“On the Move” scholarships will be available to New Hampshire GEAR UP Alliance students from urban and rural high schools throughout the state

Plymouth State University is partnering with the New Hampshire GEAR UP Alliance to make college more accessible for students in the Granite State. As part of this statewide effort, Plymouth State has created “On the Move” scholarships for all students who participate in New Hampshire GEAR UP Alliance academic programs.

The On the Move scholarships are the first created exclusively for GEAR UP students. They will offer $2,000 per year, or $8,000 over four years, to low-income students who enroll at Plymouth State in 2022 through 2025.

GEAR UP, or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a federally funded program designed to help low-income students prepare for and succeed in college. The New Hampshire GEAR UP Alliance provides scholarships, academic support, skill development, mentoring, and other services to more than 3,000 middle and high school students across the state.

“Supporting GEAR UP students with this scholarship was an obvious choice for Plymouth State University,” said Matthew Wallace, Plymouth State’s Director of Admissions. “We always strive to make college more accessible and affordable for New Hampshire residents. We are proud of our partnership with GEAR UP and hope this financial assistance will open the door for more New Hampshire high school graduates to pursue a college education.”

Plymouth State’s On the Move scholarships will be available to all New Hampshire GEAR UP Alliance students in urban and rural high schools throughout the state. Participating students who apply to Plymouth State will receive $2,000 per year in tuition assistance upon acceptance to the university. These funds will supplement $7 million in scholarships available to qualifying New Hampshire students through one of the Alliance’s two federal grants.

The New Hampshire GEAR UP Alliance is administered through a partnership between two higher education associations, Campus Compact for New Hampshire (CCNH) and the New Hampshire College & University Council (NHCUC). Both organizations are dedicated to expanding education opportunities for students while building strong communities. Their member colleges and universities comprise 21 two-year, four-year, public and private higher education institutions across the state.

“We are delighted that Plymouth State University is partnering with the New Hampshire GEAR UP Alliance to help students from all backgrounds succeed,” said CCNH Executive Director Debby Scire. “The On the Move scholarships will pave the way for significantly more students to access a great college education. It also supports our ongoing work to develop a deep pool of talented students who choose to stay in New Hampshire for college and careers.”