Who We Serve:

The McNair Scholars program serves students who are first generation to college, low income, and/or members of groups traditionally underrepresented in graduate school, as defined by federal TRIO regulations. Members of the program participate in numerous activities designed to prepare them for the rigors of graduate education. The McNair Scholars Program prepares eligible participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. The goal of this federally funded, nationally recognized program is to increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society.

    Eligibility:

    In order to apply for the McNair Scholars Program, you must meet the following eligibility criteria, set by the Department of Education. Because this is a federally funded program, these are strict requirements.

    To be eligible, you must:

    • have a strong desire to obtain a PhD
    • be a US citizen or permanent resident
    • come from a low income family background (according to federal definitions) and be the first in your family to go to college (no parent or legal guardian holds a 4-year college degree, or you were a ward of the court after age 13)
      • or be a member of a group that is underrepresented/underserved in graduate education, as outlined by federal TRIO regulations, defined as the following:
        • Black or African American
        • Hispanic or Latinx
        • American Indian or Alaskan Native
        • Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders
    • be currently enrolled as an undergraduate in a degree program at CU Boulder (students who already hold a bachelor's degree are not eligible)
    • be heading into your junior or senior year in the upcoming fall semester with at least 60 credit hours completed by the following Fall semster (you must also have at least one year remaining before graduation)
    • have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

    Apply here!