Scholarship Information

The SJSU Alumni Association has the largest alumni supported scholarship program in the California State University system!

We are proud to annually award over $240,000 in scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students in their pursuit of higher education. These scholarships are made possible by the generous contributions of SJSU Alumni Association members and donors.

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To apply

Applications for the 2024-25 Academic Year are now CLOSED. Most scholarships accept applications through the SJSU FASO Scholarships website.

• Alumni Association Deans' Scholarships 

  • Since 1975, the San José State University Alumni Association has awarded scholarships to students who excel in their academic studies and actively participate in the betterment of their communities through volunteer work. These awards are funded through the generous contributions of alumni and friends of SJSU and represent one of the strongest individual scholarship programs offered by any alumni association in the California State University system. Two outstanding undergraduate or graduate students from each of SJSU's seven colleges are chosen by their deans to receive this annual scholarship.

    Eligibility

    Selection is based on scholarship, must excel in academic studies and participate in betterment of community.  

    Class standing: Full-time Undergraduate or Graduate student. 
    GPA: Combined SJSU and Transfer GPA of 3.0 or higher
    Amount: $3,000
    Renewable: No

• Gerald M. Starek Family Alumni Association Scholarships

  • The generosity of alumnus Gerald M. Starek has paved the way for accounting and finance students with financial need to pursue their education. These $8,000 scholarships are renewable for up to four years. Mr. Starek received his degree from SJSU in 1963 and went on to found Silicon Valley Group, Inc., a supplier of automated wafer processing equipment for the semiconductor industry. Mr. Starek is grateful to have received his education at SJSU at minimal cost and desires to give SJSU students the same opportunity he was afforded.

    Eligibility

    Must be majoring in a degree offered by the Accounting and Finance department and a full-time student. Must be eligible for need-based financial aid.

    Class standing: Undergraduate
    Minimum GPA: 2.75
    Amount: $8,000 per year
    Renewable: Up to four years

• Barnum Everett Scholarships

  • The Barnum-Everett Scholarship was established at the university in the early 1980s, thanks to Lena Barnum-Everett ’30 Education. A lifetime member of the SJSU Alumni Association, Mrs. Barnum-Everett felt her education at San José State contributed to her successful teaching career and enjoyable life. At the time of her passing, she provided a trust to be used for the scholarship fund known as the Barnum-Everett Scholarship. In 2015, a gift from Maryann Crawford established an endowment at SJSU that will enable the Barnum-Everett Scholarship to continue helping worthy students attend San José State University. 

    Eligibility

    Selection is based on high academic standards, community and school involvement, and work experience. Must be eligible for need-based financial aid.

    Class standing: Undergraduate with preference given to juniors, seniors, and teaching credential students.
    Minimum GPA: 3.0
    Amount: $1,000
    Renewable: No

• Santa Cruz Area Chapter Scholarships 

  • The Santa Cruz Chapter supports scholarships for students from public Santa Cruz County high schools and from Cabrillo College. Most scholarships are in the amount of $1,000 annually and are renewable for four years for high school students and for two years for Cabrillo transfers. In addition, the Carol Coe Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $2,000, is awarded to the finalist who exemplifies outstanding community service.  

• Hoover-Langdon Scholarships

  • Each fall, the Alumni Association awards these scholarships on the basis of financial need, academic achievement and community service. The endowment began in 1954 with the merger of the Hoover Fund and the William Langdon Fund. This year’s awards are supported by a generous gift from the College Futures Foundation.

    Eligibility

    Selection is based on financial need, academic achievement and community service.

    Class standing: Undergraduate
    Minimum GPA: 3.25
    Amount: $2,500
    Renewable: No

• Katherine Peterson Alumni Association Scholarship

  • This scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need, academic achievement and community service. This scholarship is endowed by the Keith and Katherine Peterson Charitable Remainder Trust, in honor of Katherine. Katherine Peterson received her baccalaureate degree in education from SJSU in 1951. She taught in the Sunnyvale school system for 20 years. She also established the history docent program in Sunnyvale. This project brings demonstrations and stories of early Sunnyvale to the classroom through guest speakers.

    Eligibility

    Selection is based on academic achievement financial need and demonstrated community service. Must be eligible for need-based financial aid.

    Class standing: Undergraduate or graduate
    Minimum GPA: 3.0
    Amount: $1,000
    Renewable: No

• San Jose Women's Club Scholarships

  • The San José Woman's Club is one of the oldest community organizations in San Jose. In December of 1894, nine San José women gathered to discuss forming a "woman's club." At the time, women across America were organizing to address issues of suffrage and temperance. The San José women decided to take a larger view. They formed a club where the members regardless of creed, nationality or social position could engage in cultural, philanthropic and charitable activities.

    Scholarship programs for local students were instituted in the late 1940's and members of the San José Woman's Club continue to look for opportunities to support local nonprofits and downtown community groups.

