Fellowships for Under-represented Students

This page provides information on financial resources for under-represented students who are African American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, or members of another group traditionally under-represented among Ph.D. students. In addition to the sources listed below, be sure to consult the lists of USC Fellowships and External Fellowships on The Graduate School website.

Most Ph.D. students at USC are fully supported by fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or a combination of these funding sources. Because each department coordinates its own students' funding, you should ask your department about available fellowships and assistantships. Also see Diversity in Graduate Education: Programs.

American Political Science Association (APSA)
Funds Latino graduate students. Visit the APSA website, or call APSA at (202) 483-2512.

American Psychological Association (APA) Minority Fellowship Provides three years of funding to minority students who are U.S. citizens pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology or neuroscience. For more information, visit the APA website, or call the APA at (202) 336-6027.

The Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships
Supports Ph.D. students who are planning a career in teaching and research at the college or University level. For more information, visit the Ford Foundation website.

Forgivable Loan/Doctoral Incentive Program
For promising doctoral students interested in teaching a diverse student popuation, the California State University Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program offers up to $30,000 in loans for full-time students pursuing the Ph.D. degree who are interested in a faculty career at a California State University campus. After you complete the doctoral program, 20 percent of the loan is forgiven for each year of full-time faculty service at a CSU campus. For more information, visit the California State University website.

GEM Fellowship Program
The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science promotes the participation of under-represented groups (African Americans, American Indians, and Latino/Hispanic Americans) at the master's and doctoral levels in engineering, and at the doctoral level in physical and life sciences. Tuition funding is available. For more information, visit the GEM website.

National Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Graduate and undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of Hispanic parentage are eligible for awards up to $1,000. For information visit the NHSF website or call (415) 445-9930.

National Physical Sciences Consortium (NPSC)
USC is a member of this consortium, which sponsors a fellowship program for women and minorities in astronomy, chemistry, computer science, geology, materials science, mathematics and physics. Fellowships involve a long-term commitment of up to six years, and include tuition fees, a substantial stipend, summer employment, mentoring and networking at national meetings. Applications are available from NPSC at (800) 952-4118, or from The Graduate School. For more information, visit www.NPSC.org. Deadline: early November.

MOLIS (Minority On-Line Information Services)
An online service providing access to databases with information about research centers, education programs and scholarships available to minority students. Contact the help line at (301) 975-0103 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

United Negro College Fund/Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships
Fellowships help African American graduate students complete coursework, conduct research, and prepare the dissertation required for a doctoral degree in the biomedically relevant life or physical sciences. For more information, visit www.uncf.org/merck/