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Graduate Equity Program

2024-2025 Academic Year Application Is Now Available

Application Period

  • Opens: Friday, March 1, 2024
  • Closes: Sunday, May 5, 2024 by 11:59 p.m.

The Graduate Equity Program is designed to increase the diversity of students completing a graduate degree, encourage further study in a doctoral program and consider a university faculty career. This program is available to graduate students admitted in a STATE supported master's degree program. Doctoral, credential only, certificate students, international, non-California residents or students enrolled in a self-support master's degree program (offered through CSUN's Tseng College) are not eligible.

Please click on the accordion below for more information.

Program Provides

The program provides a limited number of fellowships from $2,000-4,000 to economically disadvantaged students especially from groups that are underrepresented among graduate degree recipients in their areas of study. The fellowships are intended to minimize students’ debt, allowing them to complete their program more quickly. The award will be paid out in two semesters.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be admitted in a CSUN State-supported master’s degree program.
  • Applicants must be a California resident or have an AB540 affidavit on file.
  • Applicants must have a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) on file for the upcoming academic year.
    *FAFSA and CADAA Estimated Family Contribution (soon to be Student Aid Index) must be less than or equal to $10,000.
  • Applicants must be enrolled in at least half-time (4 units) during the Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 terms.
    *Any change to your enrollment status resulting in less than required enrollment for any term within the award year will result in a cancellation of your award.
  • Undergraduate GPA must be greater than or equal to 3.25.
  • Graduate CSUN GPA must be greater than or equal to 3.25.
  • Graduate students must work closely with their faculty mentor on a project and participate in the CSUNposium which will be held in the spring semester (date to be determined).
  • Applicants must upload copies of all undergraduate and graduate (if any) unofficial transcripts.
  • Applicants must upload a personal statement that describes your educational and career goals, your research and/or creative activity, any research or employment you have participated in to advance your educational and career goals, and your commitment to completing a master’s degree and future goals.
  • Applicant must request one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or employer (no personal letters) via the scholarship portal.

Not Eligible:

  • Applicants who have previously received this award.
  • Doctoral, credential only, certificate students, international, non-California residents, or students enrolled in a self-support master’s degree program (offered through CSUN’s Tseng College)
  • CSUN employees are not eligible, except TAs and GAs.

How to Apply

Please select the Graduate Equity Program Application to apply for this scholarship opportunity.

Application Due Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024 by 11:59 p.m.

For technical assistance with the myMatador Scholarships portal please contact the Scholarship Office at (818) 677-4907.

SPECIAL NOTE: Your recommendation letters and application documents must be submitted through the myMatador Scholarship system. Your recommenders will receive a request to submit the recommendation letter through the system, but please follow up with them to make sure that they submit by the due date.

Award Notification and Disbursement

An email notification will be sent as soon as a determination is made. However, the actual funding for the fellowship is normally disbursed in October/November. Please note that the award of this fellowship may adjust or reduce other forms of your financial aid package.

What you must do if you receive the fellowship

Participate in the CSUNposium which will be held in the Spring term (date to be determined).