TRIO is a nationwide, federally-funded organization committed to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance.

TRIO programs are designed to help low-income and first-generation Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. TRIO projects are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are the TRIO Programs because there were initially three programs (TRIO Educational Talent Search, TRIO Upward Bound, and TRIO Student Support Services). While student financial aid helps students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.

*(source: http://www.coenet.us)

As mandated by Congress, two-thirds of the students served must come from low-income families where neither parent graduated from college. More than 2,700 TRIO Programs currently serve nearly 866,000 low-income Americans nationwide. Many programs serve students in grades six through 12; other programs serve current college students. Thirty-seven percent of TRIO students consider themselves Caucasian, 35% are African-Americans, 19% are Hispanics/Latinos, 4% are Native Americans, 4% are Asian-Americans, and 1% are listed as "Other," including multiracial students. Twenty-two thousand students with disabilities and more than 25,000 U.S. veterans are currently enrolled in the TRIO Programs as well.

TRIO programs benefit from a host institution, which can consist of colleges, universities, community colleges, and other institutions. These host institutions often house the programs' work and office space; programs serving middle and high schools use the institution as a "home base" while traveling to the middle and high schools to provide services. EOC may staff community sites as well. TRIO funds are distributed to institutions through competitive grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

There are three membership types. The most common is the $85 Active Professional Membership. Membership fees are valid for 12 months from the time of processing.

EOA has over 1,000 members in the ten-state region and is arguably the largest in the nation. Members are persons involved in the work of college access and success, are working in roles where their job responsibilities support TRIO or TRIO-eligible students, or professionals who support the work of college access and success.