Year Up has a rolling admissions process. We encourage you to apply early because spaces can fill up quickly. We begin a new cohort approximately every six months, so if you don't make it into the current class, we encourage you to apply for the next! Visit the location page to view class start dates offered at the location nearest to you.

The first step is to click the apply button so that you can begin your application, and follow the steps on screen. Next, you'll attend an interview, review your decision letter, complete your onboarding, and go on to start your Year Up! If you're applying to one of our college-based locations, you will need to apply to the college and complete the FAFSA. Don't worry if that sounds intimidating—our admissions team will be there to support you along the way, and they will provide more details as you progress.

To reapply to Year Up, contact your local Year Up Admissions Office. Reapplication varies by campus.

If you know of any friends or family members that would benefit from the Year Up experience, you can visit the referral page, or send the young adult to the referral page, and fill out the referral form. A Year Up staff member will then follow up with them shortly!

83% of our graduates are employed within 4-months of graduation. We have a dedicated team that is committed to helping you get a job after graduation.

100% of students that meet expectations during the learning and development phase are placed in internships. We set very clear expectations and coach you every step of the way to ensure you always know where you stand.

Salaries vary, but a recent study found that our participants earn 34% more, on average, than their peers who don’t join Year Up. We have a dedicated team that is committed to helping you get a job after graduation.

Reach out to admissions@yearup.org or watch our informational videos to “meet” real students and staff during onboarding! Or research up online and check out our social media channels for more information about how Year Up enables career change. The federal government has funded studies to ensure we’re delivering on our promise to help young adults like you start life-changing careers.

When you graduate Year Up, you join a network of 23,000+ Alumni. We provide resources such as access to a no-cost Associate’s Degree program, career coaching, and access to an alumni assistance program available 24/7. Learn more on the alumni website.

Yes! You are still eligible for Year Up if you have a college degree from an international university. However, all students must have U.S. work authorization (U.S. citizenship, permanent resident, DACA recipient (link to DACA info), or Employment Authorization Card), and be within commuting distance of a Year Up location throughout the duration of the program.

Year Up offers either college credits or college credit recommendations, depending on the location. If you enroll at a Year Up location housed at a college, you will receive college credit directly through that college. If you enroll at a stand-along Year Up campus, you’ll receive credit recommendations recognized at over 2,000 higher education institutions nationwide.

At many of our locations, you will be dually enrolled with our college partner, receiving up to 31 credits from the college and Year Up courses. At Year Up locations not based at a college partner, you are eligible for college credit recommendations that are recognized at over 2,000 higher education institutions nationwide. Some students do choose to take additional classes while in the program, but it can be difficult to balance. You can discuss further with a member of our team during the onboarding process.

Our job training program is tuition free for participants. In fact, you can earn an educational stipend to help you offset basic expenses. In locations where we partner with colleges, you will still be responsible for college tuition and fees, but we work with you to complete the FAFSA and to receive grants and funding that can cover college costs.

Many students work part time jobs during evenings or weekends while attending Year Up. It can be challenging to balance, but it’s possible. While the educational stipend you can earn won’t replace a full-time job, it will help offset some of your basic expenses. If you are worried about your income, our student services staff has experience discussing part time jobs for students and can help you develop a plan that will enable your success at Year Up and ensure you can cover your expenses.

Yes! You will have the ability to earn an educational stipend during the entire program, and the stipend increases during your internship. The stipend won’t replace a full-time job, but it can help offset some of your basic expenses.

The educational stipend can be earned throughout the entire program, and increases during the internship phase. The stipend functions as an accountability tool and helps reinforce professional behaviors expected in a corporate environment, and can vary based on that, as well as location. Generally, students receive payment every two weeks, via check or direct deposit.

Yes, on a case-by-case basis. Our Student Services team works with students who may need financial support for transportation or other items.

Year Up is proud to offer a safe space to all. We embrace diversity of all kinds and actively work to support diversity in the classroom and the workforce. If you require accommodation (for example, based on religion or ability), we will work to support you in whatever way we can.

Our internship partners require some kind of work authorization, which is why it is a Year Up requirement. If you're a U.S. citizen, you can automatically work in the U.S. If you're not a U.S. citizen, we welcome various forms of work authorization, including DACA status. We strongly support DACA and have dedicated resources if you have DACA status.

Minimum age limit: Year Up's internship requirements for students require you to be 18 years old before the first day of your internship. This is because there are different employment laws for adults and children. You may apply and enroll in the program at age 17, as long as your 18th birthday occurs prior to the start of internship. Maximum age limit: For a limited time we have extended our age range from 24 to 26, and to 30 in some areas. You must not be over the age of 26, or 30 depending on the area, when you are accepted into the program. You may turn 27/31 over the course of the year-long program, as long as you are no older than 26/30 at the time of acceptance.

For a limited time, we are opening Year Up applications to students who have received a bachelor's degree—and yes, many of our students have some college but no degree. For the time being, regardless of your degree status you qualify for Year Up and may find that it's a great opportunity to improve upon your education.

We accept international students with either international or U.S. high school diplomas or GEDs. However, all students must have U.S. work authorization and be within commuting distance of a Year Up location throughout the duration of the program.

For a limited time, we have extended our age range to serve older participants—please see your specific location for age requirements in your city. In most locations we work with 18-26 year olds, because that age range provides a pivotal time to support young adults through successful transitions from school into the economic mainstream, and toward long-term success. In some areas, we have the opportunity to support 18-30 year olds. Our partners also require interns to be 18 or older. Investment in this age group has been limited; with few viable alternatives to the traditional college-to-career pathway, we're proving that young adults can succeed via a more direct path to a career. Through our partner, Grads of Life you can search for other workforce training providers in your area.

