How to Apply for Financial Assistance
GIA offers financial assistance to eligible applicants in the form of scholarships, grants, or loans. For more details, refer to the Grants/Loans and Scholarships sections below.
GIA now offers scholarships during two application periods each year for its Gemology and Jewelry Manufacturing Arts programs, courses, and Lab classes – March 1 through April 30 and June 15 through October 30.
Applications for the June 15 scholarship period will be available on June 15.
- GRANTS/STUDENT LOANS
- SCHOLARSHIPS
Who is eligible:
- Be a U.S. citizen or hold U.S. Permanent Resident status
- Plan to enroll in one of GIA's full-time on-campus programs
- Eligible programs include Graduate Gemologist, Graduate Jeweler, or Applied Jewelry Arts at either the New York or Carlsbad campus
On average, our on-campus students who qualify for financial aid and enroll in the Graduate Gemologist, Graduate Jeweler, or Applied Jewelry Arts Program receive approximately $5,000 to $9,000 in a combination of student grants and loans to help pay for their GIA education. Since the approximate total cost of tuition and living expenses for GIA six-month, on-campus programs ranges from $27,000 to $31,000, the amount of financial aid received is not sufficient to pay all of the costs associated with attending GIA on-campus. As such, we strongly advise you to plan in advance to establish your own sources of financial support to help pay for your education since the amount of financial aid we can provide is limited.
Please note that only on campus programs qualify for financial aid. For more information click here.
To contact a financial aid representative, call 800 421 7250 ext 4005, or email financialaid@gia.edu
Who is eligible: GIA offers scholarships for its Gemology and Jewelry Manufacturing Arts programs, courses, and classes. On-Campus scholarships for GIA Carlsbad and GIA New York are available to U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident applicants.
Scholarships for Distance Education eLearning courses are available to U.S. and non-U.S. resident applicants. On-Campus scholarships for GIA India, GIA London, and GIA Thailand are available to non-U.S. citizen and non-U.S. resident applicants.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, with a high school diploma or GED equivalency. You must be currently employed in the jewelry industry or planning to enter the field. If you have been awarded a GIA scholarship within the past five years, you are not eligible to reapply.
How to Apply:
GIA now offers scholarships during two application periods each year. Applications received between March 1 and April 30 will be considered for scholarships that can be applied toward the tuition and fees for GIA Distance Education eLearning programs and courses or lab classes that take place during the current calendar year. Applications received between June 15 and October 30 will be considered for scholarships that can be applied toward the tuition and fees for GIA on campus or Distance Education eLearning programs and courses or lab classes with start dates for the upcoming calendar year. Complete scholarship applications and all supporting documents must be submitted within the time frame of the scholarship period in which you are applying. Applications received outside these submission periods are not eligible for consideration.
Submit a minimum of one original letter of recommendation from an employer who is a current or past member of the jewelry industry. The letter must be typed, preferably on the jeweler's own letterhead. If you are new to the industry, a letter of recommendation from a previous employer, college, or university professor is acceptable. GIA staff and instructors cannot provide letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation from parents or relatives will not be considered.
Applications for scholarship awards that can be applied toward programs, courses, and Lab classes in the upcoming calendar year (2013) will be accepted June 15 through October 30.
Click here to see all Scholarships available for 2012.
Applications for the June 15 scholarship period will be available on June 15.
Applications are reviewed and recipients selected by the GIA scholarship committee.
For scholarship questions, call 800 421 7250 ext 4131 or email scholarship@gia.edu
Student Assistance
Gemological Institute of America
Office of Student Financial Assistance, MS 7
The Robert Mouawad Campus
5345 Armada Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Contact Student Financial Assistance
800-421-7250 ext. 4175
or ext. 4005
financialaid@gia.edu
For scholarship questions
Call 800-421-7250 ext. 4131
scholarship@gia.edu