Published: October 6, 2025
When the U.S. Department of Education abruptly cut more than $600,000 from two federally funded Upward Bound programs in Maine this month, it reverberated across the state’s educational landscape. While one of the cuts has since been reversed, the other remains unresolved, placing educational opportunities for high school students in rural and economically challenged communities at significant risk.
Since its establishment in 1965, Upward Bound has served as a lifeline for students across Maine, including those affiliated with the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine at Farmington. The federally funded program is designed to support first-generation and low-income high school students in preparing for and successfully entering college. As part of the larger federal TRIO programs, Upward Bound operates roughly 951 programs nationwide and includes specialized tracks such as Upward Bound Math-Science, which targets students interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Through a combination of tutoring, mentoring, college readiness workshops, and summer residential experiences that simulate life on a college campus, Upward Bound provides students with tools, guidance, and confidence to envision themselves in higher education. For many participants, the program transforms college from a distant aspiration into a tangible goal, helping bridge the gap between potential and achievement.
In September 2025, the Department of Education canceled over $600,000 in funding for USM’s Veterans Upward Bound program, which serves approximately 125 veterans statewide and maintains a waiting list. The program offers academic and personal support tailored to veterans, including guidance on coursework, tutoring, and navigating the transition from military service to higher education. Veterans Upward Bound was one of two Maine TRIO grants affected by
cuts in September; the other, River Valley Upward Bound at University of Maine at Farmington, also faced sudden funding uncertainty.
The reversal of the funding cuts for University of Southern Maine’s program was announced by Sen. Susan Collins, offering relief for the program and its participants. In a statement, University of Southern Maine’s Veterans Upward Bound stated, “The restoration of our federal funding means that Veterans across Maine will continue to have access to the dedicated support and resources they earned, deserve, and were promised.” Maine’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Collins and Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, have pledged to continue advocating for a similar reversal for the University of Maine at Farmington’s River Valley Upward Bound. As of Oct. 1, however, the Department of Education denied the appeal for the University of Maine at Farmington funds, leaving the program’s future uncertain.
Federal funding cuts of this magnitude threaten to disrupt decades of progress in Maine’s education system. Rural communities in the state face unique barriers to higher education, from limited access to advanced coursework to fewer resources for college preparation. Programs like Upward Bound often provide the academic guidance, mentorship, and emotional support that can be the deciding factors in a student’s decision to pursue higher education. Losing these resources would disproportionately affect students who are already navigating economic and social obstacles.
At its core, Upward Bound represents more than a program; it embodies a commitment to educational equity, affirming that every student, regardless of background, deserves the opportunity to succeed. The potential loss of funding not only threatens this promise but also raises broader questions about how federal support for first-generation and low-income students is prioritized. For Maine’s students, families, and educators, the stakes are high: the continuation of Upward Bound funding is tied directly to the future of higher education access in the state.
