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Undergraduate Scholarships to study in US:

US Education at Undergraduate level is a costly affair, no doubt. Indeed, the big question is money. And US education does mean big money. However, a little research and understanding of the US system can help a great deal. Many institutions award merit-based assistance; whereas others offer need-based aid – assistance proportionate to applicants' financial need. However, majority of institutions take a middle-of-the-path approach and make a mix of both need and merit while awarding financial assistance. Harvard, Princeton, Brown and Yale are the only four Ivy-League Universities that follow absolutely need-blind admission policy. The admissions office of these Universities even do not know whether an applicant is looking for funds and has applied for it. So the applicant’s paying capacity (or lack of it) has absolutely nothing to do with the admissions outcome. Once admitted, admission offer will come with full assessed financial assistance as needed for all the four years.


USA is perhaps the only country that supports a large number of international applicants interested in studying in America at undergraduate level. The financial assistance policy of American universities and colleges can be broadly categorized into two main categories—Merit Based Scholarships and Need-based Financial Assistance. There are various avenues of financial support as described below:

  • Merit-based Scholarships: Merit-based Scholarships are awarded by the very College or University which offers you admission. Out of more than 3,800 Colleges and Universities offering undergraduate programs around 950 Universities and Colleges do offer merit-based scholarships to an International student and usually there is a keen and fierce competition for relatively fewer numbers of awards. The range of merit-based scholarship is quite wide and can be as little as 500 USD or as high as the full cost of attendance. Check with the Individual Colleges or Universities regarding availability of this type of financial assistance.

  • Need-based financial assistance: Need-based financial assistance is granted according to the demonstrated need as assessed on the basis of data supplied by you and your parents on the College Board’s Foreign Student Financial Aid Application Form (FSFAAF). This application form can be obtained from The College Board Scholarship Service (CSS) of the Educational Testing Services (ETS), NJ, USA. The range of need-based financial assistance can be as high as the full cost of attendance including even return airfare sometime!

An analysis of the financial assistance policy for international students at the top 200 nationally ranked Colleges and Universities of US reveals the fact that

Top National Universities offering Full Scholarships

Name of University State Detail
Brown University RI Detail Brown is need blind in its admission process and meets full demonstrated need of all admitted students both domestic and international.
California Institute of Technology CA Detail Caltech does award scholarships to its international applicants. Merit alone is not the sole deciding factor and need of the family is also taken into consideration.
Colgate University NY Detail Colgate offers need-based financial aid to its international applicants and meets the full demonstrated need of its admitted applicants.
Columbia University NY Detail Many foreign students receive substantial funding to attend Columbia University. However, International applicants planning to attend Columbia College or The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences will be considered for only limited financial assistance
Dartmouth College NH Detail Dartmouth College awards full financial aid to only a very selected pool of admitted International applicants. Award amount is based on demonstrated financial need.
Duke University NC Detail Duke meets the full demonstrated need of a limited number of around 20-25 International applicants each year. However, Duke does not award any need-based financial assistance to its International applicants.
Furman University SC Detail Except for two Full Scholarships reserved for International applicants, there is very limited financial aid available for international students at Furman.
Georgetown University DC Detail Georgetown awards a very limited number of need-based financial assistance to selected first-year financially needy international students.
Harvard University MA Detail Harvard meets 100% of each family's demonstrated need---both domestic and International. There are no merit scholarships at Harvard.
Johns Hopkins University MD Detail Johns Hopkins offers both merit scholarships and need-based financial aid to its admitted international students.
Lehigh University PA Detail The average financial aid award at Lehigh for selected International student is approximately 27,000 USD. The financial aid awards range from $2,000 to $37,000 per annum.
Massachusetts Inst of Technology MA Detail MIT provides all international students with a financial aid package that fully meets the demonstrated need as assessed by MIT.
Northwestern University IL Detail Northwestern University offers only need-based financial aid awards to a small select group of international students which may cover the full need of an International applicant.
Princeton University NJ Detail Princeton meets 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need for all its admitted international students.
St. Lawrence University NY Detail St. John's awards scholarships to undergraduate international students on a competitive basis. Presidential Scholarships are full-tuition scholarships
Stanford University CA Detail Stanford has a very limited amount of financial aid for international students. However, once admitted it meets 100% of all admitted students’ demonstrated financial need.
State University of NY at Buffalo NY Detail SUNY- Buffalo admits only its top caliber applicants for its Distinguished Honors Program as Distinguished Honors Scholars. Distinguished Honors Scholarship covers the full cost of a four year undergraduate education at Buffalo.
University of Chicago IL Detail Only a handful of (around 15) very highly qualified international applicants with demonstrated financial need are awarded need-based financial assistance at Chicago. The award amount varies from $10,000 to $50,000 per year and is awarded according to the assessment of demonstrated need of selected international applicants.

