PORTLAND (AP) — Four Maine colleges and universities will receive more than $2.1 million in federal funding to help disadvantaged students pursue higher education.

The money is coming through the U.S. Department of Education’s Upward Bound program. The recipients are the University of Maine System, University of Southern Maine, University of Maine at Farmington and Bowdoin College.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, a Republican, and Angus King, an independent, say the grants will allow the schools to provide assistance to hundreds of high school students around Maine. The recipients will include low-income and first-generation students.

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