Funding Your Education
We strongly encourage you to explore and apply!
If you need financial aid to help pay for college, you must complete one of the following Financial Aid applications:
- If you (the student) are a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident, you should file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- If you are not a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident but qualify for a non-resident tuition waiver under AB-540, you should file a California Dream Act Application
The Cal State LA priority filing deadline for FAFSA and CA DREAM ACT is April 2nd.
Visit Financial Aid Scholarships to learn more and complete the online general scholarship application, due in the month of April. By submitting this single application, you’ll automatically be considered for all scholarships and fellowships for which you qualify. Some grants may also be available and can be found here.
For additional scholarship details, the Office of Financial Aid, Monday - Friday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm in the Student Services Building, 2330. Call Monday - Friday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, 323-343-6260.
Graduate students should check out the Graduate Resource Center. The Graduate Resource Center (GRC) at Cal State LA offers graduate students a dedicated study and collaboration space, complete with reservable study rooms, group conference rooms, lockers, and a Commons lounge for peer connection. It also provides robust writing support through consultations, professional development via workshops and webinars each semester, and essential funding through travel grants to help students attend and present at academic conferences. These funding opportunities offered through the GRC.
- Travel Support Program – Graduate students presenting at or attending academic conferences or professional meetings can receive up to $750 in reimbursements for conference fees, transportation, and lodging (one award per academic year, July 1–June 30)
- Culminating Project Fund – Designed to assist students completing a thesis, creative project, or dissertation, this fund reimburses approved expenses for supplies, equipment, and services related to their scholarly work.
- Graduate Equity Fellowship – Aimed at supporting economically disadvantaged and underrepresented CSU students, this fellowship offers up to $1,000 per semester to help advance graduate degree completion, foster mentorship, and encourage consideration of faculty careers.
These opportunities are part of the broader support the Office of Graduate Studies provides to ensure graduate student success.
Want to support our students?
If you are interested in establishing a scholarship to support students in Chicana(o) and Latina(o) Studies, please contact our chair or go directly to our gift page, https://www.calstatela.edu/givenow.