McNair Scholars are qualified students from an experienced talent pool of undergraduate researchers. As participants of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, McNair Scholars develop research skills and graduate school preparatory experience that broaden the possibilities of innovation in research.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Graduate School is proud to support the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program’s pipeline path from undergraduate studies to the PhD.
McNair Graduate Entrance Fellowship (MGEF)
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Graduate School offers the McNair Graduate Entrance Fellowship, a one-time $3,000 award available to all McNair Scholars that enroll in a full-time graduate degree program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee pending funding availability. The McNair Graduate Entrance Fellowship (MGEF) serves to recognize the exceptional scholarship, research background, and doctoral readiness of McNair Scholars, participants of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.
The MGEF is open to McNair Scholars enrolled in their first semester of full-time graduate studies at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Awardees must begin their graduate degree enrollment in the Fall ‘26 or Spring ‘27 term pending funding availability. The MGEF is a one-time $3,000 payment that may be accepted in addition to other fellowships and financial aid. Payment is non-transferrable and cannot be used as a reimbursement.
McNair Scholars are required to confirm Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program participation in order to identify MGEF eligibility. To do this, they must submit a McNair Scholar/Alum Verification Letter and a completed McNair Graduate Application Fee Waiver with their UWM Graduate School application. Both documents must be signed by their McNair Project Official and are required to confirm their McNair Program participation.
Additional McNair Graduate Entrance Fellowship Requirements & Conditions:
- Must be admitted and accept admission to a UWM graduate degree program.
- This award may be accepted in addition to other fellowships/financial aid.
- The MGEF is non-transferrable and cannot be used as a reimbursement.
- Current or prospective UWM graduate students who have not completed participation in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program are not eligible.
Questions? Contact the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Graduate School at gradschool@uwm.edu.
McNair Graduate Application Fee Waiver Process
To request their UWM Graduate School application fee waived, Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program McNair Scholars/Alum must confirm program participation through their UWM Graduate School admission application. To do so, they must upload the following two items in pdf in the Questionnaire section of their Graduate School application at least 10-14 business days prior to their graduate program’s application deadline.
The McNair Scholar/Alum Verification Letter should be developed, signed, and dated by the McNair Scholar’s McNair Project Official confirming the applicant’s successful participation in their McNair Scholars Program. The McNair Participant Verification Letter must be developed on the McNair Project Official’s university letterhead and signed/dated by the McNair Project Official. This McNair Participant Verification Letter must also include the Project Official’s contact information.
The McNair Graduate Application Fee Waiver Form should be signed by a McNair Project Official of the applicant’s McNair Scholars Program. The Graduate School encourages use of this official form* developed by the Council of Graduate Schools and the Council for Opportunity in Education, but will also accept this form set on university/program letterhead.
The McNair Graduate Application Fee Waiver form must be submitted within the Graduate School Admission Application. All sections of the fee waiver form must be completed. Students who have not completed participation in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program are not eligible.
No refunds will be provided to applicants who elect to pay the application fee prior to the UWM Graduate School approving the request for a waived application fee.
Questions? Contact the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Graduate School at gradschool@uwm.edu
*The Certification of McNair Program Participation and Request for Admission Application Fee Waiver project is sponsored by the Council of Graduate Schools and the Council for Opportunity in Education.