TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers

To provide information on financial and academic assistance available for qualified adults desiring to pursue a program of postsecondary education and to assist them in applying for admission to institutions of postsecondary education.

The purposes of the EOC Program are to: provide information regarding financial and academic assistance available for qualified individuals who want to enter or continue to pursue a program of postsecondary education; provide assistance to those individuals in applying for admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary education, and improve the financial and economic literacy of program participants.

Institutions of Higher Education, public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and as appropriate to the purposes of the program; secondary schools.

Persons residing in the target area who need one or more of the services provided by the project in order to pursue a program of postsecondary education and who desire to pursue or who are pursuing a program of postsecondary education. Two-thirds of the participants must be low-income individuals who are also potential first-generation college students. Project participants must be at least nineteen years old (exceptions allowed). Required low-income criteria for participants are stated in application materials.

The EOC program authority specifies a list of permissible services.

The program regulations (34 CFR 644.31) identify unallowable costs in the EOC Program. Costs that are unallowable under the Educational Opportunity Centers program include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) Tuition, fees, stipends, and other forms of direct financial support for participants. (b) Research not directly related to the evaluation or improvement of the project. (c) Construction, renovation, and remodeling of any facilities.

Five-year projects, annual awards. Continuation awards are subject to the availability of funds and evidence that the grantee is making satisfactory progress.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

For new awards the Selection Criteria are in 34 CFR 644.21. Contact the program office for additional information.

Selected non-Federal field readers evaluate new proposals based on the selection criteria established in program regulations 34 CFR 644.21. Grantees will be selected on the basis of satisfactory proposals and availability of funds. Grants are awarded through the Department of Labor in partnership with the Federal TRIO Programs office.

May 14, 2026

From 90 to 180 days.

Awards are for five years. Continuation awards are approved on an annual basis, subject to the availability of funds and evidence that the grantee is meeting the conditions of the grant and making substantial progress towards meeting the project objectives.

The program statute requires a second review of unsuccessful applications. The Department implements the second review process in accordance with the process specified in 34 CFR 644.24. An unsuccessful applicant requesting a second review must provide evidence that the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer made a technical, administrative, or scoring error in the processing or review of its application.