International Freshman applicants are also eligible to apply for merit scholarships - The College Honors Scholarship. The College Honors Scholarship covers full tuition cost to around 30 highly qualified freshmen applicants—both domestic and International. All Scholarships are guaranteed for four years. International students can also apply for the University Scholarship.
University of Cincinnati OH Detail Financial award at the University of Cincinnati ranges from $2,000 up to full tuition, room and board, and a book allowance for the entire four year undergraduate program.
University of Delaware DE Detail The University of Delaware offers substantial merit based academic scholarships to its Freshman applicants. The award amount starts from 1,000 USD and goes all the way up to full scholarships.
University of Pennsylvania PA Detail Very few International students are considered for need-based financial that may cover the entire cost of education at UPenn. University of Pennsylvania does not offer any merit scholarships at Undergraduate level.
Wake Forest University NC Detail International students are eligible to compete for most Wake Forest merit based Scholarships. Reynolds, Carswell, Gordon and Graylyn Scholarships are the most competitive and coveted merit scholarships at Wake forest and cover the annual cost of tuition, room and board plus a little stipend.
Wesleyan University IL Detail Financial assistance for international students is extremely limited at Wesleyan and is awarded on the basis of both exceptional qualifications and demonstrated financial need.

Wesleyan University provides financial assistance to approximately 15 international students from a pool of over 400 such applicants.

Wesleyan also offers 22 Freeman Asian Scholars awards to citizens of the following eleven South Asian countries: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The award covers Full Tuition, Room and Board for two recipients from each of 11 countries.
Yale University CT Detail Yale meets the full demonstrated need of all its admitted students both domestic and International. Brown, Harvard, Princeton and Yale are the only four of eight Ivy league Universities that follow absolutely need blind admission policy for both domestic and International students alike.
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Top National Universities offering Full Tuition Scholarships

Name of University State Detail
American University DC Detail Scholarship awards for International applicants at American University range from $3,000 to full tuition waiver.
Auburn University AL Detail Auburn University offers merit-based Full Tuition Scholarships to a limited number of international applicants of very high academic caliber. Apply by December 1.
Boston University MA Detail Boston University awards merit based Full Tuition Trustee Scholarships to its International students.
Brandeis University MA Detail Brandeis offers Wien International Scholarship that covers partial to full Tuition cost. Alumni and Friends Scholarships offer grant assistance in combination with campus work and Brandies student Loan.
A number of International students are awarded merit scholarships each year to cover a part of their educational costs at Brandies.
Bucknell University PA Detail Scholarships at Bucknell range from $7,000 - $35,000 a year. Bucknell also awards a few full-tuition scholarships. Need is an important factor in determining the scholarships for both domestic and international applicants.
Clark University MA Detail Clark awards a maximum of Full Tuition Scholarships to its International applicants. The awards are based on both academic merit and financial need.
DePauw University IN Detail DePauw can award a maximum of Full Tuition scholarships for its International applicants.
Duke University NC Detail NC Duke meets the full demonstrated need of a limited number of around 20-25 International applicants each year. However, Duke does not award any need-based financial assistance to its International applicants.
Fordham University NY Detail Fordham offers both Presidential Scholarships and Dean’s Scholarships. Presidential Scholarship covers Full Tuition but Dean’s Scholarship covers only Partial Scholarships pegged at a maximum of 19,000 USD per annum.
Hobart and William Smith College MA Detail Hobart and William Smith Colleges offer both merit scholarships and need-based grants to international students with the typical average package covering more than 50% of the total education cost. Full Tuition Scholarships are rare.
Illinois Wesleyan University IL Detail Illinois Wesleyan University offers two Full Tuition President’s International Student Scholarships. International students also get awards ranging from $5,000 to $16,000 per year.
Lawrence University WI Detail Lawrence University scholarships for International students may vary in amounts from a minimum of $5,000 USD up to one full-tuition scholarship.
Louisiana State U–Baton Rouge LA Detail International students may compete for approximately 10 full tuition awards and 20-30 non-resident fee waiver awards available at Louisiana State U–Baton Rouge each year.
Marquette University WI Detail
Miami University - Oxford OH Detail Miami University-Oxford provides a limited number of merit-based International Education Scholarships worth up to 10,000 USD per annum.

