USA universities offering scholarships for international students are opening doors to some of the world’s finest education opportunities. For international applicants, these scholarships not only reduce the financial burden of studying abroad but also provide access to top-tier research facilities, global networks, and career-building resources. In this guide, we’ve compiled 20 leading U.S. universities that offer scholarship programs for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD-level international students.
Top 20 USA Universities Offering Scholarships for Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD International Students
1. Harvard University
- Website: https://www.harvard.edu
- Scholarship: Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI)
- About: One of the world’s most prestigious institutions, Harvard offers a rigorous academic environment and vast research opportunities.
- Scholarship Description: Harvard offers need-based financial aid for international undergraduate students. Graduate and PhD students may receive full funding through departmental fellowships.
- Eligibility: Admission to Harvard; demonstrated financial need
- Deadline: Varies by program, generally early January for undergraduate applicants
- Other Info: 100% of demonstrated financial need is met for all admitted students, regardless of nationality.
2. Stanford University
- Website: https://www.stanford.edu
- Scholarship: Knight-Hennessy Scholars (graduate), Stanford Need-Based Aid (undergraduate)
- About: Located in Silicon Valley, Stanford is known for innovation and excellence in STEM, business, and humanities.
- Scholarship Description: Knight-Hennessy Scholars covers full funding for graduate students. Undergraduates may apply for need-based aid.
- Eligibility:
- Knight-Hennessy: Must apply separately; open to all disciplines
- Undergraduate: Must demonstrate financial need
- Deadline:
- Knight-Hennessy: Mid-October
- Undergraduate: January 5
- Other Info: Knight-Hennessy includes leadership development and community engagement programs.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Website: https://www.mit.edu
- Scholarship: MIT Scholarships (undergrad), Departmental Fellowships (graduate)
- About: MIT is a global leader in science, engineering, and technology education and research.
- Scholarship Description: All undergraduate financial aid is need-based. Many PhD programs are fully funded.
- Eligibility: Admitted students with demonstrated need; no separate scholarship application required for undergraduates
- Deadline: January 1 (undergraduate); varies by program for graduate
- Other Info: Most PhD students are offered a research or teaching assistantship.
4. Yale University
- Website: https://www.yale.edu
- Scholarship: Yale International Student Financial Aid, Yale Graduate Fellowships
- About: An Ivy League institution renowned for its academic strength in humanities, law, and the sciences.
- Scholarship Description: Need-based financial aid for undergraduates; graduate students can receive fellowships or assistantships.
- Eligibility: Must apply for aid at the time of admission; need-based only
- Deadline:
- Undergraduate: January 2
- Graduate: Varies by department
- Other Info: Yale meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted undergraduates.
5. University of Chicago
- Website: https://www.uchicago.edu
- Scholarship: University of Chicago Merit Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships
- About: UChicago is known for intellectual rigor, economics, and social sciences.
- Scholarship Description: Offers both need-based and merit-based scholarships for undergraduates. Most PhD students receive full funding.
- Eligibility: Competitive academic profile; additional essays may be required for merit scholarships
- Deadline: January 2 (undergraduate); varies (graduate)
- Other Info: All PhD programs are fully funded for up to 5 years.
6. Columbia University
- Website: https://www.columbia.edu
- Scholarship: International Financial Aid Program (Undergraduate), Columbia Graduate Fellowships
- About: An Ivy League university located in New York City, Columbia is a global hub for research and professional development.
- Scholarship Description: Columbia offers need-based financial aid to international undergraduates and generous fellowship packages to graduate students.
- Eligibility: Undergraduate applicants must apply for aid at the time of admission; graduate aid is awarded by individual departments
- Deadline: January 1 (undergraduate); varies by program (graduate)
- Other Info: Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students.
7. Princeton University
- Website: https://www.princeton.edu
- Scholarship: Princeton Financial Aid for International Students
- About: Known for its undergraduate focus, Princeton is a leading research university in New Jersey.
- Scholarship Description: All financial aid is need-based; Princeton does not offer merit scholarships but guarantees to meet full need.
- Eligibility: All admitted international students are eligible for financial aid
- Deadline: January 1
- Other Info: No student is required to take loans as part of a financial aid package.
8. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- Website: https://www.caltech.edu
- Scholarship: Caltech Financial Aid (Undergraduate), Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships
- About: Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute with a strong research orientation.
- Scholarship Description: Need-based undergraduate aid; graduate students often receive full funding through assistantships.
- Eligibility: Must demonstrate financial need (undergraduate); apply through program for graduate funding
- Deadline: Early January (undergraduate); varies (graduate)
- Other Info: Caltech is highly selective and offers substantial funding to admitted students.
9. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
- Website: https://www.upenn.edu
- Scholarship: Penn Undergraduate Financial Aid, Graduate Fellowships
- About: An Ivy League university in Philadelphia, UPenn is a leader in business, law, medicine, and liberal arts.
- Scholarship Description: Meets full need for international undergraduates; graduate aid varies by department
- Eligibility: Apply for financial aid with admission; aid is primarily need-based
- Deadline: January 5 (undergraduate); varies (graduate)
- Other Info: Wharton (business school) offers additional funding opportunities for MBA candidates.
