How We Support NextUp Participants

Students participating in the NextUp program are eligible to receive many services and benefits. The NextUp team works diligently with students to ensure they have wrap around support in order to flourish in their academic, professional, and personal aspirations. Financial benefits are dependent on funding and student's unmet need as determined by financial aid.

At NextUp, we believe every student deserves to feel supported, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. We recognize that every student’s journey is unique, which is why we meet students where they are and provide individualized support that responds to their needs, strengths, and goals.

As a student’s home base at Merced College, NextUp is a place where students can find connection, resources, encouragement, and a community that believes in their success. We are committed to challenging the statistics and changing the narrative for foster youth. A student’s past circumstances should never define their future or limit their potential. By addressing basic needs and taking an equity-focused, student-centered approach, we help remove barriers, create opportunities, and empower students to thrive.

Together, we are building a future where foster youth are not defined by the challenges they have faced, but by the goals they achieve, the barriers they overcome, and the possibilities ahead. We remind foster youth that they truly are unstoppable!

What kind of support is provided?

  • NextUp Grant each semester
  • Campus Parking Permit
  • Meal and Transportation Cards
  • Backpack (limited to one per semester)
  • Laptop (one-time purchase)
  • Educational Supplies
  • Textbook assistance
    • NextUp sponsors student’s Smart Start fees
    • Smart Start through Merced College Bookstore ensures students have all required textbook rentals as soon as courses start
    • NextUp the covers the fees
    • Free unlimited printing
    • Lending library available for physical copies of textbooks if available
    • Recommended materials may be covered
  • Pays for Merced College Honor Society Fees
  • Reimbursement for transfer application fees to universities
  • Additional financial support may be available (reach out to the program coordinator if you are a participant in need)

  • Priority registration
  • Academic and life skills workshops
  • Support networks
  • Designated peer mentor
  • Referrals to campus and community resources
  • Social events and activities
  • Assistance with registration, enrollment, and ongoing academic needs
  • Assistance with financial aid applications
  • Academic and vocational counseling
    • Students are assigned to an academic counselor that meets with them three or more times a semester
    • Full comprehensive educational plan is completed at time of admittance to NextUp and updated regularly
  • Access to the NextUp Center
    • Lounge
    • Snacks and beverages
    • Computer Lab
    • Walk in support