The Academic Year Program is an important component of the Upward Bound experience. Throughout the school year, one of four staff members is assigned to each participating school as an academic year counselor (AYC). The AYC goes to the school one day a week to meet with each Upward Bound student to discuss academic and personal aspects of their lives.

In addition, the AYC assists the students with college planning, the college application, and financial aid processes. Each fall the seniors are brought on an average of three (and the juniors on an average of two) college visits. The seniors choose the colleges that they would like to further investigate and the AYC arranges for a visit to that college. Some of the students are given interviews and thorough tours of the campus. Also, as part of this experience, the students are required to attend weekend workshops (bridge, senior, junior, and freshman-sophomore weekends). These workshops are emphasizing the college selection process. Staff members supervise the weekend, assisting in the college research and the completion of forms. At the end of the weekend, the students are required to evaluate their own performance as well as what they learned. They are also given a chance to suggest ways to improve the weekend in following years.

The Bound Sound is a newsletter that is sent to each participant indicating important dates and events, student accomplishments throughout the school year, former bridge student information, and news updates. This newsletter also keeps the parents informed of program events and the successes of Upward Bound students.