Use the accordions below to find answers to frequently asked questions about the Federal TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program (84.217A) and its associated grant competition.
The purpose of the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program is to award grants to institutions of higher education for projects designed to provide disadvantaged college students with effective preparation for doctoral study.
All McNair projects must provide the following activities: opportunities for research or other scholarly activities; summer internships; seminars and other educational activities designed to prepare students for doctoral study; tutoring; academic counseling; and activities designed to assist students participating in the project in securing admission to and financial assistance for enrollment in graduate programs.
McNair projects may also provide the following additional activities: education or counseling services designed to improve financial and economic literacy of students; mentoring programs involving faculty members at institutions of higher education or students, or any combination of such persons; and exposure to cultural activities.
Competitions for new awards are held every five years.
All McNair Program grant awards are made for five-year grant award cycles.
The average McNair Program grant is approximately $220,000 per year to provide services to a minimum of 24 students per year.
There is no cost matching requirement for the McNair Program.
All McNair Program grantees are required to submit an annual performance report documenting the number of McNair participants who complete research or other scholarly activities and continue in their undergraduate program or enroll in a graduate program in the subsequent academic year; who attain baccalaureate degrees; who enroll in postbaccalaureate programs; and who attain doctoral degrees. The Department of Education will aggregate the data provided in the annual performance reports from all grantees to determine the accomplishment level.
The specific performance measure for the McNair Program is the increase in the percentage of McNair Program participants who enroll in and persist in graduate school.
- Research or other scholarly activities
- Summer internships
- Seminars
- Tutoring
- Academic counseling
- Activities designed to assist students participating in the project in securing admission to and financial assistance for enrollment in graduate programs
- Education or counseling services designed to improve financial and economic literacy of student
- Mentoring programs involving faculty members at institutions of higher education or students
- Exposure to cultural activities