Eligibility and Benefits of the Ronald E. McNair Program

The TRIO program requirements will lay out the guidelines for who can apply to become a McNair scholar.

In order to be considered for the McNair program, a student needs to meet both Federal TRIO and UW-Eau Claire criteria:

Federal TRIO criteria, scholars must be:

• A U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Income eligible: 150% below federal government determined poverty line ("low-income") and from a family in which neither parent graduated from a four-year postsecondary educational institution

OR

• From groups that are traditionally underrepresented in graduate studies and among doctoral recipients. The federal government defines "underrepresented" to include:

             Black (non-Hispanic)
             Hispanic
             American Indian/Alaskan Native
             Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders

UW-Eau Claire criteria, scholars must be:

• A UW-Eau Claire student; all majors are eligible. 
• Have the potential and interest in pursuing a graduate program. 
• Be supported by a recommendation from a UW-Eau Claire faculty or staff member.
• Have a minimum standing of rising sophomore with a GPA of 2.75 or greater.

Take this quiz to find out if you are eligible.

Why become a McNair Scholar? Immediate benefits include:

• Receive intense mentoring in a nurturing and supportive environment
• Undertake collaborative research with UW-Eau Claire faculty members
• Participate in tailored seminars & workshops, the Summer Research Institute, and professional development and networking opportunities
• Receive personalized assistance with graduate school selection and application
• Benefit from application fee waivers available from many graduate schools across the country
• Learn about financial aid, fellowships, and grant opportunities

Long-term benefits: A McNair Scholar for life

The expected long-term benefits of the McNair program are derived from the program purpose of providing select college students with effective preparation for doctoral study. Research provides irrefutable evidence that a doctoral degree bestows monetary and non-monetary benefits that last over a lifetime. These include highest annual median income compared to lower levels of educational attainment, an unemployment rate of close to zero percent, a life-time earnings curve that is much higher than lower levels of educational attainment, and a wide array of research and academic employment possibilities.