Overview of Aid

Students seeking financial aid should contact the SJSU Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) and review the Seven Steps to Financial Aid. Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application before the posted deadlines to be considered for the following:

• Loans: If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. Keep in mind that a loan is money you borrow and must pay back with a designated interest rate. If you decide to take out a loan, be sure to understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan. Student loans are offered through private lenders such as banks and credit unions or the federal government.

• Grants: Grants are financial gift awards based on financial need and do not need to be repaid. While most grants listed on the SJSU Grants webpage. Grants are available only to undergraduate students, a few are open to graduate students and most require submission of a FAFSA application for consideration.

• Work Study: SJSU offers a Federal Work-Study program which provides part-time on or off campus employment for graduate students seeking financial aid to allow students to earn money to help pay education expenses through either community service work or work related to the student’s field of study. Interested students must fill out a FAFSA form to determine eligibility. Visit the Work Study webpage to learn more about the program and how to find jobs.

Scholarships

Scholarships are money-based awards specifically designated for education-related expenses. Award of scholarships depends on the individual scholarship program and can be based on merit, talent, academic performance and/or financial need. Even if students do not wish to be considered for loans, grants or work study, they should file a FAFSA application as some scholarships that are need based may use a student’s FAFSA to determine eligibility. SJSU administers three types of scholarships:

• SJSU campus scholarships which use the Spartan Scholarship application which opens in March. These scholarships are typically at-large campus scholarships that have fewer restrictions than department or private scholarships.

• Department scholarships are restrictive with more requirements tied to specific areas disciplines within a particular field. Many departments offer both graduate and undergraduate scholarships which vary in funding amounts and application deadlines. Each department may have different application review processes, so it is best to check with individual departments for specific scholarship offerings.

• Private scholarships come from several different sources. Researching private scholarships may take time but may be well worth the effort! Please visit FASO’s Scholarships web page for more information on scholarship databases, applying for campus scholarships and registering for a scholarship workshop.

College of Graduate Studies and CSU Scholarships

Scholarships offered through the College of Graduate Studies are briefly summarized below. Please review our website for more information regarding each of these scholarships:

• Bertha Kalm: Made possible by an endowment from parents Amanda and Charles Kalm, this annual scholarship award of approximately $7500 will "support graduate students in any field of instruction, who need financial assistance to continue their education, and who demonstrate a desire to make a difference for humanity." Awards are restricted to students completing their first year in a master’s degree program at SJSU and are applied for only through a student’s faculty mentor application submission.

• Graduate Equity Fellowship: This CSU-based fellowship (approximately $4,000) assists economically disadvantaged students from diverse backgrounds in the pursuit and completion of their master’s degree and helps them to complete their program more quickly by minimizing their financial burden.

• California Predoctoral Program: This CSU-based program awards approximately 70 juniors, seniors, and graduate students in the CSU. These funds are designed to enable students to explore doctoral programs in their chosen field of study. Scholarships are based on a competitive review of student applications who demonstrate academic excellence while having experienced economic or educational disadvantage, and who are committed to a career in teaching or research at the university level. Students who are chosen for this prestigious award are designated California Pre-Doctoral Scholars as a tribute to Dr. Sally Casanova, for whom the scholarship is named.

• CSU Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program: The CSU Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP) is designed to increase the pool of faculty candidates with the qualifications, motivation, and skill to teach the diverse student body in the CSU. The CDIP will lend students who are or will be full-time doctoral students up to $10,000 annually to a limit of $30,000 over a five-year period. Scholars will receive CSU faculty mentoring in the areas of teaching, research, and service while they continue to pursue their doctorate in their discipline.

Academic Student Employees

Academic Student Employees fall under three categories: Teaching Associates, Graduate Assistants, and Instructional Student Assistants. While these categories are briefly explained below, please visit the University Personnel web page for more details on applying and hiring of these positions.

Teaching Assistants

Currently enrolled or admitted SJSU students can be employed part-time in their field of study by serving as a Teaching Associate. Teaching Associates are responsible for providing classroom and/laboratory instructions. They develop assignments, prepare course materials, administer exams, assess student performance, tutor, and determine course grades. Serving as a Teaching Associate is an excellent way to gain valuable teaching experience while earning a stipend. Additionally, Teaching Associates receive tuition waivers based on their teaching load. For example, students who teach between 2-3 units per semester will earn campus miscellaneous and state university fee waivers for up to six units, while Teaching Associates who teach four or more units per semester will earn a fee waiver of more than six units. In most cases, students will have to undergo TA training which may include both department and College of Graduate Studies training sessions.

Graduate Assistants

Graduate Assistants do not provide classroom instruction but rather perform tasks that include assisting in the instruction of students by leading discussion, supervising class activities, grading papers, developing new course materials, performing demonstrations, and assisting in the handling of equipment. Graduate advisors may also provide faculty assistance in conducting authorized research, researching literature, and analyzing data. Graduate assistants are not eligible for fee waivers.

Instructional Student Assistants

Instructional Student Assistants often work in academic departments and are responsible for tutoring and grading. Instructional Student Assistants are not eligible for fee waivers.