The trio stem success program (SSS-stem) assists undergraduate first-generation, low-income, and/or students with disabilities who pursuing degrees in stem-related majors

North Carolina Central University received a $272,364 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education on September 25, 2025, under the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program (CFDA 84.042). This award funds a STEM-focused Student Support Services program designed to support undergraduate first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities pursuing degrees in STEM-related majors. The grant period runs through September 24, 2026.

The SSS-STEM program delivers comprehensive student support services including on-campus tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, and financial aid assistance to enhance academic retention and graduation rates. These services are designed to increase institutional support for disadvantaged students' success and improve financial literacy. As a historically Black university, North Carolina Central University leverages this funding to provide targeted services that expand educational opportunities for underrepresented communities in STEM disciplines while fostering an institutional climate that supports student persistence through postsecondary completion.