Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a national initiative to create innovative programs to help at-risk youngsters, beginning in the seventh grade, to get ready for college. The GEAR UP grants are awarded to programs designed by middle school and postsecondary partnerships that work with community groups and businesses to mentor at-risk students towards achieving the dream of going to college.

NYGEAR UP Projects

Several local school districts and colleges will share the federal funds New York will receive this year as part of the grant. Learn more about this year's GEAR UP institutional and public school district grant winners.

Program Administration

HESC is working with a number of organizations to help administer the GEAR UP program, including:
  • Association of Proprietary Colleges
  • City University of New York
  • The College Board
  • Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
  • New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association
  • State University of New York

Additional GEAR UP Projects

In addition to the state award, several other institutional GEAR UP programs have been renewed by the federal government. These programs include:
  • CUNY Lehman
  • St. John's University
  • SUNY Binghamton
  • SUNY Cobleskill
  • Dowling College

plus the 2006 awardees of the Federal GEAR UP grant:
  • Syracuse University
  • CUNY

and, most recently, the 2008 grantees:
  • Nassau Community College
  • CUNY Lehman
  • St. John's University

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation is the State agency that helps people pay for college by administering the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), guaranteeing loans, offering guidance and administering New York's College Savings Program for students and families.

Detailed information about TAP, New York's College Savings Program, and other college financing programs can be found at the HESC Web site or by calling 1-888-NYSHESC (1-888-697-4372).