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Graduate Students

CSU Graduate Equity Fellowships

A CSU Graduate Equity Fellowship is available to graduate students with financial need who are economically disadvantaged and who have had success in overcoming educational disadvantages. Students may be awarded up to $2,000 in fellowships and a graduate assistantship in their department.

Applicants must file the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and complete the CSU Graduate Equity Fellowship (GEF) application.  A GEF paper application is available in the Graduate Studies Office (CH-123). Three letters of recommendation are needed from faculty and transcripts of previous work must be on file.

State University Grant (SUG)

Students enrolled in course through the College of Extended Learning are not eligible to receive a State University Grant (SUG).

Master's

Eligibility criteria:

  1. Must be a California resident;
  2. Admitted into classified Master’s program (conditionally classified does not meet criteria);
  3. Enrolled in 4 units of 500+ level courses or more;
  4. Enrolled in a first Master’s program (2nd Master’s program or beyond not eligible);
  5. Meet the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) range; and
  6. Cannot accumulate more than 125% of units required to earn Master’s degree, e.g. a Master’s student who has earned more than 57 units towards a 45 unit Master’s degree program will no longer be eligible for a SUG award.

The maximum annual SUG award is up to the tuition/fee, and SUG does not cover additional campus charges. SUG funding is limited and based on availability of funding at time of review of a student’s financial aid record.  You may not receive a SUG if you are receiving another type of aid that pays your tuition fee costs.

2nd BA

Students enrolled in a 2nd BA degree are not eligible for a State University Grant (SUG).

Graduate Business Grant (GBG)

Graduate students in the MS Accountancy or MBA programs are eligible for a CSU campus Graduate Business Grant. To be considered for a CSU Graduate Business Grant, students must demonstrate financial need in accordance with the federal methodology of need analysis and meet all other eligibility criteria that are applied to other CSU students who are considered for a State University Grant, including classification as a California resident for Tuition fee paying purposes. Eligibility for a GBG requires that the student be paying MBA or MSA professional program fees.

The maximum GBG award shall be the additional per unit graduate professional fee assessed of the student. CSU campuses may elect to make smaller awards. Awarding and disbursement of the GBG shall be after census date for each semester.

Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program

Offered by the California State University, the Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP) aims to increase the number of promising doctoral students applying for future CSU faculty positions by offering financial assistance in the form of a loan, and mentorship by CSU faculty. The program is open to new or continuing full-time doctoral students, undergraduate and master’s level graduate students applying to doctoral programs, and lecturers enrolled in a full-time doctoral program. 

Doctoral Incentive Program

California Pre-Doctoral Program

The California Pre-Doctoral Program provides financial assistance for students interested in exploring and preparing for a doctoral program. Through this program the CSU Chancellor’s Office provides assistance as the Sally Casanova Scholars award to juniors, seniors, and graduate students who wish to pursue doctoral degrees. The funds may be used for students to visit U.S. doctoral-granting institutions, obtain membership in professional organizations, subscribe to academic journals, GRE preparation, and to cover the cost of graduate school application and test fees.

California Pre-Doctoral Program