The Impacts of Regular Upward Bound on Postsecondary Outcomes Seven to Nine years After Scheduled High School Graduation

Upward Bound is one of the largest and longest-running federal programs designed to help disadvantaged students prepare for, enter, and succeed in college. This report is the last in a series of study reports from the Upward Bound evaluation. Data collected included surveys, high school and post-secondary transcripts, and data on Upward Bound participation. Results indicated that Upward Bound increased the likelihood of earning a post-secondary certificate or license from a vocational school.  However, it had no detectable effect on the likelihood of earning a bachelor’s degree or the likelihood of earning an associate degree. Longer participation in Upward Bound was associated with higher rates of post-secondary enrollment and completion.