All matriculated SDSU students in good standing, regardless of area of study, are encouraged to apply, including graduate students, nonresidents, and international students with an F-1 Student Visa. Undocumented students, including those with AB540 status, are also eligible. Students enrolled in certain non-traditional programs through Global Campus are eligible for scholarships, as are matriculated students enrolled at SDSU Imperial Valley.

The Aztec Scholarship application period is March through September. To be considered for an Aztec Scholarship, students must be enrolled in a degree, credential, or eligible certificate program for the academic year commencing in August of the same calendar year that the application opens.

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.

Aztec Scholarships follows a yearly application cycle, which begins with the opening of the General Application during the spring semester of each year for awards in the upcoming academic year. Application dates and deadlines are available on the SDSU Scholarship Office website.

Aztec Scholarships offers four deadlines for various student populations, though students may apply at any time during the open application window (with the exception indicated for newly admitted students below):

• Current Student Early Action Deadline: early spring
• Recruitment Scholarship Deadline: mid-summer
• Incoming Student Early Action Deadline: mid-/late summer
• Final Deadline: late summer

Current SDSU students should submit their general application by the Current Student Early Action deadline to be considered for the highest number of scholarships possible. If this early action deadline is missed, current students are still encouraged to apply. Applications submitted after the early action deadline will be considered for scholarships awarded in later review periods. Please review our Student Deadline chart on our website for more information.

Newly admitted students should submit their general application as soon as possible after completing their Intent to Enroll. An Incoming Student Early Action Deadline is offered at the beginning of August, with a limited number of scholarships awarded that month. Students who miss this early action deadline are still encouraged to apply, as applications submitted afterward will be considered for all scholarships awarded after the final deadline. For more details, please refer to the Student Deadline chart on our website.

Please note that incoming students who apply prior to submitting their Intent to Enroll will not be matched to any scholarships in the system, as no student information data (including major and class level) is available. It is important that these students return to Aztec Scholarships a few days after submitting their Intent to Enroll to review any Recommended Opportunities that become available once their data is updated within the system. 

Applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships that require financial need are required to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application and have a complete financial aid file on record by each scholarship's posted deadline.

All student responses to application questions within Aztec Scholarships must be authentic, accurate and composed by student applicants. Submissions must reflect personal experiences, perspectives and achievements.

• Students may not plagiarize, falsify information, commit forgery, or otherwise make a knowingly false written statement as part of the scholarship process.
• No other individuals (including family members) may compose or submit any information in Aztec Scholarships on behalf of student applicants.

Any attempt to submit responses that are not applicants’ original work will result in disqualification from the scholarship process. In addition, students who violate this policy may be reported to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities for non-academic misconduct. Any student who has been selected to receive a scholarship and is later found to have violated this policy is in jeopardy of having the scholarship rescinded.

All students must adhere to the university's Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage policy and comply with the guidelines set forth by SDSU’s Information Technology Division.

In addition, the SDSU Scholarship Office has established guidelines for the responsible and ethical use of AI tools in scholarship applications, ensuring that students can enhance their applications while maintaining academic integrity and presenting their own skills and experiences. The use of AI should complement and enhance, not replace, personal effort. 

General AI Guidelines

1. Permissible Uses of AI - Students may use AI tools for the following purposes:

• Research Assistance: AI may be used to help with topic research, brainstorming ideas, or summarizing complex concepts.
• Language and Grammar Support: AI tools may be used to improve language, grammar and overall clarity in student work.
• Idea Generation: AI tools may be used to generate creative ideas or initial drafts, provided students refine and develop these ideas themselves.

2. Restrictions on AI Use - AI tools are prohibited in the following cases:

• Plagiarism: Submission of AI-generated content without significant human oversight or modification is considered plagiarism.
• Unmodified Submissions: Students may not submit AI-generated work as their own without adding substantive value, analysis or original thought.
• For scholarship essay responses, students must not rely on AI tools to draft entire responses. AI may only assist in minor edits or corrections.

