Scholarships for International Students
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Studying in the U.S. as an international student can be expensive without scholarships, grants, or fellowships to help you pay for school.
While U.S. citizens and qualifying undocumented and DACA students can receive state and federal financial aid, as an international student, you may have to pay the full price of tuition.
The average cost of college tuition at a four-year school was $19,806 per year in 2021-22, but after fees, on-campus room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses, it comes out to $36,436 per year.
The cost may be cheaper or more expensive depending on the school. Private elite colleges tend to be more expensive than public colleges. The average four-year private college tuition was $37,220 in 2021-22, while public college tuition averaged almost $9,600.
But don't worry; there are a few scholarship opportunities for international students to help you pay for college.
Can International Students Get a Full Scholarship?
Yes, you can get a full scholarship as an international student, but it is rare. Studying in the U.S. can be expensive, so finding a scholarship to cover tuition, housing, and other expenses is important.
While some colleges, such as Harvard and Yale, may offer partial or full scholarships, you can research and apply for scholarships like the Rotary Peace Fellowship for doctoral international students. Organizations like Rotary support international students separately from your college. Most require some form of essay, personal statement, project, or interview process to win the competitive scholarships.
Depending on the terms of your scholarship, you may be able to apply for as many scholarships as you want to help with the cost of college. Some scholarships may also be renewable yearly, so you have support throughout your college career.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
5 Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students
Here are just a few scholarships you can look out for as an international student to help you pay for studying abroad in the U.S.
MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship
MPOWER Financing created this STEM scholarship for international and DACA students to address education inequality and empower women in STEM. If you qualify, your university will directly receive your scholarship funds.
- Who is eligible? Students enrolled or accepted in a full-time degree program at an MPOWER-supported U.S. or Canadian institution. You must be legally allowed to study in the U.S. or Canada.
- Amount:
- Grand Prize: $6,000
- Runner-up: $2,000
- Honorable mention: $1,000
- Scholarship Deadline: June 30, 2024
Fulbright Program for Foreign Students Scholarship
The Fulbright Program hosts the Fulbright Program for Foreign Students and Foreign Language Teaching Assistants across over 160 countries. The program awards about 4,000 scholarships to international students each year.
- Who is eligible? The requirements, awards, and deadlines depend on your country of origin. Check your country's Fulbright website for more specific information.
- Amount: Varies
- Scholarship Deadline: Varies
Study a Bachelor's in the USA Scholarship
Educations.com hosts this scholarship for non-U.S., global-minded, high-achieving students to study in the U.S.
- Who is eligible? You have or will apply for a bachelor's degree program starting in fall 2024 on campus or online at a U.S.-based institution. Applications must be in English to be considered.
- Amount: $5,000
- Scholarship Deadline: June 28, 2024
#YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship
Colleges and universities have the opportunity to be a part of the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship and host two yearly renewable scholarships for international undergraduate students.
- Who is eligible? Each institution has different eligibility criteria, check here if your school hosts the scholarship and what requirements you need. You must submit either a short essay question or present a multimedia project about applying their leadership skills on campus.
- Amount: At least 50% of tuition.
- Scholarship Deadline: June 28, 2024
MPOWER Monthly Scholarship Series
The monthly scholarship series awards three $1,000 scholarships to three international students based on a new scholarship topic each month. By the end of the year, the scholarship will award $48,000 to 36 international students. Check each month for a new topic.
- Who is eligible? You must be an international student enrolled in a full-time degree program at an MPOWER-supported U.S. or Canadian institution. You must be legally allowed to study in the U.S. or Canada.
- Amount: $1,000
- Scholarship Deadline: End of each month
5 Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships for International Students
Graduate and postdoctoral students can apply for different scholarships and fellowships to fund research and study. A fellowship is a short-term funded research and study opportunity that can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months — or even years, depending on the fellowship.
The Amelia Earhart Fellowship
The fellowship's mission is to ensure all women have access to resources and equal opportunities in the aerospace industry. The fellowship, created by Zonta International in 1938 in honor of Amelia Earheart, is available to 30 women from any accredited college or university with aerospace engineering or space sciences programs.
- Who is eligible? Women of any nationality pursuing a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering and space sciences.
