According to a recent CNN article, there are more than 1 million (!!) international students in the United States, with the greatest number of students coming from countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Students may come to the US for college and/or graduate school for a wide variety of reasons, but perhaps the biggest reason is that the US is home to some of the greatest and most highly valued universities across the globe.
Earning a degree from a US college or university prepares international students to either work towards employment in the US or to head back to their home country with a degree under their belt that has a strong international reputation.
However, one of the biggest downfalls to earning a degree in the US is that it can be very expensive, and that’s without the additional costs that international students must cover for things like obtaining a student visa and health insurance, and plane tickets to travel home throughout the year (just to name a few).
Luckily, scholarships are a great way for international students to help cover some of the costs associated with attending a higher education institution in the US. So, without further ado, here are some great scholarships that are targeted specifically towards international students!
Amount: up to $13,000
Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: GSBA awards educational scholarships to LGBTQ and allied students who are committed to making a difference in the world.
Amount: $10,000 per student
Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: The ITE Scholarship provides as many as seven young women from countries other than the United States the opportunity to study in American colleges and/or universities.
She must be a non-U.S. citizen residing outside the United States and maintain that residency status from the time of application to the awarding of the scholarship.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: The SWE Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to those who identify as a female/woman and are studying community college, baccalaureate, or graduate programs in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science.
Must be enrolled in an ABET-accredited program. Accredited programs are based on ABET accreditation for colleges and universities in the U.S and internationally.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: Women of an international background, including foreign students, immigrants, or first-generation Americans, who are first-year entrants to a U.S. college or university program are eligible to apply for the Red Thread Scholarship Program.
Amount: up to $16,000, paid over 4 years
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: The Achievement Scholarship for Refugees and Immigrants in Wake County will provide financial awards for refugee and immigrant high school graduates who reside in Wake County to continue their education in a post-secondary setting. Minimum 2.5 GPA to apply.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: The Claes Nobel Future Female Leader award is open to high school seniors who identify as female with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 31
Eligibility:
Amount: $500
Deadline: March 31, August 1, November 30
Eligibility: Open to students who are currently enrolled in high school or college.
Amount: up to $15,000
Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund aids people active in movements for social and economic justice. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement.
Amount: $1,500
Deadline(s): April 1 and November 1
Eligibility: This merit-based scholarship is awarded twice per year to support and encourage women to study all aspects of International Trade including commercial relations, trade policy and negotiations, economic development, women’s economic empowerment, and more.
Applicants must identify as female and be currently enrolled at an accredited U.S. university or college, either full-time or part-time. Applicants must be undergraduate Juniors or Seniors or enrolled in graduate studies.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline(s): April 1, July 1, October 1, January 1
Eligibility: 1 of their scholarships is reserved for STEM students. Students must be currently enrolled in a U.S.-based high school or college. Students graduating from high school must plan to attend a two or four-year college during the fall semester in the same year as the application. Students who apply must have a minimum GPA of 3.6.
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Intertech STEM scholarships are open to college-bound high school senior students.
To be eligible, the student must possess:-Cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 or higher-An intent to study computer science.
Amount: between $500 and $10,000
Deadline: April 30
Eligibility:
-Applicants must be pursuing a science, technology, engineering, or math degree
-Applicants must have an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
-Applicants must be of Hispanic descent and/or must demonstrate significant leadership or service within the underserved community
-Recipients must be enrolled in a STEM undergraduate or graduate program for the upcoming fall semester, at an accredited 2-yr or 4-yr college/university in the U.S. or its territories.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 30 and August 31
Eligibility:
-Open to high school seniors and undergraduate students
-Students must be working towards an associate or bachelor's degree
Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Candidates must:
-Be proficient in English
-Have a bachelor's degree
-Have a strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace as shown through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
-Potential for leadership
-Have at least three years of full-time experience in peace or development work
Amount: up to $10,000
Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Awarded to international and DACA students enrolled at Universities MPOWER supports.
Amount: up to $6,000
Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Awarded to female international and DACA students enrolled or accepted to study full-time in a STEM degree program at a program MPOWER supports in the US or Canada.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: August 31
Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled in either a high school, undergraduate school, or graduate school located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.
Amount: up to $16,000
Deadline: November 15
Eligibility: Open to women with financial need residing in one of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries/territories (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guam, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan, United States of America, Venezuela).
Must be enrolled in or has been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.
Amount: $18,000 - $30,000
Deadline: November 15
Eligibility: International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited U.S. institutions are supported.
Applicants must have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree by the application deadline, and must have applied to their proposed institutions of study by the time of the application.
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Scholarship recipients are recent graduates of North Carolina high schools who are of Hispanic/Latino background. Recipients of the NC Hispanic College Fund scholarship must enroll in a degree program at a community college or a 2 or 4-year college/university and be committed to public service and community development. Preference will be given to foreign-born applicants or the native-born children of foreign-born parents.
Amount: Financial support includes, but is not limited to, tuition fees, accommodation, books, and other scholastic materials.
Deadline: The application process and decision-making are managed individually by each partner. If you are interested in becoming a Scholar, you must apply through the university of your choice.
Eligibility: The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is developing Africa’s next generation of leaders. For an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree, candidates must be 29 years old or under at the time they apply. For a graduate (master’s) degree, candidates must be 35 years old or under at the time they apply. In addition, each university has its own eligibility criteria.
Amount: up to $50,0000
Deadline: November 15
Eligibility: Awards International Fellowships for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not United States citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited institutions are supported.
If you're looking for more scholarships for international students studying in the US, head over to our scholarship search!