California State University, Dominguez Hills

Programme overview

The Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP) provides targeted loans to a limited number of full‑time doctoral students enrolled at regionally accredited universities anywhere in the United States. Established in 1987, the program has loaned $49 million to 2,081 doctoral students and aims to increase the pool of individuals likely to pursue CSU instructional faculty positions.

What you'll study

CDIP is not a taught degree; it is a financial and professional development program that supports students while they pursue their doctoral coursework and research at their chosen institutions. Participation is intended to complement the candidate's doctoral studies and professional development toward an academic career.

Entry requirements

• Be a new or continuing full‑time doctoral student at a regionally accredited university in the United States.
• Applicants do not have to be CSU alumni nor must they already be accepted into a doctoral program at the time of application.
• Each applicant must identify a full‑time tenure/tenure‑track CSU faculty member who will act as a faculty mentor, providing professional mentoring and networking throughout the doctoral experience.
• The program application includes two parts: the student portion and a section completed by the CSU faculty mentor.

Career prospects

The CDIP is designed to increase the likelihood that participants will pursue and obtain full‑time instructional faculty positions within the California State University system. More than half of past CDIP scholars have gone on to CSU instructional faculty employment. If a participant secures a CSU instructional faculty post after completing the doctorate, the program converts part of the loan into forgiveness tied to service.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

• Loans of up to $10,000 per year are available through CDIP, with a maximum of $30,000 borrowable over a five‑year period.
• Repayment terms: loans are repayable over 15 years, beginning one year after completion of or withdrawal from full‑time doctoral study.
• Loan forgiveness: if a participant is hired into a CSU instructional faculty position after completing the doctorate, 20% of the loan is forgiven for each year of full‑time postdoctoral CSU teaching employment. Part‑time CSU teaching at a minimum half‑time appointment may be eligible for partial forgiveness after the doctorate is completed.

Application materials are mailed to the CSUDH campus coordinator at: California State University, Dominguez Hills, Graduate Studies and Research, Attention: Vanessa Cervantes, Innovation and Instruction Building (I&I), Room 310, 1000 East Victoria Street, Carson, California 90747. For more information contact Vanessa Cervantes, Graduate Studies Coordinator, Office of Graduate Studies and Research, (310) 243-3693 or consult the Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program website.