GEAR UP ST. LOUIS is a federally funded program co-sponsored by the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the St. Louis Community College. GEAR-UP is designed to increase the college going rate of low income students in the metropolitan area through academic preparation programs and scholarships for students, professional development activities for educators, and college access information for students and parents.

GEAR UP focuses on over 6,000 eligible 8th grade students in eight school districts in the St. Louis area. These partner districts are St. Louis Public Schools, Wellston, Normandy, Ferguson-Florissant, Hazelwood, Jennings, Riverview Gardens and University City.