SDSU AZTEC Scholarships

San Diego State has over 700 scholarship opportunities to support our students’ educational goals.  Funding for our scholarships has been provided by generous donors to SDSU who believe in higher education and your ability to achieve academic success. 

Our application portal, “Aztec Scholarships,” allows students to apply for university scholarships via one application.  The SDSU Scholarship Office coordinates the SDSU scholarship application and awarding process with core committees from the various colleges, departments and organizations responsible for selecting recipients.

The application process for students is simple and fast.  Based on university and application data, Aztec Scholarships automatically filters eligible applications and sends them to SDSU scholarship committees for award consideration. Scholarship committees are typically composed of university faculty and/or staff from the academic program or campus organization most closely affiliated with the scholarship. SDSU Scholarship Office staff members are not part of any scholarship committee.

SDSU maintains a strict policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, gender identification, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic in the administration and awarding of scholarships.

Scholarship Application Submission Period

The general application in Aztec Scholarships will be open from April 10, 2023, through August 25, 2023, for awards in the 2023-24 academic year. We offer an early action deadline of April 28, 2023, for current students and incoming students who have submitted their intent to enroll.   

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Helpful Information 

When to apply for SDSU Aztec Scholarships: The SDSU Aztec Scholarships application is open from April 10, 2023, to Aug. 25, 2023, for awards in the upcoming academic year. Deadlines are strictly enforced, so no late submissions are accepted. All scholarship applications must be submitted through Aztec Scholarships. No paper applications are accepted. To learn more watch this video regarding SDSU Scholarships.

How do I request accommodations for completing my scholarship application?  If you are a student registered with the Student Disability Services (SDS) and would like to request accommodations or assistance in completing your Aztec Scholarships general application, please email us at [email protected] with your accommodation requests and copy your SDS counselor on the email. After confirmation of your active status with SDS, we will arrange for your requested accommodations.

Why are only certain clubs, activities, high schools, or community colleges listed on the general application? Questions on the general application are asked to match applicants to specific accounts in the system; therefore, the selection lists you see are not all-inclusive. Because these questions are asked for scholarship matching purposes specifically, it is important to make your selections accurately and honestly. 

What happens after I submit my application in Aztec Scholarships? Once you submit your general application in Aztec Scholarships, the system combines your student information data (including major, GPA, class level, and special programs like the Weber Honors College, for example), your financial aid data, and your general application data and automatically applies you to the "auto-match" scholarships for which you qualify. Because the system automatically applies you to auto-match scholarships, you do not need to complete any additional steps for your application to be complete; therefore, your auto-match scholarships will not be visible to you. 

Why did I get a list of "Recommended" Scholarships after I submitted my general application? After you submit your general application, Aztec Scholarships may present you with a list of recommended ("apply-to") scholarships based on a combination of the data from the student information system, the financial aid system, and the answers from your general application. These recommended scholarships require you to submit additional information by the posted deadline in order for your application to be complete. Please read through the criteria for these scholarships carefully, because although you may have met the basic eligibility requirements (such as major, GPA, or class level), you still may not meet the specific requirements to be eligible. Only apply for the scholarships for which you meet all eligibility requirements. Do not be concerned if you do not receive a list of recommended scholarships or if your list is short, as most of the scholarships in Aztec Scholarships are auto-match.

On Aztec Scholarships, can I apply to scholarships located under the "Ours" section? Please do not apply to scholarships found in the "Ours" section in Aztec Scholarships. This is a list of all available scholarships at SDSU, and you may not be eligible for many of them. We strongly suggest that you focus only on your list of "Recommended" scholarships, because the system has already verified that you meet the basic eligibility requirements based on your answers from the general application and/or your student information data (major, GPA, etc.).

Are specific essays or supplemental materials required? Some scholarships require specific essays or additional documents, such as a resume or letter of recommendation. After filling out the Aztec Scholarships general application, students may be presented with information about other scholarship opportunities that require this second step. All specific essays and supplemental materials must be submitted electronically through Aztec Scholarships by the deadline in order for the application for these scholarships to be complete.

