The U.S. Department of Education provides grant funding for the TRIO Student Support Services program to provide eligible students with additional resources for success in higher education from enrollment through graduation. Participants are either first-generation college students, income-eligible, or students with disabilities and demonstrate an academic need for services.
TRIO SSS offers one-on-one holistic support to help students manage their academic and social transitions during their time in college. The program provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and motivates students to successfully complete their postsecondary education.
The goal of TRIO SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants. Services include academic support (e.g., tutoring, advising, success workshops), career exploration, personal development resources, financial aid counseling, financial literacy programs, graduate school and career readiness, and social and cultural events.
TRIO History & Student Support Services National Impact
The Federal TRIO Programs were the first federally funded initiatives aimed at improving college access and retention by addressing social, cultural, and economic barriers in the American education system. TRIO was named after the original three programs, Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services, which were implemented under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Since its inception, TRIO has expanded to include eight programs that promote college access, retention, and graduation among students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Today, TRIO serves nearly one million students annually through a network of colleges, universities, and community-based agencies nationwide.
Student Support Services (SSS) — Boosts undergraduate student retention and graduation rates. Student Support Services students were 47% more likely to complete a 2-year degree or transfer and 18% more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree than a matched comparison group of nonparticipants, according to the Department of Education’s 2019 rigorous evaluation.