University of San Diego
PA-8: Affordability and Access

The university offers scholarships, work study, and other grant opportunities for recruiting and retention. The Diversity "Circle of Excellence" Scholarships are awarded to incoming first-time freshmen based on superior academic achievement, test scores, leadership, service, talent, and other personal qualities and are generally reserved for underrepresented undergraduates who have financial need. Please see: https://catalogs.sandiego.edu/undergraduate/financial-aid/scholarships-grants/

Student Support Services is jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the University of San Diego to serve eligible undergraduates at USD. The program provides opportunities for academic development, assists with college requirements, and serves to retain and motivate students towards the successful completion of their post-secondary education at USD. Eligible students meet one or more of the following criteria: Low income (as determined by Federal Income Guidelines), first generation (an individual both of whose parents, or whose only support parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree), students with disabilities (students who have a documented disability and are registered with USD's Disability Services), and/or underrepresented population (as determined by USD).

Upward Bound (UB) at USD keeps 75 1st generation-eligible-for-college, low-income Kearny High School students in school and bound for college. The University of San Diego TRiO: Upward Bound program is one of over 700 Upward Bound programs nationwide that assist eligible high school students to complete high school and graduate to higher levels of education. The students that Upward Bound serves must come from low-income families (with incomes at or below 150% of poverty as defined by the U.S. Department of Education) and/or are first generation potential college students.

Upward Bound provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in pre-college performance and ultimately in higher education pursuits. Upward Bound aims to increase the rates at which participants complete secondary education, enroll in, and graduate from institutions of post-secondary education.

The McNair Scholars Program, funded by the US Dept. of Education and USD, serves high-achieving USD undergraduates committed to pursuing a PhD or other graduate degree. Two-thirds of the McNair Scholars at USD must be both first-generation and income eligible students. McNair Scholars are exposed to research training and scholarly experiences throughout the year and have opportunities to present their research at national academic conferences. In addition, they are eligible to participate in the McNair Summer Research Program. As Summer Research Interns, they conduct an 8-10 week research project, attend a graduate school boot camp, produce a scholarly essay on their findings, and present their work at a minimum of two academic conferences. The program offers the loan of a laptop computer, field trips and travel to graduate school sites, and a financial stipend for summer scholarship. One of 187 McNair programs in the US, in June 2003 USD McNair received its first 5-year award ($1.1 million) from the US Department of Education. In 2007 its second cycle was funded for $900K.

See also: http://www.sandiego.edu/upwardbound/about/
http://www.sandiego.edu/mcnair-scholars/
https://catalogs.sandiego.edu/undergraduate/financial-aid/scholarships-grants/