Financial Resources: Fellowships/Scholarships

Graduate Equity Fellowships
Graduate Equity Fellowship grants range from $500 to $2,000 per year. This program seeks to increase the diversity of students completing graduate degree programs in the CSU, encourages continuation toward doctoral programs, and promotes consideration of university faculty careers. It provides fellowships for economically disadvantaged CSU students who have had success in overcoming educational disadvantages and promotes faculty mentoring and research opportunities. To apply for a Graduate Equity Fellowship, you must:

• Be a legal California resident;
• Be admitted to a CSU and to a master's program as a classified or conditionally classified student;
• Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
• Have financial need of at least $1,000;
• Enroll in a minimum of 6 units per semester (8 units per quarter) applicable to the master's degree; and
• Demonstrate potential to succeed in graduate school and to complete a master's degree program in no more than two years as evidenced by undergraduate coursework and letters of recommendation.

Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program
The Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program provides financial assistance to graduate students. The purpose of the program is to increase the pool of individuals with the qualifications, motivation, and skills to teach the diverse student body in the California State University by providing financial assistance to doctoral students who show promise of becoming strong candidates for CSU instructional faculty positions. Through the Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program, the California State University offers loans and faculty sponsorship to full-time students pursuing doctoral degrees who are interested in a teaching career at a CSU campus. Specifically, the program provides a loan of up to $10,000 per year up to a total of $30,000 within five years; 20 percent of the loan is forgiven for each year of full-time postdoctoral teaching at a CSU campus.

The CSU does not guarantee a faculty position to any participant in the Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program. It is expected, however, that upon completion of their doctoral studies, participants will be qualified to compete for CSU faculty positions.

The Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program
The Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program focuses on students with very strong academic records who come from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and who have an interest in pursuing doctoral study, providing them with a $3,000 grant. Each applicant for the pre-doctoral program must have a faculty sponsor who will be available to work with the student during the academic year in implementing a plan designed to prepare the student for admission to a doctoral program. Each plan should be tailored to the specific needs and career objectives of the individual student.