17 Best Scholarships in the USA for International Students (with Real-Life Examples)

Students seeking to study in the United States can explore numerous scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are non-repayable financial aid awards that may be offered based on merit, financial need, leadership, academic field, or other eligibility criteria. These awards are available from government programs, external organizations, foundations, and universities.

Scholarship values, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application procedures vary by program. Here is a curated list of scholarships in the United States for international students, including external, government, and university opportunities.

Best External Scholarships in the USA

1. AAUW International Fellowships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: $20,000 for master’s students; $25,000 for doctoral students
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D.

One of the scholarship opportunities available to international students in the United States is the AAUW International Fellowships program. The current program supports women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who are admitted to or enrolled in their first master’s degree or academic or professional doctoral degree in a STEM discipline. The current stipend is $20,000 for a master’s degree and $25,000 for a doctoral degree. Applicants should review the eligibility criteria carefully because academic, degree, GPA, and study-location requirements apply.

A recipient’s path: Clara Mundia, a Kenyan doctoral scholar at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, approached the AAUW International Fellowship by documenting her proposed research, education, finances and fit with the criteria, then asking a mentor to review which parts of her story to emphasize. She believed her research alignment and a genuine statement about empowering African women helped distinguish her application; she was one of 50 recipients worldwide. Mundia went on to earn her doctorate in Environmental Resources and Policy and describes herself as a senior geospatial research professional working on sustainable development in Africa and beyond.

Recent recipient outcomes include: Prathiba Annam, who completed her MPH in Epidemiology and now works as a Clinical Research Coordinator in Georgia; Kari Fuentes, who graduated with an MFA in Transdisciplinary Design in 2024; Loveth Amarachi Odozor, who completed her MSc in Cybersecurity with distinction; and Sung Hyun Lee, who earned his PhD and is now an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Psychology. View More American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowship recipients →

2. #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: At least 50% tuition coverage
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

The #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship is part of a U.S. campaign designed to help international students feel welcome at participating American institutions. Participating colleges and universities each offer two annual, renewable scholarships covering at least 50% of tuition for selected first-year international applicants. Eligibility criteria, application requirements, and deadlines vary by institution, so applicants should review their chosen institution’s process carefully.

3. Rotary Peace Fellowships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Funded fellowship covering tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, professional development certificate

Rotary Peace Fellowships are funded opportunities for leaders in peace and development. Rotary awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degree programs and up to 120 fellowships for professional development certificate studies each year. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.

For the master’s fellowship route, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, English proficiency, leadership potential, a commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace, and at least three years of full-time relevant work experience in peace or development. The professional development certificate route has separate requirements, so applicants should review the program that matches their experience.

Best Government Scholarships in the USA

4. Fulbright Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Funding support varies by country and program
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D., research

The Fulbright Scholarships are among the best-known U.S. government-supported opportunities for international students. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program awards approximately 4,000 grants annually to foreign students for master’s or doctoral study and research on U.S. campuses. Benefits include J-1 visa sponsorship, funding support, a health benefit plan, and enrichment activities. Additional benefits, eligibility rules, and application procedures vary by country of citizenship and program.

Applicants should follow the instructions provided by the relevant binational Fulbright Commission or Foundation or by the U.S. Embassy in their home country.

Gustavo Arturo Estribi Lipero’s path to the Fulbright Scholarship: Gustavo Arturo Estribi Lipero built his application around a clear link between his cybersecurity experience and problems he wanted to address in Panama, supported by an impact-focused essay and recommendations from supervisors and academic mentors who knew his work firsthand. The selection process included an English-language interview, TOEFL and GRE testing, and, after selection, an adviser who helped shortlist four U.S. universities; he ultimately completed an M.S. in Cybersecurity and Privacy at the University of Central Florida through the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. After graduating in 2025, he returned to Panama, worked as a security consultant, and returned to the country’s Electoral Tribunal as co-chair of a committee preparing for the 2029 general elections.

Recent recipient outcomes include: Ibrahima Kaba, who completed his MPH in Biostatistics and returned to Guinea; Ignacio Villagrán, who returned to Chile and became principal of a PK–12 school; Juanjo Palos, who returned to Spain and now works as a workplace wellbeing coach while continuing university teaching and research; and Juanfra, who continued into a PhD researching plant-animal interactions. View More Fulbright Scholarship recipients →

5. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Funded program that includes tuition and fees, a living allowance, travel, and other benefits
• Eligible Degree/s: Graduate-level non-degree program

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program is a funded graduate-level non-degree program for mid-career professionals. It includes payment of tuition and fees at the assigned host university, a living allowance that includes a one-time settling-in allowance, accident and sickness coverage, a book allowance, a one-time computer subsidy, air travel, and a professional development allowance.

