Where the Boys At?

8 Real Ways TRIO Programs Can Engage More Male Students

Let’s be honest — a lot of TRIO programs are looking around and wondering the same thing: “Where are all the boys?”

Across the country, participation in programs like Upward Bound, Talent Search, and EOC is leaning heavily female. And it’s not just us — colleges are seeing it too. The gender gap in higher ed is real, and it’s growing. If we want to keep our commitment to equity, this is a problem we can’t ignore.

The good news? We don’t need to reinvent the wheel or build a new one. Sometimes the best fixes are practical, simple, and human.

Below are 8 real-world, field-tested, and sometimes sneakily brilliant ways to bring more male students into your program — and keep them engaged once they’re in.

1. Check the “Vibe” — Would a Teenage Boy Feel Like He Belongs Here?

Be honest: if a 10th-grade boy walked into your TRIO space or saw your Instagram feed, would he think, “Yep, this place gets me”?

We’re not saying everything has to be black, blue, and covered in basketballs — but if your flyers, walls, and videos scream “student council president,” you might be losing the attention of students who see themselves as… well, not that.

Real Example: A Talent Search team in Nevada updated their welcome video to include clips of boys fixing bikes, building stuff, laughing with mentors — basically, real guys doing real things. Participation bumped up within a few weeks. Magic? Nope. Just better marketing.

2. Use the Oldest Trick in the Book: Peer Pressure (The Good Kind)

Boys listen to boys. If one of your current male students brings a buddy, that’s more powerful than 100 flyers and a pizza party (although… still do the pizza party).

Real Example: An Upward Bound program in Ohio launched a “Squad Challenge” — show up, bring friends, participate, earn points. Think fantasy football but with FAFSA. Male enrollment jumped by 18%. Turns out a little friendly competition can go a long way.

3. Ditch the Flyers. Go Old-School with Personal Invites

Let’s be real: no teenage boy has ever gotten excited about a tri-fold brochure. What works? A one-on-one invite — from a coach, a teacher, a TRIO alum, or another student.

Real Example: In Southern California, an EOC staffer stopped sending mass emails and just started texting students directly. One kid came to the workshop because his football coach told him to. Another came because he didn’t want to disappoint his science teacher. Human connection beats Canva every time.

4. Make it Hands-On and Purpose-Driven — Less Talk, More Action

Many boys aren’t going to sign up for a program just to sit and listen to adults talk. (Frankly, who can blame them?)

Let them build something. Solve something. Lead something.

Real Example: A UBMS site in Colorado started “Hack-a-Problem Fridays” — student teams tackled real-world problems with a prize at the end. Attendance from male students more than doubled in one semester. Give them a challenge and a reason, and they’ll show up.

5. Bring in Male Role Models Who Are Actually Relatable

Your guest speaker doesn’t need to be a CEO or motivational speaker with a TED Talk. Sometimes, the local barber, mechanic, or youth pastor is more powerful.

Real Example: A Detroit Talent Search program brought in a former student who now runs a barbershop. He told stories about failing classes, getting his GED, and building his business. The room was silent — in a good way. Students saw someone like them who made it work.

6. Talk About Struggle — Normalize It

A lot of boys are walking around thinking that struggling = failure. They won’t raise their hand or ask for help if they think they’re the only one falling behind.

TRIO has the power to rewrite that story.

Real Example: In Texas, an Upward Bound program introduced “Fail Forward Fridays.” Staff and mentors shared stories of how they bombed a test, got rejected, or flunked out — and came back from it. Students started opening up more — and staying longer.

7. Ask What They Actually Care About (Don’t Guess)

Don’t assume your boys are all about sports. Some are into gaming. Others are into anime, investing, sneakers, or spoken word. Ask, listen, and build your content accordingly.

Real Example: In New Mexico, a group of students pitched a “Rap & Resume” workshop where they wrote personal statements in freestyle form. Attendance spiked. Engagement soared. And a few discovered they were actually good at writing. Win-win.

8. Don’t Let Them Disappear Quietly

Here’s the thing about disengagement — it usually starts in silence. One missed meeting becomes two, then poof — they’re gone.

Check in early. Check in often. A quick text, a walk between classes, a “hey, haven’t seen you in a bit” message can be the thread that keeps a student connected.

Real Example: In Chicago, a program assigned each new student a “check-in buddy” — an older peer or staff member who reached out weekly. Not intrusive, just consistent. Male retention shot up 25% over the year.

Final Thought: Belonging > Everything

At the end of the day, every strategy here boils down to one thing: help boys feel like they belong.

Like they’re welcome. Like they’re needed. Like TRIO is a place where they can be themselves, mess up, grow, and succeed.

Because it is. And always has been.

So let’s meet them where they are, pull up a chair, and say: “We saved you a seat.”