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Collage of TRIO students at various events.

TRIO

What is TRIO?

Going to college is a big step. We’ll help you finish what you start. We’ll also make sure you thrive along the way and discover life after Illinois State. TRIO is a nationwide program that offers you the best chance to enter and graduate from college. And while you’re in college, TRIO provides the resources and academic advising you need to succeed.

Be Part of Our Strong Community

Illinois State’s TRIO/SSS program recognizes the wealth that first-generation students bring to the campus community and walks with them as they use their social and cultural capital to achieve personal and academic success.

Some people have been part of TRIO since middle school. Others join us when they get here. We’re open to underrepresented students, including:

  • First-generation.

    This means neither of your parents graduated from a four-year school.

  • Financial status.

    We welcome those who have a demonstrated financial need according to federal guidelines.

  • Persons with a disability.

    Our programs and services are designed to help those with a documented disability.

Join TRIO at Illinois State

We build the foundation that helps you thrive.

You don’t have to navigate college alone. We’ll be by your side from the start. Here’s what you can expect when you’re part of TRIO.

  • Personal and academic growth.

    We take a holistic approach that goes beyond grades. Success in TRIO means you’ll flourish academically and personally.

  • A community of supportive people.

    TRIO is made up of trained professionals who understand your hopes, fears, and challenges. We’re a bunch of advisors, coaches, counselors, peers, and friends who want nothing but the best for you.

  • Unique opportunities.

    Our partnerships and programs help you make connections that help you seize the future you want. From financial literacy to cultural enrichment, everything is designed with your success in mind.

  • A blueprint for the future.

    Your possibilities are endless. It’s exciting, but also a little overwhelming. We prepare you for life beyond Illinois State, like career planning and graduate school.

  • A space just for you.

    Our spot on campus is always open for you to hang out, study, relax, or whatever you need. It’s comfortable and stocked with snacks, because you can’t thrive on an empty stomach.

  • Tons of fun.

    We work hard and play hard, too. Whether we're studying or out in the community, we're always having a good time.

Connect With Us on Social Media

Stay up to date with what's happening in TRIO.

Three people wearing matching gray shirts smiling and standing behind a table.
A group of students sitting in a classroom, smiling at the camera with laptops on the table.
Two people wearing 'First Generation'' sweatshirts stand in front of a brick wall.
A man speaks in a gaming room, with two women seated in gaming chairs and computers in the background.
Man standing on a pedestrian bridge with illuminated billboards in the background at night.
A group of people seated in a stadium, smiling and posing for the camera.
Two people in a kitchen area with a barbecue sign in the background.
A group of six people sitting at a round table with a black tablecloth, set for a meal, with red napkins and a centerpiece.
Three people smiling indoors with a stadium visible through the window.
A banquet hall with people seated at round tables set with white tablecloths and beige napkins.

The end result is huge.

At TRIO, we lead with your strengths and nurture your areas for growth. When you take advantage of our services, you can expect to see big changes in yourself.

  • Advocate for yourself.

    Start using your voice to build your identity and be your number one champion.

  • Break the cycle.

    Our crucial (and sometimes uncomfortable) conversations will help you stop the negative behaviors and habits that hold you back.

  • Destroy barriers.

    It’s not an easy journey, but it’s worth it. When something stands in your way of success, you’ll have the confidence and tools to crush it.

  • Accomplish your goals.

    When times get tough, you won’t quit. TRIO students come back to school each semester and finish what they started.

TRIO at Illinois State

  • 96%

    96% Retention

  • 99%

    99% Accepted Into Major

  • 94%

    94% Completion

I joined TRIO during a time where I was sad due to family issues and being in TRIO gave me things to look forward to. It gave me a community of great people that I probably wouldn't have crossed paths with and for that, I'm grateful for my TRIO family. 

Faith '25

Psychology with a minor in Children's Studies

Faith
Kenny

College can have you feeling lost, but TRIO keeps you on track and holds you accountable. They push you to succeed, helping you reach your goals and achieve your dreams.

Kenny '25

Public Relations

TRIO felt like a family. They provided the academic support, mentorship, and resources I needed to stay on track, and they never made me feel isolated. I always had people to turn to who genuinely cared about my success.

Twinkle '25

Computer Science

Twinkle
Rebecca

I had a space where I was encouraged to advocate for myself and taught how to do that.

Rebecca '25

Early Childhood Education

I developed leadership and effective communication from working with Trio. 

Dre '25

Social Work

Dre

Triumph: A podcast that elevates first generation voices

The TRIO community does incredible things in their majors, careers, and communities. We’re making their stories known so you can get inspired and imagine your possibilities.

  • The success in uncertainty

    Diana Bender ‘20

    Criminal Justice and Corrections

    Diana shares her experience of not knowing what would become of her academic journey as a First-Gen student. Diana Triumphantly trailblazed a path she could not foresee.

    Listen to Diana’s podcast interview

  • Success has no age limit

    Jeffrey Walsh ‘23

    Politics and Government

    Jeffrey shares what it’s like to be the first in his family to attend and graduate from college, and return for a master’s degree at age 60.

    Listen to Jeffrey’s podcast interview

  • Raising the bar of legacy

    Nadine Khoury ‘22

    Human Development and Family Consumer Sciences

    First in her family to pursue a second degree, Nadine shares how her love of academia and navigational capital helped her immigrant family collectively progress through foreign societal and institutionalized barriers.

    Listen to Nadine’s podcast interview

Find more podcast episodes on:
Facebook Spotify Sign up to be a podcast guest

Support TRIO

Whether it's furniture for our space or snacks for students to munch on, there are lots of ways you can show your support for TRIO.

Contact TRIO
A group of people in matching gray shirts stand indoors on a sports track.
A group poses in front of a sign reading 'EXPLORE' with model rockets in the background.
A group of six people in red shirts posing on a walkway amidst rock-themed surroundings.
A group of people attending a cooking class in a kitchen setting with an instructor at the front.
A group of six people in matching black t-shirts sit and stand around a table in a conference room.
Group of six people at a table promoting National First-Gen Day, with items including a QR code, water bottles, and stickers, in an indoor sports facility.
People seated at tables during a conference, attentively taking notes.
A group of four people seated at a table, smiling at the camera during an indoor gathering.
Group of people seated in a conference room, some wearing red and black clothing.
People seated at a round table with food at a formal event.
People seated at a round table at a formal event.

Learn More About TRIO

TRIO Student Support Service (SSS) is a federally funded program that began in 1968. It is one of the eight federal “TRIO” programs authorized by the Higher Education Act to help first-generation college students access, navigate, and succeed in higher education. The U.S. Department of Education identifies first-generation students as those whose parents did not obtain a four-year college degree. Illinois State’s TRIO/SSS program recognizes the wealth that first-generation students bring to the campus community and walks with them as they use their social and cultural capital to achieve personal and academic success.

TRIO is a strong program with support at the national, state, and local level. TRIO has been part of Illinois State since 1987, but it all started in 1967 with the War on Poverty and a desire to help people access opportunities that were typically denied to them.

Read how TRIO evolved over the years