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
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Type | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| AAUW International Fellowships | External | Master’s
Ph.D. | $20,000 for master’s students; $25,000 for doctoral students |
| #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship | External | Bachelor’s | At least 50% tuition coverage |
| Rotary Peace Fellowships | External | Master’s
Professional development certificate | Funded fellowship covering tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses |
| Fulbright Scholarships | Government | Master’s
Ph.D.
Research | Funding support varies by country and program |
| Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program | Government | Graduate-level non-degree program | Funded program that includes tuition and fees, a living allowance, travel, and other benefits |
| Chancellor’s Scholarship | University | Bachelor’s | Full tuition for up to 8 semesters + stipend for an immersive experience |
| International Freshman Automatic Merit Scholarships | University | Bachelor’s | $6,000 – $28,000/year; Presidential Elite package available for qualifying applicants |
| Yale Scholarship | University | Bachelor’s | Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; the average scholarship offered was almost $73,000 in 2024-2025 |
| Dean’s Scholarship Program | University | Master’s | Up to 50% tuition assistance |
| International Merit Scholarship | University | Bachelor’s
Graduate degree programs, excluding law | Varies for undergraduate awards; Graduate Non-Resident Merit Scholarship: $4,200/academic year |
| Harvard University Financial Aid | University | Bachelor’s | Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need |
| Automatic Scholarships for Non-Residents | University | Bachelor’s | $5,000 – $17,000/year for international undergraduate students |
| Princeton University Financial Aid | University | Bachelor’s | Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with grant aid |
| Presidential Graduate Fellowship Program (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) | University | Incoming graduate students | Tuition and a living stipend for the first academic year |
| Stanford University Financial Aid | University | Bachelor’s | Need-based aid that meets demonstrated financial need for eligible admitted students |
| Illinois Wesleyan University Merit-Based Scholarships | University | Bachelor’s | Up to $38,000/year |
1. AAUW International Fellowships
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.
Here is what American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowship Scholars Say:
“In the second year of my PhD, I applied for and won the American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowship, with an award amount of $20,000 covering my living expenses for the 2022/2023 academic session.”
Mary Oluwatosin Kaka
“Connect your stories to the institution’s raison d’être. Make it very clear and powerful. Only in that way will the institution pay attention to your story.”
Sung Hyun Lee
“I created an Excel spreadsheet where I organized every possible funding opportunity: eligibility criteria, deadlines, required documents, and links to past recipients or webinars.”
Ángela Sánchez
“The AAUW International Fellowship typically opens in August.”
Jarin Taslem Mourosi
“What I would say made my application stand out was that I made it personal. I tailored every question they asked to myself and my background.”
Loveth Amarachi Odozor
2. #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship
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
- Meet the Fulbright Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Jerónimo Martí Vértiz from Mexico and Sanchet Sharma from India
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.
Here is what Fulbright Scholarship Scholars Say:
“For those unfamiliar, the Fulbright Scholarship is a prestigious, competitive, fully-funded program that provides funding for graduate study and research in the United States.”
Ednilson Mburine
“The final selection is done by Fulbright and usually, they send you where there is maximum funding from the university.”
Eesha
“Understand the purpose of the scholarship and tailor your application to align with it.”
Mahnoor Sheikh
“I was honored to receive the prestigious Fulbright Thai Graduate Scholarship, awarded to only seven recipients annually from a highly competitive pool of approximately 200 applicants.”
Suparit Suwanik
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
- Meet the Humphrey Fellows: Explore scholarship journeys including Aktham A. Arabeyat from Jordan and Lina Mairet Solano Carrillo from Colombia
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.
Here is what Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program Scholars Say:
“The fellowship covers tuition, living expenses, travel, professional development activities, and insurance.”
Aktham A. Arabeyat
“You do not apply directly to a specific institution; instead, you apply to participate in the program.”
Stepan Caramalac
“I tell them not to be afraid to dare, to prepare themselves a lot in their field and not to postpone learning a second language, to trust in their abilities and that if they fail on the first try, they should try again as many times as necessary.”
Lina Mairet Solano Carrillo
Best University Scholarships in the USA
6. Chancellor’s Scholarship (Vanderbilt University)
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, offers the Chancellor’s Scholarship as one of its signature merit scholarships. Recipients receive full tuition for up to eight semesters and a stipend that may support research, study abroad, a creative endeavor, or a required Immersion Vanderbilt experience.
Here is what Chancellor’s Scholarship Scholars Say:
“The scholarship covers full tuition for 8 semesters, plus a one-time summer stipend for an immersive experience.”
Aminta Permpoonwiwat
“In the end, I concentrated on telling my story authentically and communicating to admission officers why I deserved each scholarship.”
Aminta Permpoonwiwat
“The most important advice I have for scholarship applicants is to find the right “fit” for you.”
Aminta Permpoonwiwat
7. International Freshman Automatic Merit Scholarships (University of Alabama)
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.
Here is what Presidential Scholarship (University of Alabama) Scholars Say:
“I received the University of Alabama’s Presidential Scholarship, valued at $28,000.”
Chidubem Nkeme
“For the SAT, Khan Academy was an incredible resource.”
Chidubem Nkeme
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
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. Learn more about the country by checking our USA Study Guide and Available Programs for International Students sections.
