Upward Bound is a nationwide, federally funded educational program, authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, for high school students. The Upward Bound Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County was initiated in 1989.

The Program’s design promotes the development and enhancement of students’ basic skills, academic and cultural enrichment, and the motivation necessary to matriculate at and graduate from college. To insure students’ complete development, participation in personal and individual counseling, educational/cultural activities, the summer residential component, in addition to academic support, developmental and enrichment act-ivities, is mandatory.

Upward Bound serves students who have demonstrated academic potential and who meet the income and first generation to obtain a four year college degree criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education. The Program provides students and their parents with an opportunity to invest in students’ futures and thus realize their potential and goals.

The UMBC Upward Bound Program is funded by the US Department of Education with two grants in the amount of $350,766 and $250,000.