McNair Scholar Program

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is named in Honor of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the laser physicist and Challenger space shuttle astronaut. Funded through a grant from the United States Department of Education, the objective of the McNair Program is to increase the numbers of low-income, first-generation and underrepresented minority undergraduates who pursue doctoral degrees (specifically the Ph.D.) and go on to careers in research and teaching at the university level.

The Prescott McNair office started in October 1999. Presently the program is funded for 25 students per year. McNair students are currently very sought after by graduate admissions committees. Recognizing that McNair scholars are well prepared for the rigors of graduate study, over 200 institutions now will waive the application fee for any McNair Scholar who applies. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott McNair graduates are currently in such graduate programs as MIT, George Washington, UC Davis, Virginia Tech, Duke, University of Washington, Purdue, Texas A&M and many more. Many of our scholars have full or partial financial support. Presently the Prescott McNair program has 4 scholars who received their PhD within 5 years of graduating from Embry Riddle.

For more information on the Embry-Riddle, Prescott Campus McNair program please visit us at www.erau.edu/pr/mcnair.