In some locations, we use a basic academic assessment to see where you're starting—If we know where you are, we can better support you! We expect you to try your best, but it also isn't something you should worry about. It's ok if you didn't get "good" grades in high school. There are many types of assessment in education, with this assessment we just want to understand your needs better.

Yes, you may apply to Year Up while still in high school or GED classes as long as you will receive your diploma or GED before Year Up orientation.

Yes, we review financial aid on a case-by-case basis. Be sure to bring this up with a member of our admissions team, and they can advise.

Misdeamenor or juvenile records have no impact on your application to Year Up, but do need to be disclosed to the companies where students are placed for their internship. We work closely, in partnership with our corporate partners, to support young adults with a criminal record as best we can.

Year Up does not practice pregnancy discrimination. Pregnancy will not factor into any adverse decision. For more information, contact Charmaine Peart-HoSang (cpeart@yearup.org)

Year Up has shifted to a hybrid program model, combining in-person and virtual learning opportunities for students and interns. However, to be eligible for Year Up you must be within commuting distance to the physical location you are applying throughout the duration of the program and regularly attend in-person days. Find the Year Up location nearest you.

In most locations Year Up is a one-year commitment, Monday - Friday, however program duration does vary by campus. Hours vary slightly based on location, but roughly mirror traditional business hours. You will learn the exact hours at the location nearest you during onboarding, or you can reach out to admissions@yearup.org to speak with a member of our team.

Yes, many of our students have children or family members they support. Our Student Services team can provide resources and help you plan for your family support needs so that you can be successful at Year Up.

Year Up does not provide housing, but our Student Services team can provide resources, connect you to housing opportunities, and help you find a solution, on a case-by-case basis. We work with other community organizations when needed, to ensure this isn't a barrier to your success.

Yes, Year Up upholds a business attire dress code, which we define in detail during orientation. If you don't have professional clothing, don't worry. We can recommend sources for affordable professional clothing and we have clothing closets with high quality, donated professional clothing available at no cost to you.

Year Up sets high expectations for attendance. We expect you to arrive on time, each day, with the exception of pre-determined holidays. We know things come up, so we offer a small number of personal days for those times. Late arrivals or additional absence beyond those allowed will have an impact on your performance in program, which we discuss, in detail, during orientation so that you know exactly what to expect.

Our training offerings, career tracks, and internships vary by locations, and may change each cycle, depending on the needs of our corporate partners. Visit the location page of the location nearest you, to see what options are available for the current recruitment cycle.

You’ll share your top specialty choices when you apply. Everyone learns the same essential skills to start. Then, based on your interest, the observations of your instructors and advisors, and available internship opportunities, we’ll place you into a specialty that will be the best fit. Visit the location page of the location nearest you, to see what options are available for the current recruitment cycle.

No, you cannot change specialties once you have been assigned. However, we work very hard to ensure your specialty will be the right fit for you.

As an organization, our guiding focus is to put the health and safety of our Year Up community above everything else. As a result, Year Up is requiring that all staff and students must be fully vaccinated by January 2, 2022, unless a person has a medical disability or sincerely held religious belief that prevents them from receiving the vaccine. This means that you will need to have at least had your first vaccination shot no later than December 1st, 2021 in order to be fully vaccinated by the beginning of January.

Based on the research and the latest information provided by the CDC, the widespread access to effective vaccines has greatly reduced the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, and stands as the single most important action one can take to reduce risk to oneself and others. Our decision also supports the current administration, who are recommending that any employer with 100+ employees must require vaccination.

“Fully vaccinated” means full course of the CDC conditionally approved (or FDA fully approved) vaccines (i.e. two shots of Moderna or Pfizer, one for Johnson and Johnson) plus two weeks. This also includes any booster shots necessary to maintain vaccination status and similarly approved by the CDC and FDA.

There are several resources available online that can provide you with more information on the Covid-19 vaccine, including: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Department Information by State, World Health Organization (WHO), and Global Health Council.

We strongly encourage you to start planning on getting your first shot by December 1st, 2021 so that you are fully vaccinated by the time the policy goes into effect on January 2nd, 2022. To find a vaccination site close to you, visit vaccinefinder.org.

While Year Up has shifted to a hybrid program model which includes remote and in-person learning, you will still need to follow the requirements stated for your cohort and be fully vaccinated by January 2nd, 2022, unless you have a medical disability or sincerely held religious belief that prevents you from receiving the vaccine.

Our policy decision was driven by our responsibility to ensure the safety of all staff and students and is guided by the best available public health and scientific information. With all of this in mind, we also want to acknowledge distrust of medicine and science within many Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. The skepticism is rooted in a history of experimentation, discrimination, and racism. Second, we also acknowledge COVID-19 has disproportionally impacted Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. Black, Brown, and Indigenous are represented disproportionately among essential workers and industries. Third, we recognize there is a level of uncertainty about the speed at which scientists developed vaccines. Researchers leveraged previous coronavirus and vaccine research, technological advancements developed over almost two decades, and significant private and public funding to develop vaccines. Finally, we are aware a wide range of individuals with underlying conditions have faced significant challenges remaining safe.

With this in mind we have still decided to move forward with a vaccine mandate and will work to support our students in meeting this requirement.