TRIO & Educational Opportunity Programs

Logo: A black outer circle with white font, reading "Center for First-Generation Student Success". The white inner circle reads "First-Gen Forward" in black font. There is a triangle graphic behind the black font. There is also a green banner over the bottom of the circle that reads "Institution" in white font.

PNW has several programs to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities as they progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.

microgrant logo

First-gen Pride Microgrants

TRIO and Educational Opportunity Programs is partnering with the Center for Faculty Excellence to engage faculty and staff in designing and implementing collaborative approaches to support the success of first-generation college students at PNW.

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Students associated with PNW's TRIO Student Services Support

PNW Impact Recognized

PNW ranked among Midwest regional universities for social mobility in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 annual Best Colleges rankings. The ranking measures how well a university graduates Pell Grant recipients. PNW ranked 76 among these universities.

See the Recognition

TRIO Pre-College Programs

Group of TRIO students gathered outside on a sunny dayUpward Bound (Hammond Campus)
Federally funded, Upward Bound is a continuous three-year program that provides supportive academic instruction and tutoring for high school students in Hammond, Gary and East Chicago, Indiana.

Educational Talent Search (Hammond Campus)
This federally funded TRIO program provides academic, career and financial counseling to Lake County residents, encouraging participants to graduate from high school and continue on to complete your post-secondary education.

Educational Talent Search (Westville Campus)
This federally funded TRIO program provides academic, career and financial counseling to Lake, LaPorte, Porter and Starke County residents, encouraging participants to graduate from high school and continue on to complete your post-secondary education.

21st Century Collegiate Scholars Program

21st Century Scholars
Beginning in middle school, this scholarship program participants with programs and resources to help them plan, prepare, and pay for college.

TRIO College Programs

3 students listening at a workshopStudent Support Services
A federally funded TRIO program, we focus on providing a comprehensive set of services emphasizing academic excellence, cultural awareness and life-long learning.

Ronald E. McNair Post- Baccalaureate Achievement Program
Federal funding allows us to provide graduate educational opportunities for students who have traditionally not been part of the educational mainstream of American society.

Program Highlights

Students in matching TRIO shirts in the Dworkin Student Activities Center

$5.9 Million to Support First-Generation College Students!

In 2022, PNW’s TRIO programs were awarded $5.9 million in federal funding to support first-gen, low-income and underrepresented students!

See the Support in Action

Ana Lopez is pictured.
As first-generation students, we have to figure it out and put the pieces together. I always tell myself ‘don’t let yourself down,’ because then how will you get to where you want to be?

Ana Lopez , Health Studies