TRIO-Educational Opportunity Center

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The TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) at Big Bend Community College is a federally funded program that empowers adult learners, high school seniors, veterans, and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue postsecondary education. Serving rural communities across the BBCC district, EOC helps participants navigate college admissions, financial aid, and career planning through in-person and remote outreach.

Serving Rural Communities
The EOC serves a large, rural region surrounding the BBCC campus, including communities with limited access to higher education, high poverty rates, low educational attainment, and a significant Hispanic farmworker population. By maintaining strong partnerships with local schools, social service agencies, and nonprofit organizations, the EOC meets participants where they are—whether in-person at local service locations or through remote outreach. The program’s home base is the BBCC campus in Moses Lake, with services provided across the college’s entire service district.

Who Is Eligible?
Individuals are evaluated for eligibility on a case-by-case basis. General eligibility includes:

  • U.S. citizen, national, or eligible non-citizen

  • Veterans

  • Age 18 or older (including high school seniors not served by TRIO Talent Search)

  • Potential first-generation college student (neither parent has a four-year degree)

  • Low-income individual (as defined by federal guidelines)

EOC Services Include:

  • College & Career Advising:

    • Help with college, vocational, or technical school admissions

    • Assistance with transferring to universities

    • Support in choosing a major or career path

  • Financial Aid Assistance:

    • FAFSA guidance and application support

    • Scholarship and grant resources

    • Student loan information and application assistance

    • Work-Study information

  • Community Referrals:

    • Adult Basic Education and GED enrollment

    • Connections to postsecondary and community service partners

The EOC is committed to expanding access to higher education by helping participants overcome barriers and take confident steps toward academic and career success.