3. Academic Integrity

• All work submitted by students must reflect their own experiences, knowledge, skills, and understanding of the subject. AI tools should be seen as a support tool rather than a substitute for intellectual contributions.
• Any breach of these guidelines will result, at minimum, in scholarship application cancellation for the academic year.
  • Additional breaches may result in disciplinary actions under the university’s academic integrity policy.

All scholarships available through Aztec Scholarships were established through signed agreements with donors who invest in education because of their belief in students’ ability to succeed. These agreements outline the financial support provided, along with the award parameters and eligibility criteria that the Scholarship Office is legally required to administer and that recipients must meet to receive an award.

The most common eligibility criteria include required major or program affiliation, class level, enrollment, and minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA). Financial need, as determined by the Financial Aid Office at SDSU, may also be required, as well as certain demographic-related affiliations, participation in on- and off-campus activities, and study abroad and internship participation.

Recipients are required to satisfy the eligibility criteria both at the time of recipient selection and throughout the duration of the award period. The SDSU Scholarship Office tracks changes in recipients’ majors, class level, enrollment and GPA throughout the award year. Recipients who do not satisfy the eligibility criteria for the duration of the award period may have their scholarship adjusted or rescinded in the affected terms.

Major/Program Affiliation

If a scholarship requires recipients to be in a specific major, program, department, or college, recipients must remain in the major, program, department or college throughout the academic year. Any changes to major/program affiliation during the award year may result in cancellation of the scholarship for both the term in question and any remaining terms.

Class Level

If a scholarship requires recipients to be in a specific class level, recipients are generally expected to remain in that class level throughout the academic year. If a scholarship is specific to only permitting undergraduate or graduate class levels, undergraduate recipients who graduate and start a graduate program in the spring semester will have their eligibility affected. In all class level situations, the SDSU Scholarship Office will work with individual recipients to determine if disbursement is still permitted despite the change, or if movement of scholarship funds to one semester is allowed. If the change in class level deems the student ineligible for the scholarship, the scholarship may be canceled.

Enrollment

If a scholarship requires recipients to be enrolled full-time or part-time, the SDSU Scholarship Office follows official University Policy to confirm scholarship enrollment requirements are met. Disbursement of scholarship funds only occurs if enrollment requirements are met, and cancellation will occur should recipients fall out of compliance.

For graduate students, policy states full-time enrollment is nine units of coursework per semester or enrollment in 799A, 897, 899, or 894; part-time enrollment is five units of coursework per semester or enrollment in 799B or 799C.

For undergraduates, full-time enrollment is 12 units per semester; part-time enrollment is six units per semester.

Special Circumstances:

• Concurrent enrollment at another institution may not satisfy the full-time requirement for an SDSU scholarship.
• Students enrolled in Joint PhD programs who are concurrently enrolled at another institution must complete both the Joint Doctoral Program Student Receiving SDSU Scholarships Verification of Enrollment and the Verification of Enrollment for Joint Doctoral Program Students forms for scholarship disbursement to occur.
• Students who study abroad are required to follow the same requirements as students studying on campus. Verification of Enrollment will be required for students enrolling in direct enroll programs.
• Students who are enrolled at SDSU Global Campus are required to follow the same requirements as students studying at SDSU Main Campus. Those who only enroll in the second block of each semester will have their funds held until the start of the second block term.
• Departmental policies related to enrollment are not followed when determining eligibility.
• Students who receive scholarships without specific enrollment requirements must be enrolled in at least one unit for disbursement to occur.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

If a scholarship requires recipients to have and maintain a specific cumulative grade point average and/or have and maintain a specific major grade point average, recipients must stay in compliance. Not meeting grade point average requirements may result in cancellation of the scholarship for the term in question and any remaining terms.

Financial Need

Approximately 26% of the scholarships offered through Aztec Scholarships require recipients to have gross financial need as determined by SDSU’s Financial Aid Office. Applicants who wish to be considered for any scholarships that require financial need must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application and have a complete financial aid file on record by the scholarship’s posted deadline, as this is required for SDSU’s Financial Aid Office to determine gross financial need.  

Gross financial need is determined by the following calculation: Cost of Attendance (COA) at SDSU minus the Student Aid Index (SAI). As long as there is at least a $1 difference, applicants are considered to have gross financial need for scholarship matching purposes. 