If a recommended opportunity requires a letter of reference, what is the deadline for submission? If the scholarship you are applying to requires a letter of recommendation or reference, please give referees ample time (two weeks or more) to complete this task. Remember, the deadline to submit a letter of recommendation or reference letter is the same as the scholarship deadline, and late submissions will not be considered. Please note that referees cannot log into Aztec Scholarships until you submit your application. 

Is a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application required to be considered for SDSU Aztec Scholarships? Although we have a number of scholarships that are available only to students who have financial need as determined by the SDSU Financial Aid Office, the majority of Aztec Scholarships do not have a need component. If you wish to be considered for those scholarships that require financial need, you are required to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application by the scholarship's posted deadline. 

How recipients are selected:  At SDSU,  policy establishes a core scholarship committee within each college/division as appropriate to oversee the selection process. The responsibility for awarding scholarships rests with the core scholarship committee and their sub-committee review groups. CSU Scholarship Administration guidelines state that scholarship committee members are appointed by the University or auxiliary organization, not a donor, and no combination of donors or donor advisors (or related persons) directly or indirectly control committees.

What students can expect after submitting a General Application:

• An email confirming receipt of the application.
• If  selected for an award, a notification email directing them to accept the scholarship offer and complete a thank you note in Aztec Scholarships.
• Once the thank you note is completed and approved, the scholarship will be posted in your my.SDSU account.  
• Scholarship notifications will generally occur between May through October. Refer to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website for more information on disbursement.  

Thank you note: Scholarship recipients must submit a thank you note for each scholarship awarded by San Diego State University.  The thank you note must be submitted within 14 calendar days of official award notification. The note is submitted electronically in Aztec Scholarships. Deadlines are strictly enforced, so no late submissions will be accepted. If the thank you note is not received by the deadline, the scholarship award will be rescinded and awarded to an alternate. Please click on “Thank you note” above to be directed to more information about thank you notes and examples.

Scholarships and Eligibility and Enrollment Requirements: Scholarship offers and disbursements are contingent upon the recipient meeting all eligibility and enrollment requirements throughout the award year. If all requirements are not met, scholarships may be canceled. Be sure to review the requirements for the scholarship(s) you are receiving at the following link: San Diego State University Aztec Scholarship Portal. Please note that for scholarships, undergraduate programs require 12 units for full-time enrollment; credential and graduate programs require 9 units for full-time enrollment. 

Scholarships and Financial Aid Eligibility: For all students who have applied for, or have been awarded financial aid, receiving additional financial resources like scholarships can affect financial aid eligibility. Federal and state law requires that scholarships be counted when determining financial aid eligibility; therefore, we will adjust financial aid when necessary.

Scholarships and Disbursement: Like financial aid, scholarship disbursements start one week before the first week of the semester and are applied to any outstanding direct university charges first. Any leftover funds will be sent via eRefund or mailed to an address on file.

Mid Year Graduation: Students who receive an academic year scholarship but plan to graduate after the fall term are asked to contact the Scholarship Office at: [email protected]

SDSU Scholarships and Study Abroad: The SDSU International Student Center can help you choose a study abroad program that is eligible for financial aid and scholarship consideration. You will still need to follow the same requirements and deadlines as students studying on campus. Please click on “SDSU Scholarships and Study Abroad” to be directed to more information about scholarships and study abroad. 

Availability of funds: Each scholarship opportunity is dependent upon the availability of sufficient funding. If funding is not available, the scholarship will not be awarded.

SDSU Georgia: SDSU Georgia students are eligible for their own scholarship and aid programs at the SDSU Georgia campus and therefore should not apply through Aztec Scholarships.

Webinars: The Cal Coast Student Financial Center hosts a series of Aztec Scholarship webinars. Visit here to watch previous webinar recordings.

Honesty Disclaimer:

The SDSU Scholarship Office expects all Aztec Scholarships applicants to understand and work within the guidelines outlined in the Student Conduct section of the SDSU General Catalog. Violations will result, at a minimum, in application cancelation for the award year. Please note that the SDSU Scholarship Office considers the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to produce or help with scholarship application content as plagiarism and in violation of university policy. 

If you have questions, please contact our Cal Coast Student Financial Center:

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