Scholarships/Financial Aid
Scholarships
Students have several scholarship resources to help finance their education and educational experiences at San Diego State University. The list below provides information and links for scholarships offered through the School of Public Affairs, College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts.
We encourage students to submit a FAFSA early in the academic year and attend to various scholarship deadlines.
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for application deadlines.
The Sara Stelzer study abroad scholarship was established in 2015 to help financially deserving students participate in an international experience. The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts will award this scholarship twice a year to students who have financial need. Award amounts range from $500 to $1000 per student. Students must be in academic good standing to apply.
John Fowler was Assistant City Manager of the City of San Diego. He retired from the City after 30 years of distinguished service. The professional and business communities demonstrated their respect and appreciation for Mr. Fowler’s service by establishing a scholarship endowment in his honor. This scholarship is open to any graduate students in the Public Administration, Criminal Justice and Criminology and City Planning programs. Students are required to submit an essay (approximately 500 words) describing their career goals and how a Master’s degree from the School of Public Affairs will help them achieve those goals.
Give Now to the John Fowler Graduate Endowed Scholarship in Public Administration
When a former member of our faculty - Professor Marco Walshok - passed away in 1999, the University and professional communities established a scholarship in his memory as a sign of respect and admiration for Dr. Walshok’s lifetime of achievements and accomplishments. The scholarship is available to an incoming graduate student in the Master of Public Administration and Master of City Planning programs who plans to focus her/her studies on border issues. Applicants are required to have experience with global/border affairs in areas such as commerce, transportation or public policies that affect quality of life, including water and environmental issues. Preference will be given to applicants interested in acquiring knowledge and skills in aspects of globalization and/or border issues.
The scholarship is available to one incoming applicant during even number years. The recipient is required to serve as a graduate assistant for a faculty member. Eligible incoming graduate students will be provided additional information about the application process.
Give Now to the Marco G. Walshok Graduate Endowed Scholarship
The Charles L. Lewis Memorial Scholarship is available to Public Administration and Criminal Justice majors. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. This scholarship is open to both full and part-time students. Preference will be given to applicants who are graduates of Samuel F. B. Morse High School in San Diego, California. Students are required to submit an essay about how they chose the major of Public Administration or Criminal Justice and any other information that will allow the selection committee to make a well-informed decision.
The Gregory J. Smith Master of Public Administration Endowed Scholarship is available to graduate students in the Public Administration program. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. This scholarship is open to both full and part-time students. Preference will be given to applicants who have completed or are currently completing an internship with the County of San Diego or municipality and have an interest in public finance and budgeting. Applicants are required to submit an essay (approximately 500 words) concerning their local government employment or internship experience and interest in public financial management.
Give Now to the Gregory J. Smith Master of Public Administration (MPA) Endowed Scholarship
For academic year 2018-19, one $4,000 School of Public Affairs Graduate Fellowship will be awarded on a competitive basis to an incoming graduate student in each of the three graduate programs (Public Administration, Criminal Justice and Criminology and City Planning). Fellowship recipients can be enrolled either part or full time and will be require to serve as a teaching or research assistant.
Give Now to the School of Public Affairs Graduate Fellowship
The Cognella Graduate Student Scholarship is available to graduate students in the Public Administration, Criminal Justice and Criminology and City Planning programs who are serving as graduate assistants. Eligible students will be contacted with application information.
Give Now to the Cognella Graduate Student Scholarship in Public Affairs
The Ken Perry Endowed Scholarship was established by entrepreneur Dan Peterson in honor of Ken Perry – a graduate of the Public Administration program – who assisted in developing the online payment system at SDSU. The scholarship is available to available to Public Administration majors and graduate students in the Public Administration Program. The application process involves a description of how the applicant handled an ethical dilemma or challenge, preferably in a public sector workplace. Students are chosen based on Mr. Perry’s tradition of outstanding public service by demonstrating competence, integrity and leadership.
Former School of Public Affairs Director Dr. Stuart Henry and his wife Lee established a scholarship to support Dr. Henry’s vision for School of Public Affairs’ students to be globally educated and have access to invaluable international study abroad experiences during their undergraduate studies. The scholarship is available to Public Administration and Criminal Justice majors who are pursuing a minor in International Studies.
Give Now to the Stuart and Lee Henry Study Abroad Scholarship
The following internship scholarship is available on a competitive basis exclusively to students enrolled in CJ 498, PA 498, CJ 796, PA 796 or CP 796. Students enrolled in these courses will be provided information about the application process from the course instructor.
Give Now to the Jack McGrory Internship Scholarship for Public Administration
The following internship scholarship is available on a competitive basis exclusively to students enrolled in PA 498 or PA 796. Students enrolled in these courses will be provided additional information from the course instructor.
Give Now to the Ben and Nikki Clay Scholarship for Public Administration
These scholarships offer the opportunity to gain intercultural experience, contribute to the San Diego community, provide assistance to new immigrants, strengthen your resume, and enhance your Peace Corps application. The scholarships are through a generous gift of the Mundt Memorial Trust to the SDSU Peacemakers Foundation. The Mundt Trust seeks to encourage SDSU students to have an impact in the community and to consider serving as Peace Corps volunteers through this scholarship-internship program. Intercultural learning and community volunteer experience significantly increase the likelihood of a successful Peace Corps application.
NOTE: This is for applicants applying to join the Peace Corps.
Please visit the Mundt Memorial Peace Scholarships page for more information.
CLS, a program of the U.S. Department of State, is an 8-10 week fully-funded summer intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. Both undergraduate and graduate U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
Please visit the Critical Language Scholarship page for more information.