Demographics

It is the expectation that applicants only select the options that apply to them specifically. The general application includes both a “Demographics” section and a variety of questions throughout the application, with the options provided relating to a variety of categories.

On- and Off-campus Activities

It is the expectation that applicants only select the options where they are actively participating and involved. Applicants should not select those activities where they plan to join in the future. Please note that scholarships are generally awarded by committee members who are closely related to the listed activities, allowing for verification of participation.

Study Abroad and Internship Participation

When submitting the general application in Aztec Scholarships, applicants may indicate their plans to study abroad or participate in an internship in the upcoming academic year, even if there are no firm commitments. Generally, participation is verified both at the time when the scholarship is offered and at the time the scholarship is disbursed. There are times, however, when study abroad and internship scholarships are awarded prior to the semester of participation. These scholarship awards will be placed in “Hold Award” status and will not be added to recipients’ my.SDSU account until final verification is received. Scholarship cancellation will occur should recipients withdraw from their indicated program.

For study abroad scholarships in particular, please note the following:

• The SDSU Scholarship Office is unable to grant extensions on any scholarship-related deadlines for students studying abroad.
• Scholarship recipients are expected to follow the same requirements as students studying on campus, including meeting enrollment requirements.
• Should a scholarship require participation in a club or activity, movement of funds to only one semester when the recipient is on campus or cancellation may be required.

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. California State University (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.

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 scholarship committees, nor are we provided any information on decisions behind recipient selection.

Notification of Scholarship Award/Post Acceptance Process

Scholarship notifications generally occur between mid-spring through November. A majority of scholarship awards are announced during the fall semester. Recipients will be notified via their SDSU email address. Students must accept or decline the scholarship award within 14 calendar days of receiving the email notification.

Upon accepting the scholarship, students must confirm they have read the specific requirements of the scholarship they are accepting and understand that if they do not meet all the requirements in a given term, they may lose their scholarship eligibility and their scholarship may be canceled.

Students are also required to submit a thank you note and may optionally include a photo. The thank you note and photo may be shared with the donor(s) and/or their families. Failure to complete the post acceptance process within 14 calendar days of official award notification will result in cancellation of the scholarship and the funds to be awarded to an alternate recipient.

Notification of Non-Receipt of Scholarship Award

In late fall, students who are not chosen for a scholarship will receive an email notification from the SDSU Scholarship Office informing them that they were not selected for a scholarship for that academic year.

• Track your applications: Log in to Aztec Scholarships using your SDSU email address and password to view the status of your recommended opportunities.
• Stay informed: Check your SDSU email account regularly for important updates, including scholarship offers and next steps.
• Award notifications: If you are selected for an Aztec Scholarship, the award will be posted to your my.SDSU account once you have completed the post-acceptance process and your thank you note has been approved by Donor Relations.
• Processing time: Please allow up to three weeks after your thank you note is approved for the scholarship to appear in your my.SDSU account for disbursement. 

Generally, scholarship awards valued at $501 or more are split equally between the fall and spring semesters. Distributing scholarship awards in this manner is consistent with the regulations governing the release of Title IV student financial aid. The assumption is that recipients will benefit most from having a portion of the resource available each semester to assist with costs. Additionally, many scholarships specifically require the funds to be released in this manner.

Recipients are encouraged to contact the SDSU Scholarship Office with their full name, RedID, and other pertinent information to request to receive the funds entirely in one semester only, such as in cases of fall graduation. Movement will depend on the particular circumstances and requirements of the scholarship awarded.

At the beginning of each semester, students may have access to their scholarship funds:

• seven to ten days after they enroll in the necessary number of units based on the requirements for their scholarship, but
• no sooner than the week before classes begin each semester, and
• if all financial aid and other holds are cleared.

All disbursements are made through the University Bursar’s Office. Disbursement continues throughout the semester as new awards are processed and changes to awards occur.

Study abroad and internship scholarships are disbursed after verification of participation is received.

SDSU is required to apply all scholarship funds directly to current-year institutional charges. San Diego State University policy is to apply scholarship funds directly to charges for the semester’s basic tuition and fees, residence hall charges, and other eligible institutional expenses (including financial aid overpayments) at the time of disbursement. Any excess scholarship aid will be refunded to the student directly via direct deposit (if enrolled) or check.

