Upward Bound, one of the first TRIO programs, is a highly successful college-based program of rigorous academic instruction, individual tutoring, and counseling for low-income, disadvantaged high school students, most of whom are the first generation of their families to consider post-secondary education. Upward Bound has been on the campus of the University of illinois at Chicago since 1966. This program has served over 10,000 high school students, sucessfully placing over 95 percent of its graduates in various colleges and universities throughout the country. The Upward Bound target schools include Austin Career Academy, Chicago Vocational, Crane, Dunbar, Julian, Marshall and Schurz High Schools.

The TRIO/Educational Opportunity Outreach Programs are partially funded by the United States Department of Education.