridge that took me from high school to college."