Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEARUP) works with students, parents and teachers to help them gain access to higher education through academic support, information, and enrichment programs. As early as the sixth grade, students and their families can prepare for their college education by actively learning about educational resources.

GEARUP is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school.