Upward mobility through college and career success

Building empowered futures

  
The Upward Project transforms college journeys into career launchpads, and bridges the gap between talent and opportunity.

We empower first-generation or low-income college students in the greater Boston area to launch high-wage careers and to build lasting upward economic mobility and generational wealth.

Our unique career development program focuses on both college success and career readiness simultaneously. Our Scholars access top-tier internships and jobs, and build the confidence, networks, and skills to lead in competitive spaces, close wealth gaps, and reshape what success looks like in Boston.

    
      "I learned how to dress, speak, and interact professionally through The Upward Project. And it was an Upward Project connection that helped me secure my first job. Now, as a young legal professional in the tech industry, I look back on the TUP summer events as my first lessons in 
succeeding as a young professional.”
      
    - TUP Scholar, Cohort 1

Our impact

We elevate greater Boston’s next generation of leaders.

A college degree can open doors to economic mobility—but for many first-generation and low-income students, it’s not enough. Without access to guidance, professional networks, and key milestones like internships, they often miss out on the high-income career paths that drive lasting economic advancement.

The Upward Project bridges gaps and opens doors to real opportunity. Our career-focused approach means that our students graduate not just with a degree, but with the competitive job offers and a clear path forward.

This work doesn’t just benefit our individual Scholars; it helps to close opportunity gaps and fosters a new generation of leaders for Boston.

      
      100%
      matriculated 
to college on time
    
      3.4
      average college GPA 
 of TUP Scholars
    
      $65,500
      average starting salary
with 40% making $80-100k

Read About Our Impact

Personalized guidance at every step

  
At The Upward Project we combine college achievement with real-world career preparation from day one.

Our program is strategically designed to equip students to thrive on campus and in prestigious workplaces through academic support, career development coaching, social and cultural supports, and financial assistance at critical stages of their journey. We partner with our Scholars for five years, from the summer before they start college through their first year after graduation.  

We focus on four main career paths that are economic accelerators but that have traditionally held higher barriers to entry:

STEM

Law

Healthcare

Business

Core components of our program include:

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Pre-College Summer
Intensive

College and career readiness workshops, career pathways projects, career trips, and social and cultural experiences prior to the start of freshman year.

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Internship & Career
Development

Support in finding career-aligned internships and opportunities while building professional networks to help secure a rewarding job post-graduation.

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College Success &
Early Career

Personalized coaching designed to help students successfully transition to college, navigate campus resources, and select career-aligned classes.

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Young Professional
Development

Support in evaluating job offers, transitioning into the professional world, and navigating post-college financial planning.

The Upward Project continues to grow, but personal connections and individualized guidance remain at the core of everything we do. We keep our cohort model small to allow us to go in-depth with each Scholar, and to provide individualized and culturally-responsive advising. Our staff come from backgrounds similar to our Scholars’, meaning that they understand the unique challenges our students face and can advise from experience and empathy.

Explore Our Program

Explore How to Join