Program Application Information

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 PhD. 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
• Be a first-generation college student and a low-income individual defined by the Code of Federal Regulations as quoted and cited below:
  • First-generation college student (34 CFR 647.7) means—
    (1) A student neither of whose natural or adoptive parents received a baccalaureate degree; or
    (2) A student who, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, and whose supporting parent did not receive a baccalaureate degree.
    (3) An individual who, prior to the age of 18, did not regularly reside with or receive support from a natural or an adoptive parent.
  • Low-income individual (34 CFR 647.7) means an individual whose family's taxable income did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level in the calendar year preceding the year in which the individual participates in the project. Poverty level income is determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• be currently enrolled as an undergraduate in a degree program at CU Boulder
• be heading into your junior or senior year in the upcoming fall semester with at least 60 credit hours completed by the following Fall semester (you must also have at least one year remaining before graduation)
• have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7