Scholarships
CSULB is proud to offer several scholarships to help students cover the costs of their education. These funds come from a variety of university, federal, state, and private sources--but unlike loans, they do not have to be repaid. Opportunities are available for new and continuing students.
Important Reminder: Scholarship recipients must be enrolled at CSULB in the semester they are receiving their funds.
Explore the resources below to find scholarship opportunities that match your interest and eligibility. Be sure to closely review application deadlines and application requirements!
BeachScholarships is an online tool that connects you to the latest campus scholarship opportunities through one simple application. You can search for CSULB-exclusive scholarships and grants as well as external opportunities. Watch a video tutorial about where to find opportunities and how to apply.
Application dates are outlined in the table below:
| Scholarships For: | Apply In: |
|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | January - March 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | August - September 2025 |
CSULB offers many funded research opportunities through the Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED). Funding you receive as part of a research program is coordinated with any financial aid you currently have and is disbursed through your student account.
Depending on the program, funding may be awarded as a stipend paid out in monthly installments and/or payments at the beginning of each semester. Some programs have summer funding as well, which follow the same general payment rules. As with all financial aid, your grant funding will first apply to any outstanding charges you might have on your student account before it is refunded to you as a credit.
Explore BeachScholarships Grant Opportunities
Explore the Office of Research and Economic Development
In addition to BeachScholarships, here are some additional resources you may explore for opportunities that match your needs and qualifications:
Athletic Scholarships
There are eighteen NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) sports at California State University, Long Beach. Contact the coach of your athletic team of choice to inquire about current scholarship opportunities.
Career Development Center
Through career counseling, employer connections, and professional development opportunities, the CSULB Career Development Center prepares students to become skilled and productive members of the local, national, and global workforce.
CSU Systemwide Scholarships and Fellowships
There are a variety of scholarship and fellowship opportunities available to students through the Cal State University system. Search by opportunity or by campus to find an opportunity that matches your eligibility and interest.
Dream Success Center
The vision of the CSULB Dream Success Center is to foster a friendly and inclusive campus community dedicated to students’ educational achievement and personal success regardless of immigration status.
Graduate Center
The CSULB Graduate Center offers resources for current and prospective graduate students (masters, credential, certificate, and doctorate)--including graduate advising appointments, mentor programs, workshops, and more. The center also connects students with unique graduate funding and fellowship opportunities.
Graduate Assistantships
Many CSULB academic departments have Teaching Associate (TA) and Graduate Assistant (GA) positions available for graduate students. Contact a department directly for more information about opportunities.
President’s Scholars Program
President’s Scholars are selected from a competitive high-achieving pool of students admitted to the CSULB University Honors Program (UHP). Awardees receive financial support and other benefits such as priority registration, smaller class sizes, individualized/proactive academic advising, and more. Learn about the University Honors Program and application process.
Study Abroad Scholarships for CSULB Students
Students who are interested in studying abroad can learn more about available programs and scholarships through the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE).
Tip: If you are currently working, check with your employer to see if they offer educational scholarships, stipends, or tuition reimbursement programs for employees!
The mission of the CSU Foundation is to enhance the educational excellence of the California State University in teaching, learning, community service, and applied research. Established in 1962, the CSU Foundation is the university's central foundation and serves the Office of the Chancellor. The CSU Foundation exists to promote the national, state and regional interests of the California State University. The Board of Governors represents a cross-section of business, community, cultural, and educational leaders with a shared commitment to uphold and advance the mission and goals of the university.
California State University System Wide Scholarships are open to all CSU students. A majority of their scholarships can be applied to through BeachScholarships during our spring cycle. Use the Show Filters button and search for "CSU System-wide" to bring up a list of scholarships to explore:
Application dates are outlined in the table below:
| Semester | Application Window | Award Disbursement |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | January - March | The following Fall/Spring |
Explore BeachScholarships Now
The mission of the CSU Foundation is to enhance the educational excellence of the California State University in teaching, learning, community service, and applied research. Established in 1962, the CSU Foundation is the university's central foundation and serves the Office of the Chancellor. The CSU Foundation exists to promote the national, state and regional interests of the California State University. The Board of Governors represents a cross-section of business, community, cultural, and educational leaders with a shared commitment to uphold and advance the mission and goals of the university.
The Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students was established in 1991 by Mr. Schoettler, a successful businessman from Mountain View, California, who was blind for the last eight years of his life.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants must currently have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale and must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale during the academic year in which the award is received.
- Applicants must be currently enrolled in 6.1 units or more as a CSU undergraduate or graduate student in any major field and must remain enrolled in 6.1 units or more during the academic year in which the award is received.