The Harrison Scholarship covers Full tuition and fees and is renewable for four years, provided the recipients maintain a 3.5 cumulative grade point average. Many Harrison Scholarship awards also come with room and board waivers for all the four years.
Southern Methodist University TX Detail
Southwestern University TX Detail Southwestern provides both merit-based scholarships and need-based financial assistance to its International applicants. With the exception of the Brown Scholar Award, Southwestern merit scholarships and grants do not exceed tuition. However, need-based financial awards can cover expenses beyond Tuition.
St. John's University NY Detail St. John's awards scholarships to undergraduate international students on a competitive basis. Presidential Scholarships are full-tuition scholarships
St. Louis University MO Detail First-time freshmen and transfer international students who apply by December 1 can compete for merit based presidential Scholarship that covers Full Tuition. International students can also compete for Ignatian, University, Deans’ and Provost Scholarships valued between 5,000 and 14,000 USD per annum.
Tufts University MA Detail Tufts has limited need-based financial aid for International applicants and expects minimum contribution of at least 10,000 USD per annum from its International applicants.
University of Denver CO Detail Top caliber applicants are awarded alumni scholarships which covers full tuition cost for the entire four year course at Denver.
University of Lowa IA Detail Freshman International applicants who want to major in Physics or Chemistry can apply for Shoemaker-Strickler Memorial Scholarship. Shoemaker-Strickler Memorial Scholarship covers full Tuition cost for all the four years.
University of Miami FL Detail
University of Rhode Island RI Detail Outstanding freshman candidates who have secured a minimum SAT score of 1150 (Math and Critical Reading combined) or minimum ACT score of 25 and who also rank in the top third of their class can be considered for a Centennial Scholarship which varies in amount and may go up to full tuition.
University of Southern California CA Detail University of Southern California offers substantial amount of Scholarships to both domestic and International students. Entering Freshman can compete for Full Tuition Trustee Scholarships. 100-120 Trustee Scholarships are awarded very year. USC also awards around 150 Half Tuition Presidential Scholarships.
Washington and Lee University WA Detail International students can apply for both Honor scholarship and need-based financial assistance at Washington and Lee. Washington and Lee urges its International applicants not to expect beyond Full Tuition scholarships. Often less is offered.
Washington University in St Louis MO Detail Washington University in St Louis offers a limited number of Full Tuition and partial Tuition Scholarships to both freshman and Transfer International applicants every year.
West Virginia University WV Detail West Virginia awards two Full Tuition Scholarships to its International applicants. However, this is a one time award and cannot be renewed for the next three academic years.
Worcester Polytechnic Inst MA Detail WPI offers both need-based and merit based financial assistance to its international applicants with awards varying between 5,000 and 25,000 every year. Full Tuition is the maximum award amount at WPI.
Yeshiva University NY Detail Yeshiva University awards financial assistance to its International applicant pool. The award amount starts from $3,000 a year and may go upto full tuition.
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Top National Liberal Arts and Science Colleges offering Full Scholarships

Name of University State Detail
Amherst College MA Detail Amherst awards limited amount of full needed financial aid to around 45 to 50 International students every year.
Barnard College NY Detail Approximately three need-based full scholarships for international students are designated at Barnard for each first year entering class.
Bates College ME Detail Bates awards need-based financial assistance that may cover up to the total cost of education for all the four years for International students.
Bowdoin College ME Detail International students are awarded financial assistance as per the demonstrated financial need that may cover the full educational cost for all the four years.
Bryn Mawr College PA Detail Bryn Mawr awards a few scholarships to outstanding international applicants. Amount of scholarships is based on need and may cover the full demonstrated need.
Claremont McKenna College CA Detail Financial aid awards for international students at Claremont McKenna College are very competitive. It could be as low as $5,000 and as high as $42,000. The average aid award for an international student is $23,000.
Colby College ME Detail Financial aid package at Colby is need-based and may cover the full cost of attendance for am International applicant.
Colorado College CO Detail A Very small number of international students can be awarded Full Scholarships to cover the entire cost of its education at Colorado College.
Connecticut College CT Detail Connecticut College offers financial aid funding entirely on the basis demonstrated need to many eligible international applicants. The amount of award varies and may cover the entire cost of admitted International applicants for all the four years.
Davidson College NC Detail Davidson College awards financial assistance to a very limited number of admitted international applicants. Award amount is based on a combination of both need and merit.
Dickinson College PA Detail Dickinson tries to meet the financial need of its top international applicants. Typically students applying to Dickinson are asked to contribute substantially to their education cost since full scholarships is very rare.
Earlham College IN Detail Earlham awards mainly partial financial aid awards that are set at maximum of 50% of Tuition cost. However, Earlham also awards two Full Financial aid awards each year to its admitted students.
Franklin and Marshall College PA Detail F & M offers both merit based scholarships and need-based financial assistance to its international students.

