TRIO SSS Eligibility
TRIO Student Support Services at Big Bend Community College is committed to equitable access. Participation in the program is open to all individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex. All students who meet the federally defined eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility for TRIO SSS is determined by federal guidelines and college policy. To receive services through the program at Big Bend Community College, students must meet the following criteria, including being a high school graduate as required by institutional policy:
- Be U.S. Citizen or US national who meets the residency requirements for Federal student aid.
- Be enrolled at BBCC in a degree/certificate program or be accepted for enrollment in the next academic term AND demonstrate academic need for program participation (determined during the application process)
- And meet at least one of the following criteria:
Neither parent or primary caregiver has completed a bachelor’s degree
An individual whose family’s taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount (current levels below).
Federal TRIO SSS Programs Current-Year Low-Income Levels
The figures shown under family income represent amounts equal to 150 percent of the family income levels established by the Census Bureau for determining poverty status. The 2026 poverty guidelines were published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal Register on January 15, 2026, and are effective as of January 13, 2026.
| Size of Family | Family Taxable Income |
| 1 | $23,940.00 |
| 2 | $32,460.00 |
| 3 | $40,980.00 |
| 4 | $49,500.00 |
| 5 | $58,020.00 |
| 6 | $66,540.00 |
| 7 | $75,060.00 |
| 8 | $83,580.00 |
For family units with more than eight members, add the following amount for each additional family member: $8,520.
A person who has a disability, as that term is defined in section 12102 of the Americans with Disabilities Act as confirmed by BBCC Accommodations department.
**A preference is given to students who have an intent to transfer and are first-generation AND low-income or are a student living with a disability**