Top Scholarships for International Students in the US 2026
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USA is the biggest study destinations for international students. With home to best universities in the world, students look forward to pursuing their higher studies here. However, pursuing higher studies in USA can be a costly affair for Indian student. In this article, we will inform you how to get a scholarship for USA university.
Planning in advance can help you reduce your costs. You can apply for a number of scholarships offered by US universities and colleges to international students. Some of these scholarships are available for meritorious students while some are granted to students who require financial help for completing their studies. Some US universities give scholarships to students automatically i.e. students get the scholarship if they secure admission.
Harvard University gives scholarships for international students. Many universities offer scholarship programs and international students are eligible to apply to them. However, one needs to fulfil the criteria for securing these scholarships as there is high competition for them. So, candidates need to have a good SAT or ACT score or a strong academic profile to secure these grants. Scholarships in USA are offered to international students based on their academic merit. Those who are academically meritorious but do not have funding, can also get a scholarship to study in USA. There are also fully funded scholarships to study. Need more information? Check out the article.
- Top 10 US Universities Offering Scholarships
- Types of Scholarships Available in USA
- Eligibility to get Scholarship to Study in USA
- Documents required to apply for scholarships to study in the USA
- Popular scholarship programs to study in the USA
Top 10 US Universities Offering Scholarships
Majority of the top ranking US universities are costly but do offer some type of scholarship to international students. Here is a list of top 10 US universities offering financial aid to Indian or international applicants:
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- Princeton University
- Columbia University
- Brown University
- Cornell University
- New York University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Rice University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
Types of Scholarships Available in USA
Majorly, there are three kinds of scholarships available in USA for international students. These are divided into different categories for students and universities to distinguish between academically excellent students and those who come with a financial need. The different types of scholarships in USA are as follows:
- Merit-based scholarships
- Need-based scholarships
- Fully funded scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are awarded to candidates with excellent academic or extracurricular profiles. Whereas, need-based scholarships are given to candidates who are from weaker sections.
| Feature |
Merit-Based Scholarships in USA |
Need-Based Scholarships in USA |
Fully Funded Scholarships in USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus |
Student's achievements and talents. |
Financial situation of the student/family. |
Comprehensive coverage of all educational costs. |
| Key Selection Criteria |
High GPA, test scores (SAT/ACT), leadership, or arts/sports talent. |
"Demonstrated financial need" via income and asset assessment. |
Can be merit-based, need-based, or both (highly holistic). |
| Required Documents |
Transcripts, portfolios, and letters of recommendation. |
FAFSA, CSS Profile, tax returns, or income statements. |
Full application suite: transcripts, essays, and financial proof. |
| Income Restrictions |
None; open to all regardless of financial status. |
Yes, limited to low-to-moderate-income applicants. |
Varies by program (some are for high-achievers, some for high-need). |
| Typical Coverage |
Usually partial tuition can range from $1,000 to full tuition. |
Variable: covers the "gap" between cost and family contribution. |
100% of tuition, room, board, books, and often health insurance/airfare. |
| Common Examples |
National Merit Scholarship, University academic/athletic awards. |
Federal Pell Grants, Yale/Harvard Need-Based Grants. |
Fulbright Program, Knight-Hennessy Scholars. |
Merit-based awards reward performance and are often automatic upon university admission, while Need-based awards support access for those who cannot afford tuition.
Fully funded scholarships in USA are the most competitive, as they aim to remove all financial barriers for the most "deserving" or "needy" students.
Most scholarships require you to maintain a specific GPA or "Satisfactory Academic Progress" (SAP) to keep receiving funds annually.
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Eligibility to get Scholarship to Study in USA
The first and foremost thing is to check the eligibility criteria of the scholarship for which you are going to apply. It can be your academic score, profile, subjects chosen to study, or your study destination. Various scholarships are based on your home country i.e. given to students from a particular region or country. Whereas for some scholarships, candidates need to have proven skills other than academics, it can be in sports or any extracurricular activities. If it is a research-based scholarship then you need to showcase your previous work or assignments. Apart from this, if the grant is provided by the university then do contact the University for any Query regarding the scholarship.
Documents required to apply for scholarships to study in the USA
You need a lot of documents to apply for a scholarship. There can be different types of documents for different kinds of grants. However, there are certain documents that you require for applying for every kind of scholarship. Below we have mentioned the list of some of those documents.
- Academic scores copy (GPA)
- Standardized test scores:
- UG: SAT or ACT
- PG: GRE or GMAT score
- Photo ID/Passport (Aadhar card in certain cases)
- Language proficiency proof (IELTS, or TOEFL exam score)
- Motivation letter/Statement of Purpose
- Recommendation letter
Check the amount of money you get from scholarships
The amount of money offered in a scholarship varies between organizations and institutions. Some universities offer a 100% tuition fee waiver while some institutions offer a partial waiver. Similarly, some organizations allow you to spend money on specific things only. Some of the scholarships cover only the tuition fee and living costs while some also include airfare and other expenses.
Popular scholarship programs to study in the USA
There are numerous top scholarships for international students in the US. Some of the most popular scholarships offered in USA for Indian applicants are as follows:
1. Fulbright- Nehru Fellowships
The Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships are designed for outstanding Indians to pursue a master's degree program at select U.S. colleges and universities.
2. Presidential Scholarship
LTU awards hundreds of competitive scholarships including the Presidential Scholarship to high-achieving freshmen and transfer students each year.
3. Tata Scholarship
Launched by the Tata Education and Development Trust, a $25 million endowment (Tata scholarship) has been established by the philanthropic affiliate of India’s Tata Group that would allow Cornell University to provide financial aid to undergraduate students from India.
4. Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship
The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) is seeking MBA candidates, who are citizens of India and interested in contributing to the country’s human and socio-economic progress, to apply for the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai MBA Fellowship.
5. AAUW International Fellowships
American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships were designed to provide Latin American women opportunities to pursue graduate and postgraduate studies in the US.
We suggest you apply early for a scholarship as it will definitely increase your chances of getting it. There is higher competition in government-funded scholarships than in university scholarships. Applying ahead of the last dates will give you an edge over others.
Learn more about scholarships in the USA:
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California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) in the USA and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in Delhi, India are both reputable options for pursuing an MBA. CSUMB offers a diverse academic environment with a focus on arts, sciences, and humanities, along with strong athletic programs. On the other hand, IIFT in Delhi is known for its specialisation in international business and trade education. The choice between the two institutions would depend on individual preferences, career goals, and desired academic focus. Both universities have their unique strengths, so it's essential to consider factors like location, curriculum, faculty, and career opportunities when making a decision.
The Ohio State University acceptance rate is 60.5%. Looking at the acceptance rate, it can be said that OSU is moderately selective for admission. In other words, to get into OSU, the applicants are required to have a good academic background. International undergraduate students must be secondary school graduates. For graduate admission, the applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree at least.
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3 years ago
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3 years ago
International students who wish to study at Iowa State must have at least GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for UG and PG admission. International transfer applicants must have a minimum equivalent GPA of C+ on a scale of A to F or 2.25 on a 4.0 scale for all transferable courses.