Gastwirth Graduate Student Loan Fellowship Program provides forgivable loans to doctoral students

As the coronavirus continues to take a financial toll on ASU students, the Graduate College is happy to announce the relaunch of the Gastwirth Graduate Student Loan Fellowship Program.       

"The already challenging economic pressures on ASU graduate students have increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Wentz. “We are thankful to the Gastwirth family for their gift.”

The Gastwirth Graduate Student Loan Fellowship Program provides forgivable loans of up to $10,000 per academic year (up to $5,000 for Fall and/or $5000 for Spring) to doctoral students who intend to pursue full-time employment for the betterment of sciences and humanities at an institution of higher education, non-profit organization or governmental agency.

Students interested in the Gastwirth Graduate Student Loan Fellowship Program must demonstrate financial need, strong scholastic achievement, and should be able to articulate a plan to attain a post-degree position in an institution of higher education, non-profit organization or governmental agency one of the sectors stated above.

As more doctoral students are looking for careers outside of academia, a loan program like the Gastwirth Student Loan Fellowship can help to prepare them for multiple career paths that serve the public good. 

The deadline to apply for a Spring 2021 loan is October 30, 2020 

To be eligible, students must:    

• Be enrolled in an immersion (on-campus) doctoral program.

• Be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• Demonstrate financial need as established by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• Not have a delinquent account with ASU.

• Not be in default on any student loans from any institution.

Applications must include: 

• A statement of applicant's academic and career goals that specifically outline a plan to achieve a position or the betterment of sciences and humanities at an institution of higher education, non-profit organization or governmental agency (approx. 500 words).

• A resume/CV which shows promise of meeting the forgiveness criteria.

• The contact information for an ASU faculty member who should be contacted for a Letter of Recommendation. The recommendation letter should specifically address that the author is aware of/confirms and supports your desire to seek the employment specified.

To learn more about this loan and apply, please visit the Gastwirth Graduate Student Loan Fellowship Program webpage.