About
Program overview
In 1989, one of the Federal TRIO Programs was named after NASA Astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair to prepare low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students for doctoral studies through research and other scholarly activities.
Program eligibility
McNair Scholars Program applicants must be either a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States with a GPA of at least 3.0 by the end of the semester prior to their application and must be a first-generation college student who qualifies as low-income, or be a member of a group that is underrepresented in certain academic disciplines. Please contact us directly via email with any questions or concerns regarding eligibility.
- For the purposes of TRIO program participation, low-income is defined by the Federal government using the family's taxable income from IRS Form 1040 11B, based on the family's number of dependents.
- The U.S. Department of Education defines first-generation college student as a student who has not resided with, or received primary support from, a parent who has received a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
- Members of a group that are underrepresented in certain academic disciplines are documented by standard statistical references or other national survey data; eligibility criteria will be reviewed and accepted