- Applicants must have a visual disability *
Application deadline: Applicants are accepted on a year-round basis.
Award amount: 46 scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded for the 2024-2025 academic year.
How to apply: CSU Students who meet the requirements must complete the CSU Foundation application.
Financial aid offices should provide information about the availability of this scholarship to the services for students with disabilities office. Students who have previously been nominated and/or awarded the Schoettler scholarship may continue to apply each year they meet the qualifications.
* The CSU Foundation will confirm applicants are registered with their campus Disability Support Services offices with a visual limitation. A visual limitation is defined by the CSU as: Blindness or partial sight to the degree that it impedes the educational process and may necessitate accommodations, support services, or programs.
External scholarship opportunities (offered outside of CSULB), such as online search tools and more, are accessible to all students through BeachScholarships.
Explore BeachScholarships External Scholarships Now
CSULB partners with select scholarship providers to bring unique opportunities to students interested in the fields of public service or education.
Explore the programs below:
AmeriCorps Education Award – National Service Trust
Congress established the National Service Trust to provide an AmeriCorps Education Award for members who successfully complete service in AmeriCorps. Student may use this award to pay educational expenses at qualified institutions of higher education, for educational training, or to repay qualified student loans.
UNCF
UNCF is the nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members. Popular scholarships include the Gates Millennium Scholars, Panda Cares Scholars Program, Target Scholars Program, and more.
CalKIDS
CalKIDS is a state program that gives children in California a jump start on saving for college. Newborns and eligible low-income public school students are automatically enrolled and given a CalKIDS college savings account with an initial deposit. Eligible participants are identified by data received from the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Education. There is no need to apply and no requirement that families make any kind of financial commitment.
More Resources for Students:
Explore the tools, resources, and frequently asked questions below to help prepare you for applying for scholarships. Plus, use the Ask Elbee chatbot, or submit a help ticket to connect with the Financial Aid and Scholarships team for further support.
Navigating the FAFSA and/or DREAM application as well as other various forms of financial aid can sometimes be confusing. After all, there are many different types of aid awards and eligibility requirements depending on what you might be looking for.
Explore the Financial Aid TV library to find short Q&A videos to help you understand the various types of aid (including scholarships) and how to best complete your financial aid application(s).
The personal statement is generally one of the most important components of your scholarship application. It allows the readers of the selection committee to learn more about you and your goals as they relate to a particular scholarship.
When writing your personal statement, consider the following guidelines:
- Stay at or under the word limit.
If there is a word limit, stay as close to it as possible. Use 12-point font unless directed otherwise. Selection committees may have many applications to review and not enough time to read verbose essays.
- Make sure to directly answer the question (if there is a specific prompt).
This may sound obvious, but many writers sometimes write lengthy, illustrative stories without ever answering the original question posed to them. Try rephrasing the question or prompt in your introduction to make sure you address the scholarship’s main criteria!
- Draft your statement in a Word document before you apply.
Since most applications have online or fillable PDF fields, try writing your personal statement in a Word document first so you have a chance to make edits. Once you have saved your response(s), you can copy and paste your polished response(s) in the final application. Always be sure to proofread, proofread, proofread!
Need More Writing Support?
If you need help writing or proofreading your personal statement, explore the following campus resources:
Get the latest CSULB scholarships news, writing tips, Q&As, and more by following @beachscholarships on Instagram!
General Scholarship FAQs:
Here are a few tips to keep in mind in the search for scholarships:
- Be attentive to what the prompt is asking and answer all parts of the question
- Work to achieve and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA (The Learning Center)
- Become involved (Student Organizations)
- Become a leader (Lois J. Swanson Leadership Resource Center)
- Discover and nurture your talents (Career Development Center)
Every student's financial aid package is unique and may be impacted by additional grant funding. It is important to review your financial aid package again if you are the recipient of a scholarship.
In general, all financial aid is limited by two factors: your cost of attendance and your unmet need.
The cost of attendance, or budget, is the standard amount that it has been determined it costs a student to attend CSULB for nine months. This includes billed expenses, such as tuition and fees, and non-billed expenses, such as transportation and books and supplies. Aid cannot be awarded above this amount, since, theoretically, all educational expenses would be covered under the standard cost of attendance. There are exceptions that can be made on a case-by-case determination by our office. If you believe that you have significant educational expenses that are not being considered in the standard cost of attendance, you can submit a Cost of Attendance Appeal.
