Scholarships for International Students

Funding your US education does not have to mean paying full tuition. Many international students receive significant financial support through scholarships, fellowships, and institutional grants.

University Merit Scholarships

Many US universities offer merit-based scholarships to exceptional international students based on academic achievement — your grades, test scores, class rank, and sometimes extracurricular accomplishments. Merit scholarships can range from a few thousand dollars to full-tuition coverage.

Scholarship eligibility and amounts are listed on each university's financial aid or international student web pages. Some scholarships are automatically awarded; others require a separate application. Scholarship deadlines may be earlier than general application deadlines — check carefully.

University Need-Based Aid

Some US universities — particularly elite private institutions with large endowments — offer need-based financial aid to international students. Be aware that most US public universities offer little or no need-based aid to international students. Private universities are a better source of this type of funding.

Your Home Government Scholarships

Many national governments offer scholarships for their citizens to study abroad. Check with your country's ministry of education or a US embassy or consulate in your country for information on government-sponsored scholarship programs.

The Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious international scholarship programs. It offers grants for graduate study in the US to students from more than 155 countries. Awards are highly competitive and cover tuition, living expenses, and travel.

External and Private Scholarships

Many private foundations, corporations, and professional organizations offer scholarships to international students. Research databases like the College Board Scholarship Search can help you identify relevant opportunities.

Graduate Funding: Assistantships

For graduate students, the most common form of financial support is an assistantship — a position as a teaching assistant (TA) or research assistant (RA) that pays a stipend and often includes tuition remission. Assistantships are offered by individual departments. Contact faculty members whose research interests align with yours before applying to express your interest.