    Eligibility

    Students must describe their interest and involvement in broader social issues and their participation in activities related to those issues

    Class standing: Junior standing and have attended SJSU for two semesters
    Minimum GPA: 3.0 for two consecutive semesters
    Amount: $2,000
    Renewable: No

• Deltha-Critique Scholarship

  • Deltha-Critique is a professional services firm incorporated in Louisiana and headquartered in New Orleans. The company provides professional services and business solutions to public and private sector customers primarily in the areas of aerospace, defense and energy. As a professional services contractor to NASA Ames Research Center, Deltha-Critique provides business operations and technical services. Through its extensive partnership with NASA Ames and the recognition of the benefits of higher education, the interest was ignited to create a need-based scholarship for students at San José State University. 

    Eligibility

    Must be a first generation student majoring in Science, Engineering or related Business majors. Must be eligible for need-based financial aid.

    Class standing: Junior standing
    Minimum GPA: 2.5
    Amount: $1,000
    Renewable: Yes, for a second year

• Jeffrey Scott Johnson Memorial Scholarship

  • While in college, Jeffrey Scott Johnson had a life-changing opportunity to study in Europe. While abroad, his interest in international business was piqued, which lead him to pursue a degree in business administration from San José State University. From that time on, his passion for business and travel became the foundation for his personal and professional life, as Jeff spent his career in international trade and traveled the world. Jeff's mother endowed this scholarship in honor of her son's legacy, ensuring that students at San José State University would also have the same life-changing opportunity to travel the world as Jeff did. This scholarship supports students who have been accepted into the study abroad program at SJSU.

    Eligibility

    Must be accepted to a faculty-led program or the general study abroad program. Must be a full-time student.

    Class Standing: Undergraduate or Graduate
    Minimum GPA: 2.75, with preference given to 3.0 and above
    Amount: $1,500
    Renewable: No

• Clyde Brewer Memorial Scholarship

  • Clyde Brewer began his career at SJSU in 1971 as the Director of Records and Admissions. He became the University Articulation Officer and made innovative changes to the process showing how community college courses transferred to the university. Clyde embarked on a project to create the first official website to show how equivalent courses transferred, making the process easier and faster for both the student and the university. Throughout his career, Clyde was an advocate for statewide articulation issues and was one of the founders of the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. In recognition of his dedication to transfer students, this scholarship is given to a transfer student from a California Community College.

    Eligibility

    Class standing: Must be an incoming transfer student from a California Community College.
    Minimum GPA: 3.0
    Amount: $1,000
    Renewable: No

• Latino Alumni Network Scholarships

  • The Silicon Valley cost of living presents many San José State University students with significant challenges in reaching their higher education goals. Members of the Latino Alumni Network raise scholarship funds to provide students a smoother path to life-changing opportunities. These scholarships support students eligible for financial aid in any major.

    Eligibility

    Incoming freshman or continuing San José State student. Must be eligible for need-based financial aid.

    Minimum GPA: 3.0 (incoming freshman) and 2.8 (continuing SJSU student)
    Amount: $1,000
    Renewable: Yes

• Dr. Wanna and Jerry Pitts Scholarship

  • Jerry and Wanna (Miller) Pitts began a life together in Ashland, Oregon as teenagers trying to finish high school with a baby boy. With Jerry’s support, Wanna became the first in either family to earn a B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. Throughout their lives, Wanna and Jerry strived to help and give assistance to those who were in need. Their family has established this scholarship to continue Jerry and Wanna’s tradition of assisting those most in need. The scholarship supports students majoring in Biological Sciences who are the first generation in their family to attend college. 

    Eligibility

    Must be majoring in Biological Sciences and have completed 60 units.

    Minimum GPA: 2.5
    Amount: $2,500
    Renewable: No

• Ted & Stephanie Coopman Scholarship

  • As faculty of the Communication Studies Department at SJSU, Ted and Stephanie Coopman’s desire to help students succeed beyond their individual classes became a profound priority and in 2016 they established the Ted and Stephanie Coopman Scholarship. Following their professional background, the scholarship helps students who are majoring in Communication Studies, Advertising, Journalism, or Public Relations and are 25 years of age or older. This award is intended to recognize students who have not necessarily had a traditional student career path.

    Eligibility

    Must be majoring in Communication Studies, Advertising, Journalism, or Public Relations.
    Must be a full-time student.
    Must be eligible for need-based financial aid.
    Must be at least 25 years old.
    Class standing: Undergraduate
    Minimum GPA: 2.5
    Amount: $1,500 per year
    Renewable: No

• Marcos & Denise Herrera ¡Adelanté Spartans! Scholarships

  • Marcos Herrera, ’76 BS Mechanical Engineering and Denise Herrera established the Marcos and Denise Herrera ¡Adelanté Spartans! Fund in 2020 to provide financial assistance to San José State students through these scholarships and support for the SJSU Cares program. The scholarships support full-time first generation undergraduate students who meet GPA and financial need criteria.

    Eligibility

    Must be first generation student.
    Must be a full-time student.
    Must be eligible for need-based financial aid.
    Class standing: Undergraduate
    Minimum GPA: 2.25 at SJSU
    Amount: $1,500 per year
    Renewable: No

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