Graduate Diversity Fellowship

The Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program (GDFP) is designed to direct aid to graduate/professional students who have demonstrated academic achievement and overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Candidates will contribute to the diversity of the student body by demonstrating their commitment to facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and activities.

Program Eligibility

To participate in the GDFP, candidates are required to:

1. Be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status;
2. Demonstrate how they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education; and
3. Demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of the student body by facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus activities.

Even though financial need is not a requirement for program eligibility, applicants may utilize economic disadvantage as a basis for eligibility.

Preference will be given to candidates who are:

From a low-income background (e.g., Pell-eligible as undergraduates), were first-generation college students (students whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree), have overcome adversity, are AmeriCorps alumni, or are veterans.

The Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program (GDFP) is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria.

All campus distributions are pending annual state budget approval. While we have been awarding campuses scholarships for many years, funding may not be guaranteed every year.