Eligible Candidates for Academic Talent Search include:
- United States citizens, nationals or permanent residents who reside in the city of Buffalo
- Have completed the 5th grade and are between the ages of 11 and 27
- Possess the potential for success at the college level
- In addition, candidates are eligible if they are:
- From low income households
- Potential first generation college students
- In need of services provided by Academic Talent Search
- Veterans
The 2000 Census reported that 80.8% of college graduates were employed full-time, compared to only 66.4% of adults with only a high school diploma. Income also increased dramatically with education; median earnings for those with a college degree were $46,776 and median earnings for those with only a high school diploma were $29,586.