Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our mission—from our staff to all of our programs—because we know that solutions to the world’s biggest challenges are best achieved when everyone contributes. In furtherance of this commitment, we launched a generous need-based scholarship in August 2020 with the main goal that no qualified students are turned away due to lack of funding.

To support this impactful scholarship effort, please visit our donation page and consider making a contribution.

How does this work?

The economic access scholarship is an aid fund available to new and continuing students who demonstrate a financial need based on the Economic Access Scholarship Application, which includes a 500-word “Personal Statement of Financial Need.”

How to apply (new students/applicants):

Step 1: Complete the admissions application and submit the Economic Access Scholarship application by the corresponding admissions application deadline, which is published here.
Step 2: As part of the Economic Access Scholarship Application, complete the 500-word “Personal Statement of Financial Need.”
Step 3: Our team will evaluate your needs based on your documents and the estimated family contribution per FAFSA® or the circumstances that you shared in your application.

Availability and renewal

This scholarship will be awarded for the duration of the entire program, and the criteria to continue receiving the award is to remain in good academic standing by maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Application Deadline

How does this work?

We award academic leadership scholarships to students who can prove one or both of the following: exemplary academic track record as evidenced by academic transcripts and/or inspiring cases of community and/or organizational leadership shown to us through a letter of recommendation and/or publication(s).

The criteria for this scholarship are as follows:

• One of the following:
  • Completed bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.25 or higher.
  • Promise and/or track record of community and/or organizational leadership as shown through one or more of the following: 1) letter of recommendation and/or 2) publication(s).
• Plus, demonstration of commitment to become a changemaker in one of the areas aligned with PGS mission: social justice, sustainability, and/or systems thinking, as reflected in a 500-word essay.

Application Deadline

How does this work?

This scholarship is specifically for incoming students/new applicants who are members of the BIPOC community. Attracting a diverse student body is important to PGS not only because social justice is one foundation of our curriculum, but more importantly because equitable solutions cannot truly be created without equal representation. We believe careers in sustainable business and policy are in need of greater diversity. Our goal is to assist in filling the gap that currently exists within these areas. 

The criteria for this scholarship are as follows:

• A track record of commitment to DEI work within your community and/or organization as evidenced by one or more of the following: letter of recommendation and/or publication(s).
• A commitment to future DEI impact in your community and/or organization as demonstrated through a 500-word essay.

Application Deadline

How does this work?

John A. Spiekhout was a pillar of his community who believed passionately in social justice. The John A. Spiekhout Scholarship honors his legacy through generous funding from his family, including alumna Rebekah Helzel, Linda Mantel, and the Helzel Family Foundation, and is awarded to one student each year.

The criteria for this scholarship are as follows:

• Academic excellence as evidenced by academic transcripts and/or letter of recommendation from a professor, with preference given to applicants that have completed coursework and/or certificates in subject matter related to social justice, social impact, and/or race relations and to applicants that have been involved in school clubs or groups dedicated to social justice.
• A commitment to embodying social justice values and principles as demonstrated through a 500 word essay.

Meet our current Spiekhout Scholar, Cathy Sims.

Application Deadline: June 20

The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is a post-service benefit earned by individuals who complete approved terms of national service in AmeriCorps programs. The award is named after Eli Segal, a pioneer of national service and the first CEO of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

Eligibility: Full-time students maintaining a GPA above 3.0

Quantity available: Matching award up to $5,000, with a maximum of three awards granted per year

Award criteria:

After successfully completing your AmeriCorps term of service, you are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at Presidio Graduate School. This matching award will be awarded to a select number of incoming students and will match your award up to $5,000. This matching award is available through the generous gift of Suzanne Farver and is open to all recipients of the Segal AmeriCorps Educational Fund used towards their tuition at Presidio Graduate School.

To learn more about the Segal AmeriCorps Matching Education Fund, please visit the Fund’s website.

You can find additional scholarships through third-party online search sites and organizations, some examples of which are listed here*:

The Sallie Mae Fund: College

FastWeb Scholarship Search

The Washboard

“School Soup” and GoodCall Scholarship Search

College Affordability Guide

Hebrew Free Loans

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Programs

* Notice: Presidio Graduate School does not sanction or endorse any company or organization providing scholarship funds. These are posted strictly as a courtesy in an effort to assist students looking for additional sources of funding. Each website has been reviewed, however, no in-depth background checks are performed on individual companies. We advise students to use good judgment when submitting applications. Please be aware of the potential for online scholarship scams and please contact our office immediately to report suspicious behavior.

Availability and renewal

For scholarships that are awarded to new students/applicants, the scholarship award will last the duration of the program as long as the student remains in good academic standing by maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA. 