Unmet need is the difference between your cost of attendance and what you are expected to be able to contribute to your education (your expected family contribution). Need-based programs, such as Federal Work-Study; Subsidized Loans; State University Grant; Cal Grant; and scholarships, all must fit into your unmet need. If you receive need-based funding that exceeds your unmet need, the new funding will likely replace loans and then State University Grant or Cal Grant.
If you have specific questions about how a scholarship affects your financial aid, please reach out to us.
Stipends are paid in monthly installments. They will be disbursed to your account around the 20th of each month you are awarded. You can confirm the months you are receiving a stipend with your program administrator or faculty PI.
Yes, there are several ways to give to our students and become a Beach supporter today! Start by visiting csulb.edu/give and review the different options available.
BeachScholarships FAQs:
Auto-match means that you have been applied to certain scholarships based on your Applicant Record, your General Application, and any college/department application. You do NOT have to complete any additional information to apply for auto-match scholarships.
A confirmation email will be sent to each applicant upon completion of the General Application, college/department applications and any Recommended applications. Please be sure to check your spam or junk mail if you have not received a confirmation email.
Unfortunately, No. Since scholarships disburse the semester after the deadline date, you must be enrolled in the following semester to receive the scholarship disbursement (i.e: spring scholarship deadline means you will receive the scholarship money in fall. Therefore, if you are graduating in spring, you will not be eligible for CSULB scholarships that are due in the spring).
External Scholarships and Partner Programs FAQs:
We process external scholarship funding based on an assumption that you must be enrolled either half-time (6 units) or full-time (12 units). If you are enrolled in fewer than 6 units, your external scholarship funding will not be disbursed, even though your donor sent the funding to the University. If you know that you will be enrolled in fewer than 6 units, ask your donor to send along an authorization statement that you are still eligible for the scholarship even though you are enrolled less than half-time.
If you have any questions about this, please call our office at 562-985-5471 (option #4).
California State University, Long Beach
ATTN: Adrienne Robertson
Student Financial Services
1250 Bellflower Blvd., BH-155
Long Beach, CA 90840-0103
Make sure to have your donor make the checks payable to California State University, Long Beach, and include your name and student ID on the check's memo line. The donor should also note the term for which you or they would like the funds applied (Fall, Spring, or Fall/Spring) and any enrollment requirements (full-time, half-time).
Keep in mind that all funding begins disbursing ten days before the start of each semester; so even if your donor sends the check early, you might not see it apply to your account until just before the term.
Once funds have been deposited and your enrollment confirmed, CSULB will post your scholarship on your student account. You can check the status through your MyCSULB Student Center.
If you need proof of enrollment without the details typically outlined on a transcript, (e.g., for job applications, military service benefits, insurance discounts), CSULB enrollment verification certificates are available for free for most students through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC).
The Office of the Registrar (Student Records) can also support you with Enrollment Verification requests. Explore the Transcripts for Current Students page to learn more.
If you want the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to post your scholarship as anticipated aid on your student account prior to the funding being sent to the University, you can submit your scholarship notification letter to our office via the options below. We will complete processing within three weeks (15 business days) from the date received.
In-Person: How to Contact Financial Aid & Scholarships
Electronically: Submit a Ticket
Mailing Address:
ATTN: Scholarships
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard, BH 170
Long Beach, CA 90840-0103
Before sending via physical mail, consider purchasing a send receipt (or send as Certified Mail) with your mail provider so that you can have confirmation of receipt. Due to high volume, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships does not confirm mail receipt.
If you need the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to complete a needs analysis form or confirm eligibility for an external scholarship, you can submit the document to our office via the options below. We will complete processing within three weeks (15 business days) from the date received.
In-Person: How to Contact Financial Aid & Scholarships
Electronically: Submit a Ticket
Mailing Address:
ATTN: Scholarships
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard, BH 170
Long Beach, CA 90840-0103
Before sending via physical mail, consider purchasing a send receipt (or send as Certified Mail) with your mail provider so that you can have confirmation of receipt. Due to high volume, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships does not confirm mail receipt.
In order to apply your AmeriCorps funding, you first need to submit a certification request through AmeriCorps for a specific semester. CSULB receives and certifies these requests within 2-3 weeks and posts the amount requested as anticipated aid on your student account. AmeriCorps funding is sent in two halves for each term requested--one half at the beginning of the term and one half at the mid-point of the term.
Disclaimer: CSULB is committed to creating a community in which a diverse population can learn, live, and work in an atmosphere of tolerance, civility and respect for the rights and sensibilities of each individual, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, gender identification, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, age, Vietnam era veteran status, or any other veteran's status. CSULB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
