Gastwirth Graduate Student Loan Fellowship Program

The Gastwirth Graduate Student Loan Fellowship Program provides forgivable loans for doctoral students with an intention to pursue full-time employment for the betterment of sciences and humanities at an institution of higher education, non-profit organization or governmental agency. Competitive candidates should have demonstrated financial need, strong scholastic achievement, and be able to articulate a plan to attain a post-degree position as stated.

About this Award

Award Details

• Maximum loan eligibility per recipient is $10,000 per academic year (Fall and Spring semesters only) or the amount of the student’s financial need, whichever is less.
• Loans may be forgiven at a rate of 20% per year, for up to five (5) years by providing proof of eligible employment annually.
• The repayment period is ten years at two percent (2%) annual interest. Loans will enter repayment nine (9) months after graduation or enrollment less than half-time. 
• The grace period is nine months after the student graduates, ceases enrollment at ASU or drops below half-time status (less than 6 credits).

Terms of Award

• Recipient must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester of award.
• Recipient will be required to sign ASU Promissory Note to receive funds.
• Recipients will receive a letter outlining the loan repayment plan and forgiveness requirements shortly after they are no longer enrolled as a half-time student.

Loan Management Information

• All loan balances will be managed by ASU’s third party billing servicer, Heartland ECSI.  Contact information is as follows:
  • Account Inquiries:  www.heartlandecsi.com / ASU school code:  U5 / Phone Inquiries:  1-888-549-3274
• Students utilizing the cancellation benefit need to submit letters annually on formal letterhead from employer confirming employment.  The letter must contain dates of employment and confirm full-time status. Letters should be submitted to ASU Student Business Services at collections@asu.edu and "Gastwirth Student Loan Cancellation" should be referenced in the subject line.
• Students who do not submit documentation confirming they will be utilizing the cancellation benefit, will enter repayment.  Payments can be submitted online to Heartland ECSI.  Students should also review promissory note regarding actions taken for delinquent loan balances.
• Please note that updates to student information made through MyASU will not update Gastwirth Loan Information.  Students will be responsible for updating address and contact information through Heartland ECSI.

Contact

GCFellowships@exchange.asu.edu

Deadlines

Academic Year 2025-26: Monday, March 31, 2025

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive this loan:

1. Student must be enrolled in an immersion (on-campus) doctoral program.
2. Student must be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
3. Student must demonstrate financial need for the 2023-24 academic year (the award year) as established by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the time of application.
4. Student cannot have a delinquent account with ASU.
5. Student cannot be in default on any student loans from any institution.
6. Student can receive this award for a maximum of 2 academic years.

Submission Procedures

Application for this program is available on the ASU Scholarship Portal at https://scholarships.asu.edu/scholarship/173440 or login to the ASU Scholarship Search and search for "Gastwirth Graduate Student Loan Fellowship Program".

The application will require:

• Statement of applicant's academic and career goals which 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.
• 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.

After the submission deadline, all eligible applications will be reviewed by a faculty committee.

Please allow up to six (6) weeks from the deadline date for notifications from the Graduate College and ASU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services. Once recipients have been selected, students will be provided a promissory note. After the promissory note is received, the loan will be processed and disbursed.

Additional Information

Taxes

Each fellow is personally responsible for individual taxes related to this award. Additional information regarding tax issues related to awards can be found at tax considerations. Specific questions should be directed to a tax advisor or contact the ASU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services.

Overawards

An "overaward" is when a student’s need-based awards exceed his/her financial need, or the total of the awards exceeds the cost of attendance. If a student has been overawarded, federal regulations require ASU to adjust his/her awards which may result in a reduction in awards or a bill. Need-based aid includes grants, scholarships, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loans,  and outside resources (i.e. faculty/staff tuition benefits, scholarships, stipends, etc.). Non-need-based aid includes unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Graduate PLUS Loans and Private Education Loans. Questions regarding overawards should be directed to the ASU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services.