[4] This distribution has been suggested to perpetuate inequality in science, as graduate students at less elite academic universities often have a greater need for funding.
[5] In addition, elite universities, both graduate and undergraduate level, often have greater resources designed to help students submit successful applications.
Awareness of the fellowship, resources to help apply, research opportunities in undergrad, financial freedom to work in a lab in college, and undergraduate support are also important factors considered contributors to an uneven distribution.
[7] An alternative explanation is that the students awarded the GRFP, who come from many different social and economic backgrounds, naturally gravitate towards the best nationwide institutions for research.
The GRFP often vastly increases awardee's academic freedom to choose between labs and universities, since they are less reliant on departmental funding.
Generally applicants cannot have a masters or professional degree when applying, unless returning after two or more years and not enrolled in a graduate program.
[15] In 2020, the NSF announced it will emphasize the fields of artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and computationally intensive research when awarding fellowships.
This received criticism from the science community largely due to concerns that the new focus could further disadvantage under-represented groups.