Scholarships and Other Financial Resources

International Student Excellence Scholarship

Application Deadline - April 1 

Application for Students Continuing Their Program in 2024-25 Academic year 

Application for NEW Students Beginning Their Program in Fall 2024

Description

Each year, a limited number of non-resident tuition fee waivers are available to undergraduate* international students (F-1 visa holders) on a competitive basis. The number of scholarships available is not guaranteed and is subject to funding availability. Award amounts vary from $2000 - $11,000. 

*Graduate students should contact their program coordinator if they are interested in being considered for a non-resident tuition fee waiver.

**Students with government scholarships that pay their fees are not eligible for this scholarship.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

1. Only undergraduate students who are seeking to earn a degree from Chico State may apply. Short-term, non-degree seeking students are not eligible;
2. Only admitted or continuing students are eligible;
3. The minimum qualifying cumulative grade point average (GPA) is 3.3 (or the equivalent);
4. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need to be eligible. Students with government scholarships that pay their fees are not eligible; and 
5. Awardees must be enrolled full time in order to maintain eligibility.

Duration of Award

This scholarship is granted for one academic year (fall and spring semesters). Recipients are required to maintain an eligible GPA to continue receiving the award in the second semester. Qualified recipients may re-apply each year, but are not guaranteed to receive the award beyond the initial award year.

Application Process

Deadline to apply is April 1. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

A complete application will include responses in all of the fields in the application form.  

Award Process

Scholastic merit and financial need are the primary factors in determining awardees. Extra-curricular, leadership, and volunteer activities may be also be considered.

• Applicants will be notified via email (both awardees and those not awarded);
• Awardees must accept the award within two weeks of notification, or risk the possibility of their award being directed to an alternate; 
• Being awarded a scholarship does not waive the requirement for a student to provide financial documentation for admission and I-20 purposes;
• The scholarship award is applied directly to the non-resident tuition fee payment on the student's Portal account (money is not disbursed directly to the student); and
• Each year, continuing students with qualifying GPAs will receive email invitations to apply for the scholarship from the Office of International Education and Global Engagement.

Chico State Wildcat Scholarships

Apply to over 700 different scholarshipswith a single application - open to all CSU, Chico students. 

Applications due February 15 - to be awarded the following academic year

Through generous donations, the IEGE Global Citizen Award offers financial awards to well-qualified degree seeking international students on an F-1 visa.  

The two primary purposes of the award are to promote and develop intercultural competency as well as lower financial barriers students may face to achieve their educational goals away from home.

The minimum award amount is $1,500

Award Criteria

• Pursuit of a bachelor’s or master’s degree at California State University, Chico
• Full-time enrollment at California State University, Chico
• 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA
• Submission of a complete application and all supporting documents by the application deadline

Global Citizen Award Application (PDF) - due April 1

Non-Resident Tuition Fee Waivers for International Graduate Students

International applicants for graduate-level programs should contact their program coordinator if they are interested in being considered for a non-resident tuition fee waiver.

Award amounts vary. The selection process is very competitive and funds are severely limited.  This is a non-renewable award - only valid for the first year of study. 

International students experiencing food insecurity are eligible to utilize the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry for much needed grocery items. 

Note - International Students are not eligible to apply for University Basic Needs grants.  Students confronting a true financial emergency should meet with the ISSS Coordinator to explore their options. 

The International Student Emergency Short-term Loan program is another source of aid for students who require a small amount of financial help on a temporary basis. These loans must be repaid within 90 days.

Students are required to meet with the ISSS Coordinator before applying for a loan: Book appointment with ISSS Coordinator 

Study California Scholarship (Chico State is a member)

Each fall, Study California awards a scholarship to five international students planning to continue at a Study California member institution. Scholarship recipients will be chosen on the basis of academic ability, financial need, and leadership qualities. The scholarship award is $1,000 per student recipient and is not renewable.  Applications are open October 1 -30 for current year's scholarship awards. 

Loans for Students from Latin America - The Rowe Fund

The Rowe Fund(opens in new window) is an educational loan program of the Organization of American States (OAS) that helps citizens from Latin America and Caribbean OAS Member States(opens in new window) finance their studies or research in accredited universities across the United States by awarding interest-free loans of up to US$15,000 dollars: https://www.oas.org/en/rowefund/(opens in new window)