The Impacts of Regular Upward Bound: Results from the Third Follow-Up Data Collection

Upward Bound is one of the largest and longest running federal programs designed to help economically disadvantaged students go to college. This report from Mathematica's national evaluation finds that Upward Bound increased the number of high school math credits that participants earned but did not affect other measures of academic preparation in high school. The program also increased enrollment at four-year colleges and universities, especially for students with lower educational expectations when they entered the program. However, the program had no effect on postsecondary enrollment more generally when enrollment at two-year colleges and vocational institutions was included.