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McNair Eligibility

If you are a member of at least one of these two groups, you may qualify to be a McNair Scholar:

students at a research conference

Low-Income and First-Generation Students

  • You are considered a first-generation college student if your parents/guardians did not have a four-year degree before you were 18.
  • You are considered a financially limited college student. Federal low-income guidelines can be found on the Department of Education website.
McNair students presenting at a research conference

Students Underrepresented in Doctoral Programs

  • This includes members of the following groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.

Additional Requirements

  • US citizen or permanent resident.
  • Entering the final two years of a Bachelor’s Degree program in the fall.
  • Expecting to immediately enter an academic/research graduate program upon graduation (not including professional degrees such as MD, JD, DVM, MBA, etc.).