McNair Scholars Program

Welcome to the UW McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program is an undergraduate research and graduate school preparation program. We prepare students from groups traditionally underrepresented in graduate education for success in doctoral degree programs.

About the McNair Program

Initiated by Congress and established by the U.S. Department of Education in 1989, the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Program is one of the federal TRiO programs. It is named in memory of astronaut and Space Shuttle Challenger crew member, Dr. Ronald E. McNair, who was the first in his family to go to college and ultimately earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The UW McNair Scholars Program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and has been continuously funded and active on the UW campus since 1992. Since the program's inception at UW, more than 60 UW McNair alumni have gone on to earn their Ph.D.s in a wide variety of fields and disciplines.

UW's McNair Scholars Program works because it provides students opportunities to define goals, engage in research, and develop the skills and student/faculty mentor relationships critical to success at the doctoral level.

Twelve to sixteen highly motivated undergraduates with a desire to pursue a Ph.D. are selected each year to become McNair Scholars. Selection occurs through a competitive application process, which includes a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and interviews.