Depending on the applicant’s financial need, the award amount can cover the full need of the applicant. However, the average financial aid package covers more than 50% of the total cost.
Gettysburg College PA Detail Gettysburg College awards need-based financial assistance to its admitted International students.
Grinnell College IA Detail Grinnell College offers three types of Financial Aid to its International Students:
Grants: Grants are need-based awards and the amount if grant is decided on the basis of the analyses of the need factor of admitted international applicants.

International Merit Scholarships: A few admitted international applicants, who show exceptional scholastic abilities and leadership skills are also awarded Merit Scholarships.

Special Scholarships: International applicants can also apply for a limited number of extremely competitive comprehensive scholarships that can cover the full costs of attending Grinnell However, these are country specific Scholarships reserved for students from the following countries and regions:
  • Africa
  • Eastern and Central Europe (including those regions of the former Soviet Union)
  • Latin America
  • Nepal
  • People's Republic of China
  • the Middle East and Asia

    All the scholarships are awarded are for the first year and are renewable for the next three years.
Hamilton College NY Detail Hamilton College meets the full demonstrated need of all its admitted International students for all four years.
Haverford College PA Detail Haverford College can provide need-based funding for only three international students per class.
Harvey Mudd College CA Detail The Yuen Sang and Yu Yuen Kit So International Scholarship Fund at Harvey Mudd is especially designed to support international students with significant scholarship support.
Kenyon College OH Detail Kenyon offers some financial-aid packages that cover all costs of attendance for International students.
Lafayette College PA Detail Lafayette College offers financial assistance to a limited number of International students. The award offered may cover the complete cost of education at Lafayette.
Macalester College MN Detail All financial aid awards for international students at Macalester College are based on need and may cover the dull cost of education.
Middlebury College PA Detail Financial assistance at Middlebury is awarded on the basis of need alone and is offered to international students as well.
Mount Holyoke College MA Detail Mount Holyoke awards limited amounts of needed financial assistance to international applicants. The awards selection is based on applicant’s academic achievements and financial eligibility as determined by Mount Holyoke guidelines and after deducting family contribution will cover the balance of a Mount Holyoke education cost for all the four years.
Oberlin College OH Detail Oberlin offers substantial financial assistance to international students and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need of all its admitted students.
Occidental College CA Detail Occidental College awards aid to its International applicants in the form of scholarships according to merit and need. The award amount is commensurate with the financial need of International applicants and may cover the full cost of Occidental education.
Pomona College CA Detail Pomona College meets 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need for a limited number of first year international students.
Reed College OR Detail Reed grants substantial Financial assistance to its International students solely on the basis of financial need.
The award amount is based on the assessment of family’s financial circumstances and can support anywhere between 15 and 25 International students each year for which over 100 applicants petition for the award.
Rhodes College TN Detail Rhodes College welcomes its International applicants to apply for the following competitive scholarships:

Bellingrath Scholarships:Bellingrath Scholarships cover Full tuition, fees, room and board. Number of award: 03.

Bonner Scholarships:15 Bonner Scholarships worth $12,100 per year.

Rhodes Fine Arts Awards and 4 CODA Fine Arts Awards: 8 scholarships worth $12,500 per year.

Other Scholarships and Awards: $500 to full tuition and beyond. Number of award: 100.

Jack H. Taylor Scholarship in Physics : Up to $15,000 per year.

All Scholarships except Bellingrath Scholarships are NOT mutually exclusive.
Scripps College CA Detail Scholarships for an International student at Scripps are extremely limited and are very competitive. In general merit-based scholarships usually do not go beyond 50% of the Tuition cost. International students can also be awarded need-based financial assistance.
The average financial aid award at Scripps is good enough to barely cover Tuition expenses only.
Swarthmore College CA Detail There are no merit scholarships at Swarthmore. However, Swarthmore meets 100% demonstrated need of all its admitted international applicants for all the four years.
Trinity College CT Detail Each year, only a small number of international students receive need-based financial assistance at Trinity College. Trinity does not award any merit-based scholarships to its applicants—either domestic or International.
Vassar College NY Detail Vassar admits 10% of its International applicants with need-based financial aid which may cover the entire assessed need to meet the full cost of education. The average financial award amount is 28,000 USD per annum.
Whitman College WA Detail Whitman College awards approximately 15 scholarships from a pool of approximately 180 international applicants. Scholarship award vary and may range anywhere between awards ranged between US$3,500 and US$38,800 per annum.
Williams College MA Detail Williams College meets the full demonstrated financial need of all students both domestic and International. Less than 20% applicants of extremely talented students are offered admission with required financial assistance.
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Top National Liberal Arts and Science Colleges offering Full Tuition Scholarships