- Amount: $10,000
- Scholarship Deadline: Varies
The Aga Khan Foundation's International Scholarship Programme
This scholarship program is available for postgraduate students in certain countries who have no other means of financing their studies.
This scholarship is half grant and half loan, meaning you have to pay back half of your award within five years, starting six months after you graduate.
- Who is eligible? Students with a bachelor's degree, who have been admitted to a postdoctoral institution, and who can demonstrate financial need from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Eligible students living in Canada, France, Portugal and the U.S., who are originally from the listed countries can also apply.
- Amount: Varies
- Scholarship Deadline: Opens January 2025
Chasing Dreams Never Ends Scholarship
This scholarship, run by MPower Financing, is for graduate students with Chinese citizenship.
- Who is eligible? International graduate students with Chinese citizenship admitted or enrolled in a full-time degree program at an MPower-supported U.S. or Canadian institution.
- Amount:
- Grand Prize: $5,000
- Runner-up: $1,500
- Honorable mention: $500
- Scholarship Deadline: June 30, 2024
Rotary Peace Fellowship
The Rotary Peace Fellowship master's and certificate programs are for people who are committed to peace and conflict resolution and who can be leaders in their field. The certificate program is for mid-career people who come with an initiative to promote peace in the program's region.
- Who is eligible? Master's program students proficient in English with at least three years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work. Master's program students must apply and be accepted to eligible universities. You must have at least a three-year gap between your last degree and your start date.
- Certificate: You must have a bachelor's degree and be proficient in English with at least five years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work. You must have at least a three-year gap between your last degree and your start date.
- Amount:
- Tuition and fees
- Room and board
- Round-trip transportation
- Applied field experience expenses
- Health insurance
- Scholarship Deadline: Varies
Humane Studies Fellowship
The Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University hosts the Humane Studies Fellowship for students working on projects, presenting at conferences, and publishing work in major journals.
- Who is eligible? Full-time Ph.D. or doctoral fellowship students at any university (with priority to applicants at top research institutions). Previous applicants and winners are encouraged to apply.
- Amount: $5,000
- Scholarship Deadline: Rolling deadline — applicants will be notified within eight weeks.
Additional Ways to Save Money on Studying in the U.S.
Besides tuition and fees, living expenses in the U.S. can stack up, so here are some tips for cutting costs while living abroad.
- Live with a host family: Living with a host family could save you costs on room and board at a university or high apartment rent. Some downsides are that your experience can depend on your host and their house rules, and you may have a harder time connecting to the student community.
- Stay in the U.S. during breaks: If you're trying to save money on flights to and from your home country during winter breaks, you can typically stay in your campus housing during winter break, though it may vary by school. Some colleges close over winter break, so amenities like a dining hall and some buildings may be closed.
- Take public transportation: Many colleges and universities have a free bus system that takes students around and off campus. Check your campus resources to see what the bus schedule and transit options are like.
- Work part-time: If you're trying to earn some extra cash and have an F-1 visa, you can work part-time while enrolled in school. However, you may be restricted to on-campus jobs. Be careful while juggling a full class load and a job; if you decide to work on campus, your supervisor may be more understanding of working fewer hours to focus on school.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for International Students
Are there full scholarships for international students?
Yes, the Rotary Peace Fellowship is one fellowship/scholarship for international students that covers all educational costs. Many individual colleges and universities host their own international scholarships, and different organizations may host many more.
Which college has the most international students in the U.S.?
As of 2023, New York University (NYU) hosted the most international students. In the 2022-23 year, NYU had over 24,000 international students from over 140 countries. The university helps students with immigration processes, helps students make meaningful connections, and hosts events and programs year-round for international students.
How long can an international student stay in the U.S.?
If you have an F-1 visa, you must leave the country 60 days after completing your program or 30 days if you have an M-1 student visa. If you want to extend your stay, you can apply for CPT or OPT practical training. You can also start another education program or apply for a different non-student visa.
Why is studying abroad in the U.S. so expensive?
Studying abroad in the U.S. is expensive since non-U.S. citizens do not qualify for state and federal financial aid. The total cost of tuition is often greater than what U.S. citizen students pay. But scholarships, grants, and fellowships can help offset the cost.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed May 7, 2024.