The Scholarship Office highly recommends that students enroll in direct deposit for the most timely receipt of funds. Students may sign up for direct deposit via the "Financial Account" tile in my.SDSU.

Additional information related to scholarship disbursement is available on the University Bursar’s website.

International Student Scholarship Disbursements

Due to U.S. tax regulations, when non-resident aliens (i.e., international students) are awarded scholarships, a hold will be placed on the funds prior to disbursement so the award may be reviewed by a tax analyst with SDSU’s Business & Financial Affairs. Due to the tax treaty between the United States and the recipient’s home country, the recipient may not receive the full amount of their scholarship due to tax withholding. Questions should be directed to [email protected].

For all students who have applied for, or have been awarded financial aid, receiving other financial assistance like scholarships can affect financial aid eligibility. To understand how this impact is determined, a student’s unmet financial need is calculated as follows: 

Cost of Attendance (COA) -  Student Aid Index (SAI) - Other Financial Assistance (OFA) = Remaining (Unmet) Need

Once a student’s financial need--or full cost of attendance--is met, however that happens, the student has no further need of financial aid.

An overaward occurs when a student’s aid package exceeds either their total calculated financial need or their COA. If a scholarship results in an overaward, the financial aid package must be adjusted to comply with federal and state regulations. Whenever possible, adjustments are made in this order: parent and student loans first, then Federal Work Study (unless the student is actively employed), and finally grants.

Depending on the timing of the adjustment, students may be required to repay a portion of aid already received. Whenever a change to aid is made, notification is sent to the students’ SDSU email address.

• Scholarships that are specifically designated to cover all or a portion of your basic tuition and fees may affect your eligibility for other financial aid or resources that also apply to tuition or fees. Additionally, if you are enrolled part-time, the value of your tuition and fee scholarship award may be prorated accordingly.
• Recipients of the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), awarded by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), should be aware that MCS award amounts may be affected by the awarding of any additional resources, including scholarships, even when sufficient financial need is available for the SDSU scholarship. All institutions that award MCS are required to notify CSAC when aid information changes, which can often result in a recalculation of the MCS award.

Having a scholarship rescinded or canceled means the student may not receive the scholarship in the current or future terms and is ineligible for renewal. Circumstances that can result in scholarship rescission/cancellation include, but are not limited to:

1. Changing to a major not specified in the scholarship’s eligibility criteria (details below)
2. Withdrawal from SDSU (details below)
3. Failure to meet the minimum enrollment requirements specified in the scholarship’s eligibility criteria (details below)
4. Failure to meet the minimum GPA specified in the scholarship’s eligibility criteria (details below)
5. Taking a leave of absence (details below)
6. Providing false or misleading information on the scholarship application or during the verification process
7. Falsification of academic records or other documentation
8. Other factors not explicitly mentioned that can impact scholarship eligibility

Recipients who neglect to satisfy all eligibility requirements will have their scholarship rescinded/canceled and will be required to return any disbursed scholarship funds to the University Bursar’s Office. 

Scholarship Eligibility and Changes to Major

Students who change their major to one not listed in the scholarship’s requirements will have their funding eligibility determined by the official program declaration date, with census serving as the cutoff point.

Fall Semester Major Change: 

• Declaring a new major before fall census: both the fall and spring portions of the scholarship will be canceled.
• Declaring a new major after fall census: only the spring portion of the scholarship will be canceled.

Spring Semester Major Change:

• Declaring a new major before spring census: the spring portion of the scholarship will be canceled.
• Declaring a new major after spring census: scholarship eligibility is unaffected.

Scholarship Eligibility and Withdrawal

Students who withdraw from SDSU will have their funding eligibility determined by the official withdrawal date, with census serving as the cutoff. 

Fall Semester Withdrawals: 

• Withdrawals before fall census: both the fall and spring portions of the scholarship will be canceled.
• Withdrawals after fall census: only the spring portion of the scholarship will be canceled.

Spring Semester Withdrawals:

• Withdrawals before spring census: the spring portion of the scholarship will be canceled.
• Withdrawals after spring census: scholarship eligibility is unaffected.

