Louisiana State University received a $795,200 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP, CFDA 84.334) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This award supports LSU's delivery of comprehensive support services to low-income secondary students in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, designed to increase high school completion rates and college readiness.
Under this grant, LSU provides eligible students with academic support, mentoring, counseling, and financial aid information to reduce high school dropout risk and the need for remedial postsecondary education. The program delivers outreach and supportive services directly to secondary school students, including those with disabilities, while also providing educational and financial aid information to students and their families. GEAR UP grants are typically structured as 6- or 7-year commitments, though this award's one-year performance period reflects either a renewal cycle review or initial phase of a multi-year project subject to continued funding availability and demonstrated substantial progress.