Scholarships for International Students in USA ( 2025 )

Top Scholarships in the US for International Students in 2025

USA universities will continue to be the most costly for students worldwide who wish to study in the most prestigious American colleges. Over a million students study in the United States annually. I know Paying for tuition and living expenses will be challenging, especially for overseas students who do not have access to local funding sources.

As an experienced counselor, one of the most common questions I receive from students during counseling “Can I get scholarships to study in the United States?”

For many deserving students Scholarships and financial help will help relieve the burden of pursuing desired programs without causing excessive stress.

Take it easy, I’ll assist you! I feel you will have a better understanding of the financial resources by the conclusion of the blog as based on my knowledge, I created the whole list of scholarships available to overseas students in 2025.

Table of Contents

Why International Students Need Scholarships?

Due to the high tuition fees and living expenses for US degrees, some exceptionally talented students may not have the best financial standing. By easing financial stress, an excellent scholarship will allow students to concentrate on their studies.

Students pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines can get financial help through STEM scholarships. Furthermore, the universities could also provide research assistantships (RA) and teaching assistantships (TA).

The Top US Government-Funded Scholarships for International Students

1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Fulbright scholarships are among the most famous in the world, and each year over 4,000 international students are awarded them. Students in more than 160 countries can access it. Binational Fulbright Commissions or U.S. Embassies are in charge of controlling the Fulbright Foreign Student Program.
Eligibility Requirments:
  • A bachelor's degree is equivalent to a bachelor's degree in the United States, a strong academic record.
  • IELTS 6.5 and above or TOEFL (IBT) (79–80)
  • Do not be a citizen of the United States
  • Other qualifying conditions vary by citizenship.

2. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

Please note that this fellowship program is intended for mid-career professionals who wish to participate in a non-degree academic program in the United States to enhance their leadership skills; it is not for undergraduate or graduate students. Experienced professionals from around the globe who wish to study for ten months in the United States can do so through this scholarship program. Highlights professions in public service, including public administration, education, public health, and law.
Eligibility Requirments:
  • Hold a bachelor's or an undergraduate degree from your first university.
  • Have at least five years of full-time job experience.
  • Proven proficiency in the English language
  • Strong leadership abilities and a track record of community service

The Top Non-US Government-Funded Scholarships for International Students

1. $25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

The student with the most daring profile based on these attributes will receive the $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship, which requires no essays. International students wishing to pursue any level of education are accepted. The application dates for this scholarship are rolling each month. Students will have a better chance of winning if they apply sooner.

2. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program

Professionals with relevant experience who wish to pursue a master’s degree in development may apply for scholarships under the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme (JJ/WBGSP). The program is open to men and women, and JJ/WBGSP is offered annually.

3. Rotary Peace Fellowships

Since 2002, more than 1,600 fellows have been educated by the Rotary Peace Centers and are currently employed in more than 140 countries. Academically strong candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and at least three years of full-time relevant job experience in peace and development are the best candidates for the Rotary Peace Scholarship.

4. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program

More than 1,000 students have received funding from AKF, and exceptional students can pursue postgraduate studies through the Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme (AKF ISP). Students who get an award from AKF ISP are given a structured half grant and half loan, with 50% of the award value repaid.

5. Open Society Foundations Civil Society Leadership Awards

For international students accepted into master’s degree programs, there is a scholarship called the OSF CSLA. The Open Society Foundations give out grants and fellowships all year long, including full scholarships, to people who demonstrate exceptional academic and professional skills.

6. YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship

Please note that the “YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship” is intended for students who wish to pursue undergraduate degrees in the United States; students who are searching for graduate-level scholarships should disregard this.

At least half of our yearly tuition will be covered by these merit-based scholarships. Scholarships are renewed every year.

The Top Scholarships for Women :

1. AAUW’s International Fellowship Program

Since 1917, AAUW’s International Fellowship has provided grants of up to 20,000 USD to women who choose to pursue full-time graduate studies in the United States.

2. MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship

MPOWER’s dedication to empowering female international/DACA students with high potential who have been accepted or admitted to full-time STEM degree programs Women who will utilize their STEM degrees to advance society are the focus of this worldwide scholarship program.

3. Margaret McNamara US-Canada Program

The US-Canada Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) Program offers up to 15,000 USD to women from developing nations who are 25 years of age or older and enrolled in recognized US or Canadian colleges.

4. The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund (IPS)

The International Peace Scholarship was created in 1949 to provide financial assistance to international women who wish to pursue graduate studies in the US and Canada. A maximum of 12,500 USD can be awarded.

Top 10 University-specific US scholarships for international students

1. Harvard University Scholarships

International students at Harvard University are well-known for getting need-based scholarships of up to USD 75,000 per year, and graduates can be fully supported with teaching assistantships and research assistantships, especially in the fields of public health, commerce, and law.

2. Yale University Scholarships

Yale University is well-known for offering need-based scholarships to international students up to 60,000 USD yearly. Graduate students, like those who want to pursue research-intensive programs, can get fellowships covering full tuition and living expenses, which can exceed 70,000 USD.

3. Stanford University Scholarships

Stanford provides merit-based scholarships for graduate students in the fields of business, education, and engineering, as well as need-based help for undergraduates. This prestigious graduate fellowship gives out more than 80,000 USD annually.

4. Columbia University Scholarships

Columbia University is renowned for its merit-based graduate grants and need-based undergraduate scholarships. Graduate fellowships, particularly in journalism, foreign affairs, and public policy, range from 30,000 USD to 75,000 USD per year, whereas undergraduate scholarships can reach up to 80,000 USD yearly.

5. University of Chicago International Aid

The University of Chicago offers merit-based and need-based scholarships to international students. Graduate students can apply for fellowships and assistantships that offer tuition exemptions worth at least 60,000 USD, while undergraduate students can get aid packages worth up to 70,000 USD each year.

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Scholarships

Master’s students can get fellowship support or an assistantship, which adds up to more than 75,000 USD annually, while MIT International Undergraduate need-based scholarships average 58,000 USD annually.

7. Duke University Scholarships

The Karsh International Scholarship at Duke University for international students, this program provides complete financing options as a scholarship sum of around 80,000 USD per year.

8. New York University (NYU) Scholarships

Many scholarships are available to overseas students at NYU. However, the majority are merit-based, while fewer are need-based. 100% of graduate school expenses are covered by the NYU Wagner International Scholarship.

9. University of Pennsylvania (Penn) Scholarships

Pennsylvania offers significant financial help to undergraduate students with an annual package that might reach up to 75,000 USD and over 70,000 USD is given to graduate students each year in the form of assistantships and fellowships.

10. Vanderbilt University Merit Scholarships

International students can apply for some of the most prestigious merit-based scholarships offered by Vanderbilt University, such as the Ingram and Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, which is worth around $60,000 a year.

What is the Easiest Scholarship to Get for International Students in US?

To be honest, in my experience, “College-Specific Scholarships” are the easiest method to get scholarships.

Without needing additional applications, many colleges provide scholarships automatically based on your academic record, Students featuring a great GPA, outstanding English test scores IELTS / TOFEL, GRE/GMAT scores, and a solid SOP.

Remember that college-specific scholarships need you to start early; the sooner you apply, the more favorable the scholarships will be.

Conclusion

Winning a scholarship to study in the United States as an international student is never simple since it involves much preparation and research. Considering the various scholarship categories —such as government-funded, non-governmental, demographic-specific, and university-specific — allows one to spot relevant options.

The key to success would be a well-written application that highlights the applicant’s special talents, leadership potential, and compatibility with the scholarship’s goals. The benefits of receiving financial aid to attend a renowned American university may be transformative, despite the fact that the path is quite difficult.

The blog is now complete has all the needed elements and is presented understandably and interestingly. Please let me know if there is anything more I should include!

Read out my best blog post on Indian Government Scholarships for Studying Abroad in 2025

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Lokesh Devaraj
I have been working as an international counselor for over seven years, and my area of expertise is guiding students toward achieving their goals of pursuing master's degrees.
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