Scholarship Eligibility and Failure to Meet Enrollment Requirements

Prior to Disbursement:

Students who do not meet enrollment requirements during the fall term may be eligible to have fall funds deferred to the spring semester. If the student remains ineligible in the spring semester, the scholarship will be canceled.

After Disbursement:

Students who receive a disbursement when meeting the enrollment requirements and later drop units below that threshold may have their scholarship canceled. Census dates serve as the cutoff for determining eligibility. 

Fall Semester Drops in Enrollment: 

• Drop in units before fall census: the fall portion must be paid back and spring eligibility will be determined.
• Drop in units after fall census:  scholarship eligibility is unaffected.

Spring Semester Drops in Enrollment:

• Drop in units before spring census: the spring portion of the scholarship will be canceled and must be paid back.
• Drop in units after spring census: scholarship eligibility is unaffected.

Scholarship Eligibility and Failure to Meet GPA Requirements

For fall semester disbursements:

Students who are awarded in the spring prior to fall disbursements but lose eligibility by not meeting GPA requirements after that spring or summer term may be eligible to have fall funds deferred to the spring semester to allow time to regain eligibility. If GPA requirements are still not met in the spring, the scholarship will be canceled.  

For spring semester disbursements:

Students who lose eligibility by not meeting GPA requirements after fall grades post and prior to spring disbursement may be eligible to have spring funds applied retroactively to the fall semester, provided they were eligible at that time and the change is possible based on other scholarship requirements.  

Scholarship Eligibility and Leave of Absences

Students who take a leave of absence (LOA) during the fall term may be eligible to have fall funds deferred to the spring semester depending on all eligibility factors. If the LOA continues into the spring semester, the scholarship will be canceled.

Scholarship Eligibility and Automatically-Renewing Scholarships

For those students receiving an automatically-renewing scholarship, having a scholarship rescinded constitutes a break in continuous scholarship eligibility; therefore, current and all subsequent terms of the affected scholarship(s) will be canceled and ineligible for reinstatement.

Notification of Cancellation of Scholarship Award Process

Students will be notified if their scholarship has been canceled via their SDSU email address. The email will detail the reason(s) for the scholarship cancellation.

All scholarship offers are subject to available funding; offer values may vary due to the amount of funding or the number of eligible applicants.

Scholarships may be taxable as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Any questions related to the taxability of scholarships should be directed to your tax preparer or the IRS.

• AB540: California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, which exempts certain students from paying nonresident tuition and/or allows them to apply and receive state aid at certain California public and private colleges.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
• Aztec Scholarships: The scholarship application portal used to apply for SDSU scholarships.
• California Dream Act Application: The financial aid application that allows undocumented students who meet certain criteria to qualify for California state financial aid.
• Census Date: The date on which the university determines a student’s enrollment for the semester. The census date is usually one week after the semester deadline for adding/dropping classes.
• Cost of Attendance (COA): The standard, estimated cost of attending SDSU, including tuition, fees, housing, food, and other expenses, for the 9-month academic year.
• Direct Enroll Program: A study abroad program where students pay tuition and fees directly to the host university or institution.
• F-1 Student Visa: A non-immigrant visa that allows international students to enter the United States to study full-time at an accredited institution. F-1 Visa holders must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and the school of attendance must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): The official form students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens complete to be eligible for federal student aid such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans. In addition, many states and colleges use FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid.
• Good Standing: A student who is academically eligible to continue their studies without restrictions.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The U.S. federal agency responsible for collecting taxes.
• Joint PhD Program: A doctoral program where students are enrolled at two degree-awarding institutions simultaneously.
• Matriculated Student: A student who has been officially admitted to a degree program and has met all the prerequisites for formal admission.
• Student Aid Index (SAI): A measure of a student's financial need, calculated based on the information provided on the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application.
• Title IV Student Financial Aid: Federal student aid programs, including grants, loans, and work-study.
• Verification of Enrollment: A process to confirm a student's enrollment status, required for scholarship disbursement.

Any questions regarding scholarships can be directed to the SDSU Scholarship Office email, [email protected]