For scholarships that are awarded to continuing students, the scholarship award will last for the remainder of the program as long as the student remains in good academic standing by maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Gifted funds

Scholarships are “free money” that you do not have to repay. Scholarships are awarded to the extent permitted by guidelines and funding levels. The level of scholarship aid can vary from year to year (or within a single year) depending on your eligibility, the availability of funds, and/or your budget. The information you provide allows us to determine the proper amount to award. This is known as equity packaging.

Loans

We award loans after we have determined your eligibility for scholarships and funding. These loans include unsubsidized federal loans; Federal Plus Loans; any Title IV program; and other federal, state, private, or institutional student financial aid programs.

From time to time, we must adjust standard budgets as a result of mandatory fee changes, required enrollment period changes, and so forth. To the extent possible, awards are re-adjusted to equity when this occurs.

If you receive additional loans and/or grants and scholarships (other than those awarded or administered by our office) after your aid is packaged, adjustments may be needed to avoid excessive awards. Depending on the additional aid and existing policies, loans and/or unmet needs are generally reduced first.

Eligibility determination

Complex federal and state regulations dictate the manner in which we determine eligibility and provide assistance. Our goal is to balance regulatory compliance with your day-to-day needs.

Generally, financial aid eligibility is determined based on the cost of attending PGS (which can be found on our website and the student handbook), accounting for your expected family contribution from earnings, assets, and other resources. Financial aid eligibility is the amount of need-based funding you may receive from University sources, federal programs such as unsubsidized or Plus loans, and fellowships and scholarships from outside organizations.

Other resources include, but are not limited to, untaxed income, gifts, and benefits from government programs (Social Security, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Veterans Benefits, and Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.).

Your expected family contribution is based on the income and asset information reported on the FAFSA. Some students may be selected for a process called verification. The U.S. Department of Education requires us to verify the information used to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by collecting supporting documentation from students who are selected for verification during FAFSA processing. If you are selected for verification, you will receive notification from the Department of Education via the Student Aid Report. The Student Financial Services Office also notifies you about the verification process and may request additional documents. Your financial aid package is conditional, and subject to change, until the verification process is completed, and funds cannot be released to you. Once the verification review is complete, the hold on your financial aid will be removed.

Note: The following should only be used to estimate a contribution from income and assets. The actual amount used to determine financial aid eligibility will be calculated when the completed application is reviewed.

Students’ rights and responsibilities

You have the right:

• To know what financial aid programs are available at your school.
• To know the deadline for submitting applications for each available program.
• To know how financial aid will be distributed, how decisions are made, and the basis for these decisions.
• To know how your financial need was determined. This includes how costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, travel, personal and miscellaneous expenses, etc., are considered in your budget.
• To know how much of your financial need had been met as determined by the financial aid advisor at the school or college.
• To know what resources (such as parental contribution, other financial aid, your assets, etc.) were considered in the calculation of your need.
• To know what portion of the financial aid you received must be repaid, and what portion is grant aid. If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know what the interest rate is, the total amount that must be repaid, the repayment procedures, the length of time you have to repay the loan, and when repayment is to begin.
• To know how the school determines whether you are making satisfactory progress, and what happens if you are not.
• To request an explanation of the various programs in your student aid package.

You have the responsibility:

• To complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time to the right place.
• To provide correct information. In most instances, misreporting information on financial aid applications is a violation of law and may be considered a criminal offense.
• To return all documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by either the Student Financial Services Office or the agency to which you submitted your application.
• To read and understand all forms that you are asked to sign and to keep copies of them.
• To accept responsibility for all the arrangements that you sign.
• To be aware of your school’s refund procedures.

All schools must provide information to prospective students about the school’s programs and performance. You should consider this information carefully before deciding to attend a school.

How to apply (current students):

Step 1: Register for the next semester.

Step 2: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) for the 2020-21 academic year.

Step 3: Submit the relevant scholarship application form(s).

Step 4: Our team will evaluate your needs based on your FAFSA® and the circumstances that you shared in your application.

Scholarship application deadline for current students: Published course registration deadline for the upcoming term.

You should expect a response within two weeks after the published course registration deadline.

How to apply (new students/applicants):

Step 1: Complete the admissions application and relevant scholarship application form(s) by the corresponding admissions application deadline, which is published here.

Step 2: Our team will evaluate your needs based on the circumstances that you shared in your application.

Scholarship decisions will be announced in your Admission Decision letter, which is sent via email within 2-3 weeks of completing your admissions interview.

You should expect a response within two weeks after receiving the acceptance notification and submitting the scholarship application form.