Application deadlines vary by country. Applicants obtain application information through the U.S. Embassy or Binational Fulbright Commission in their home country. Candidates should have at least five years of full-time professional experience.

A recipient’s path: Lina Mairet Solano Carrillo, a Colombian dietitian nutritionist, built her Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship application around her public-health work with Indigenous Wayuu communities and submitted four essays covering leadership, public service, community impact, and overcoming professional challenges. After meeting the English requirement, she progressed through technical evaluation and multiple interviews and exams in Spanish and English, reaching Colombia’s eight-candidate shortlist before becoming one of two Colombians selected; she said that speaking Wayuunaiki during one interview surprised the evaluators. She joined the non-degree Public Health Policy and Management program at Emory University as part of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship 2024–25 cohort. View More Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program recipients →

Best University Scholarships in the USA

6. International Freshman Automatic Merit Scholarships (University of Alabama)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: $6,000 – $28,000/year; Presidential Elite package available for qualifying applicants
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

The University of Alabama offers automatic merit-based scholarships for international freshmen. For students entering in 2026, automatic award amounts range from $6,000 to $28,000 per year based on GPA and qualifying ACT or SAT scores. A separate Presidential Elite package is available to qualifying applicants with at least a 4.0 GPA and a 36 ACT or 1600 SAT score. That package includes tuition for up to four years or eight semesters, first-year on-campus housing at the regular room rate, a $1,500 annual supplemental scholarship for four years, and a one-time $2,000 allowance for research or international study. Qualifying applicants are considered through the admission application, but test-score, document, and deadline requirements apply.

Chidubem Nkeme’s path to the Presidential Scholarship: Chidubem Nkeme, a Nigerian secondary-school graduate, received the University of Alabama’s Presidential Scholarship without a separate scholarship application while applying to U.S. universities during a gap year. He prepared a résumé and Common App essay, researched additional funding at each university, and later said he had underestimated how important essays were in U.S. applications; his academic profile included a 4.95/5.0 GPA and a 1550 SAT. Although he secured the Alabama award, he ultimately chose the University of West Georgia for its affordability and four-year nursing program, rather than enrolling at the University of Alabama. View More Presidential Scholarship (University of Alabama) recipients →

7. Yale Scholarship (Yale University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; the average scholarship offered was almost $73,000 in 2024-2025
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

Yale University offers need-based financial aid to undergraduate students regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Yale meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without requiring loans. There is no single fixed annual Yale Scholarship amount for every student because each family’s circumstances are assessed individually. Yale reports that the average scholarship offered during the 2024-2025 academic year was almost $73,000.

8. Dean’s Scholarship Program (University of New Haven)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Up to 50% tuition assistance
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

The University of New Haven Dean’s Scholarship Program is a merit-based award for eligible incoming full-time master’s students at the University of New Haven. It provides up to 50% tuition assistance during enrollment.

Applicants should submit a completed admission application by the relevant deadline to be considered. Scholarship funding is limited, so the university encourages students to apply early.

9. International Merit Scholarship (University of Memphis)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Varies for undergraduate awards; Graduate Non-Resident Merit Scholarship: $4,200/academic year
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s; graduate degree programs, excluding law

The University of Memphis offers separate competitive merit-scholarship pathways for newly admitted, degree-seeking international students who hold J-1 or F-1 visas and take on-campus classes. Undergraduate applicants may be evaluated through a GPA-and-test-score pathway or a GPA-only pathway. Award values vary.

Newly admitted graduate students may be considered for the Graduate Non-Resident Merit Scholarship, which provides $2,100 per semester for the fall and spring semesters, or $4,200 per academic year. Applicants must be admitted to a graduate program other than law and meet either the 3.25 equivalent GPA requirement or the specified GRE requirement of 310 overall, including at least 150 in Verbal Reasoning, 150 in Quantitative Reasoning, and 2.5 in Analytical Writing, or the equivalent GMAT requirement. Additional eligibility, enrollment, and renewal conditions apply.

10. Financial Aid (Harvard University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

Harvard University‘s undergraduate financial aid is need-based. International students are eligible for the same financial aid as American students, and Harvard meets 100% of each eligible student’s demonstrated financial need.

Financial aid packages are individualized based on each family’s income, assets, expenses, and other circumstances. The application process is essentially the same for domestic and international applicants.

11. Automatic Scholarships for Non-Residents (Boise State University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: $5,000 – $17,000/year for international undergraduate students
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

Boise State University automatically considers eligible international undergraduate applicants for merit-based scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $17,000 per year. The available combinations include the nonresident Ridgeline or Summit Scholarship and the Global Scholarship. The Global Scholarship is subject to funding availability.