Name of University State Detail
Allegheny College PA Detail Allegheny awards for international students range from 7, 500 to Full Tuition waiver.
Bard College NY Detail Bard College grants need-based financial assistance to needy International students which may range from a few thousand dollars to a maximum of Full Tuition waiver. The average award amount is 30,000 USD—The full cost of attending Bard is around 46,000 USD per annum. Bard also awards separate Full Tuition scholarships to a limited number of international applicants interested in applying to economics and the Sciences.
Beloit College WI Detail Each year Beloit also awards up to four World Affairs Center (WAC) Scholarships that can range up to full tuition. The amount of award is based upon the student's need.

International students applying to Beloit can get a handsome amount of scholarships that often cover 50% of the entire educational costs.
Center College TX Detail Centre considers its international applicants for merit scholarship competition. These merit scholarships range from $7,000 to full tuition each year. On average, an International student is expected to contribute $15,000 out of $ 33,000 total annual cost at Centre.
Goucher College IN Detail Goucher offers several merit-based scholarships and need-based grants to its International applicants.

Dean's Scholarship: Approximately 10 Full Tuition scholarships are available at Goucher College. International students are eligible to apply for Deans Scholarships.

Global Citizen Scholarship: Global Citizen Scholarships covers partial Tuition and may range up to a max of Half Tuition.
Hampshire College IN Detail Need-based grants at Hampshire College can range from one-quarter to full Tuition waiver for approximately 10 students. Hampshire also awards Merit-based awards of from $5,000 to $10,000 per year to a limited number of those applicants who cannot qualify for need-based financial assistance.
Mills College CA Detail Mills College merit scholarship is the sole Financial aid award available to international students at Mills. International students can also compete for 10 Full Tuition Trustee Scholarships that cannot be clubbed with any other Mills Scholarships.
Principia College IL Detail Principia awards more than 60 Academic Merit Scholarships that varies between $4,500 a year and full tuition.

International students with financial need are welcome to apply for financial aid based on need.
Scripps College CA Detail Scholarships for an International student at Scripps are extremely limited and are very competitive. In general merit-based scholarships usually do not go beyond 50% of the Tuition cost. International students can also be awarded need-based financial assistance.
The average financial aid award at Scripps is good enough to barely cover Tuition expenses only.
Skidmore College NY Detail Scholarships for an International student at Scripps are extremely limited and are very competitive. In general merit-based scholarships usually do not go beyond 50% of the Tuition cost. International students can also be awarded need-based financial assistance.
The average financial aid award at Scripps is good enough to barely cover Tuition expenses only.
Union College NY Detail Union offers substantial amount of Scholarships to its International applicants but the Scholarship amount never covers the full cost of education. A minimum of 5,000 USD per annum is the minimum contribution expected towards a Union education.
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Top National Universities offering Non-Resident Tuition Surcharge waiver

Name of University State Detail
Michigan State University MI Detail New Mexico State University offers International Student Scholarships to its international applicants. This scholarship allows an International student to pay the in-state tuition rate resulting in substantial savings in Tuition cost for all the four years.
New Mexico State University NM Detail Bard College grants need-based financial assistance to needy International students which may range from a few thousand dollars to a maximum of Full Tuition waiver. The average award amount is 30,000 USD—The full cost of attending Bard is around 46,000 USD per annum. Bard also awards separate Full Tuition scholarships to a limited number of international applicants interested in applying to economics and the Sciences.
University of New Mexico NM Detail Outstanding International Students can apply for The University of New Mexico Amigo Scholarship (Non-Residents) for a waiver of non-resident tuition and a cash award of $500 per annum.
University of Texas–Arlington TX Detail The University of Texas at Arlington offers Non-Resident Tuition surcharge waiver to International applicants allowing them to pay the Resident Tuition rate provided they are awarded a merit based scholarships at least 1,000 USD in open competition.
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Top National Universities offering substantial Scholarships

Name of University State Detail
Rice University TX Detail Rice considers all accepted freshman applicants for merit awards. However, These merit awards are very substantial but usually do not cover the full cost of a Rice education.
Sewanee–University of the South TN Detail International students at Sewanee must be prepared to pay at least 5,000 USD to cover the incidental expenses to attend Sewanee.
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