Undergraduate UMBC students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply to the McNair Scholars Program.
Applications must meet either one of the two criteria:
- First Gen and Income Eligible
- First-generation college student means: (1) an individual neither of whose natural or adoptive parents received a baccalaureate degree; or (2) an individual 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; or (3) an individual who, prior to the age of 18, did not regularly reside with or receive support from a natural or adoptive parent.
- Income eligibility is established by the U.S. Department of Education,https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ope/trio/federal-trio-programs-current-year-low-income-levels);
OR
- First-Gen or Income-Eligible (for the 2026-2027 academic year)
Additional criteria:
- Academic Progress will be holistically considered (no minimum GPA or credits)
- Plan to continue immediately to graduate school and persist to earn a Ph.D.
- Submit Online Application (See informational document)
- Complete Group Interview Process (Open to All Applicants)
- Complete Individual Interview Process (Invitation Only)
- Based on application and Group Interview results, applicants will be invited for an in-person interview. McNair Staff will take all recommendations to make the final selections
If you meet all of the criteria above, sign up below!