Under the current awarding table, applicants need an unweighted cumulative GPA of at least 3.100 and must submit the required documents by the applicable deadline. The award amount varies by GPA.

12. Financial Aid (Princeton University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with grant aid
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

Princeton University offers need-based undergraduate financial aid regardless of citizenship status. If admitted, eligible students receive grant aid that meets 100% of their demonstrated financial need. The amount is determined individually. Princeton does not offer academic or athletic merit scholarships.

13. Presidential Graduate Fellowship Program (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

• Scholarship Link
• Scholarship Value: Tuition and a living stipend for the first academic year
• Eligible Degree/s: Incoming graduate students

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers the Presidential Graduate Fellowship to selected incoming graduate students. Presidential Fellowships fund tuition and a living stipend for the first academic year.

Students cannot apply directly for this fellowship. Recipients are selected from nominations submitted by school deans and department or program heads.

14. Financial Aid (Stanford University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Need-based aid that meets demonstrated financial need for eligible admitted students
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

Stanford University provides need-based financial aid to eligible admitted undergraduate students and meets the demonstrated financial need of students who request aid during the application process. Stanford does not award merit scholarships except for a limited number of athletic scholarships.

For international citizens, requesting financial aid is a factor in the admission evaluation, making the admission process more selective. International citizens who do not request financial aid when applying generally cannot apply for aid during their undergraduate years unless their citizenship status changes.

15. Merit-Based Scholarships (Illinois Wesleyan University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Amount: Up to $38,000/year
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

Illinois Wesleyan University offers merit-based scholarships to qualified international undergraduate applicants. Awards may be worth up to $38,000 per year and are renewable for up to four years.

Applicants do not need to submit a separate merit-scholarship application because they are automatically considered when they apply for admission. International students may also submit the CSS Profile for consideration for additional financial support.

16. Graduate Assistantships

• Scholarship Page: Depending on the respective U.S. university
• Scholarship Value: Varies by university and assistantship; may include tuition waivers or tuition remission, a stipend, and health insurance benefits
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s and Ph.D.

Graduate assistantships provide funding to graduate students in exchange for teaching, research, or other academic responsibilities. These opportunities are available at many U.S. universities, including Florida State University, University of Central Florida, and the University of Connecticut. Eligibility, duties, and funding vary by institution, department, and appointment.

Funding can be substantial. UCF states that qualifying full-time assistantships include a stipend, resident tuition remission, the differential out-of-state fee for nonresidents, and health insurance, while UConn provides eligible graduate assistants with a tuition waiver and subsidized health insurance. At FSU, benefits vary by department; assistantships may include a stipend and tuition waiver. Students should therefore check the graduate school and department pages of their respective universities for available positions, funding, eligibility requirements, and application procedures.

One scholar’s journey: Olamide Akinsola approached graduate funding by first targeting programs aligned with his chemistry background and deliberately prioritizing universities where standardized tests were optional or waived. At the University of Nevada, Reno, the assistantship came automatically with admission, and he credits a statement of purpose that clearly connected his coursework, research exposure, and practical experience to his intended graduate study; in hindsight, he would also have contacted professors earlier to discuss research fit. After completing his master’s in Chemistry there in May 2025, he continued at Nevada as a Chemistry PhD candidate with Graduate Assistantship funding.

Recent recipient outcomes also show different routes through assistantship-funded study: Charles Ojodale Igomu completed his funded master’s at UTEP and continued into doctoral research in Geoscience at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Namal Abeysooriya moved from an Erasmus Mundus master’s into a Graduate Assistantship-funded PhD in Environmental Science at Tennessee Technological University.

17. NYU Promise (New York University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: 100% of demonstrated financial need; tuition is covered for qualifying students with family income under $100,000 and typical assets
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s

The NYU Promise is a financial aid commitment from New York University for first-time, first-year undergraduate students admitted to its New York campus. It applies to domestic and international students, and NYU states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for students admitted as first-years.

Under the NYU Promise, students whose families earn less than $100,000 annually and hold typical assets will not have to pay tuition, provided they apply for financial aid by the required deadline. NYU also adjusts scholarships to account for tuition increases each year. Transfer students are not eligible for the NYU Promise, so applicants should review NYU’s financial aid requirements and submit the required financial aid materials on time.

The U.S. offers many scholarship opportunities to international students. This list is only a selection of the available options. Scholarship values and eligibility rules can change, so applicants should review the current terms before applying. You can explore additional scholarship opportunities offered by U.S. institutions.

Hopefully, this article will encourage you to apply for a scholarship in the U.S. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!