Funding and Programs for Graduate Students

Many government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and professional associations offer funding for graduate research and study. Graduate students are encouraged to apply for research, travel, and study grants to support graduate-level research.

National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation has a website with various funding opportunities for graduate students such as:

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) – Program supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's or doctoral degrees in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or in STEM education.
• International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) - Program offers international research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Summer Scholars Internship Program - Program is a 10-week-long summer internship for undergraduate and graduate students. Students participating in the program work in NSF offices that align with their academic interests (STEM).

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
Chico State is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).HACU’s website lists internships, scholarships, and career and leadership development opportunities and programs each year. Here is a flyer (PDF) with a QR Code for more information.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund 
This scholarship is designed to assist students of Hispanic heritage obtain a university degree.

Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) empowers students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, Scholars, and Alumni as possible. HSF strives to make college education a top priority for every family across the nation, mobilizing communities to proactively advance that goal—each individual, over a lifetime, in every way they can. HSF also seeks to give its Scholars all the tools they need to do well in their course work, graduate, enter, and excel in a profession, help lead our nation going forward, and mentor the generations to come. As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations, HSF has awarded over $730 million in scholarships and provides a broad range of programs and support services for students, parents, HSF Scholars, and HSF Alumni. For more information about HSF, please visit HSF.net.(opens in new window)

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans provides merit-based funding for New Americans, immigrants and children of immigrants, who are poised to make significant contributions to US culture, society and academia. The Fellowship supports one to two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States.

American Indian Education Fund
Through the graduate school scholarship program, the American Indian Education Fund awards scholarships of $1,000 to $2,000 to eligible American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students pursuing a graduate or doctoral degree.

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund is a nonprofit organization focused on social change. Its scholarship program gives up to $15,000 to graduate students that plan to use their degrees to advocate against racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of oppression.

Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship
Awarded by the American College of Healthcare Executives, this scholarship gives recipients up to $5,000. It’s for students in their final year of a healthcare management graduate program.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
The ASH Foundation scholarship offers awards of $5,000 for those who are enrolled in a communication sciences and disorders graduate program.

American Association of University Women
Through the Career Development Grant, women going to graduate school to advance their careers or change fields can get up to $12,000. To qualify, the applicant must be studying education, health, medical sciences or the social sciences.

TEACH Grant
With a federal TEACH Grant, you can get up to $4,000 per year to pay for your graduate degree. However, you must commit to teaching in a high-need subject for at least four years in an elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. Otherwise, your grant is converted into a student loan and must be repaid with interest.