10. University of California, Berkeley
- Website: https://www.berkeley.edu
- Scholarship: Berkeley International Office Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships
- About: A top public university, UC Berkeley excels in engineering, science, law, and the humanities.
- Scholarship Description: Limited undergraduate scholarships for international students; more funding at graduate level.
- Eligibility: Strong academic merit; graduate students often receive fellowships or research positions
- Deadline: November 30 (undergraduate); varies (graduate)
- Other Info: Some departments offer tuition waivers or GSI (Graduate Student Instructor) roles.
11. Dartmouth College
- Website: https://home.dartmouth.edu
- Scholarship: Dartmouth International Student Financial Aid
- About: An Ivy League institution with a strong liberal arts tradition and personalized teaching environment.
- Scholarship Description: Offers need-based financial aid to all international undergraduate students.
- Eligibility: Must apply for financial aid at the time of application
- Deadline: January 3
- Other Info: Dartmouth meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans.
12. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- Website: https://umich.edu
- Scholarship: International Student Scholarship (limited for undergraduates), Rackham Graduate School Funding
- About: A top-ranked public university known for its research output and diverse programs.
- Scholarship Description: Competitive funding available for graduate students; limited merit aid for undergraduates
- Eligibility: Departmental nominations required for graduate funding
- Deadline: February 1 (undergraduate); varies by program (graduate)
- Other Info: PhD students often receive full tuition plus a stipend.
13. University of Southern California (USC)
- Website: https://www.usc.edu
- Scholarship: USC Merit Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships
- About: A private research university in Los Angeles, USC is known for film, business, and engineering.
- Scholarship Description: Offers full and partial merit scholarships to outstanding undergraduate applicants; graduate students receive fellowships or assistantships.
- Eligibility: Exceptional academic performance; separate scholarship application required for some awards
- Deadline: December 1 (for merit scholarships)
- Other Info: Offers the Trustee Scholarship (full tuition) for top undergraduates.
14. New York University (NYU)
- Website: https://www.nyu.edu
- Scholarship: NYU International Student Scholarships, Graduate Assistantships
- About: NYU is a large, global university with campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai.
- Scholarship Description: Some merit-based scholarships available to undergraduates; graduate funding available by program
- Eligibility: Academic excellence; program-specific requirements for graduate students
- Deadline: January 5 (undergraduate); varies (graduate)
- Other Info: NYU Abu Dhabi offers full scholarships to admitted students from any country.
15. Duke University
- Website: https://www.duke.edu
- Scholarship: Karsh International Scholarship (undergraduate), Graduate Fellowships
- About: A top private university in North Carolina, Duke is strong in medicine, policy, and environmental sciences.
- Scholarship Description: Karsh Scholarship offers full tuition, room and board, and more; most PhD students are fully funded
- Eligibility: Must be an international student applying to Duke; separate application for Karsh
- Deadline: January 2
- Other Info: Highly competitive; Karsh includes enrichment funds and leadership programs.
16. Cornell University
- Website: https://www.cornell.edu
- Scholarship: International Financial Aid for Undergraduates, Cornell Graduate School Fellowships
- About: Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell offers both public and private college experiences within the Ivy League.
- Scholarship Description: Need-based aid for undergraduates; assistantships and fellowships for graduates
- Eligibility: Submit aid application with admission materials
- Deadline: January 2
- Other Info: Graduate aid often includes stipends, tuition, and health insurance.
17. University of Notre Dame
- Website: https://www.nd.edu
- Scholarship: Merit-Based International Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships
- About: A private Catholic research university with strong undergraduate focus and values-based education.
- Scholarship Description: Offers partial to full merit scholarships to international undergraduates; graduate funding available across disciplines
- Eligibility: High academic achievement; strong extracurricular profile
- Deadline: January 1 (undergraduate)
- Other Info: Offers the full-tuition International Scholars Program for top candidates.
18. Northwestern University
- Website: https://www.northwestern.edu
- Scholarship: Northwestern International Financial Aid, Graduate Fellowships
- About: Located near Chicago, Northwestern is well known for journalism, engineering, and business.
- Scholarship Description: Offers need-based aid for international undergraduates; assistantships and fellowships for graduate students
- Eligibility: Must submit CSS Profile and required documents
- Deadline: January 2 (undergraduate)
- Other Info: Full funding is typical for PhD programs.
19. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
- Website: https://illinois.edu
- Scholarship: Illinois International Undergraduate Scholarships, Graduate Assistantships
- About: A top public research university with strengths in engineering, computer science, and business.
- Scholarship Description: Some merit-based aid for undergraduates; assistantships available for most graduate students
- Eligibility: Strong academic record required; TOEFL/IELTS for non-native English speakers
- Deadline: January 5 (undergraduate); varies (graduate)
- Other Info: Offers full and partial funding for graduate students through teaching or research roles.
20. Boston University (BU)
- Website: https://www.bu.edu
- Scholarship: Trustee Scholarship (full-tuition), Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships
- About: A private research university in Boston, BU offers over 300 programs of study.
- Scholarship Description: Trustee Scholarship offers full tuition and fees for top undergraduates; graduate funding varies
- Eligibility: Trustee: perfect academic record, exceptional essays, leadership potential
- Deadline: December 1 (undergraduate)
- Other Info: No separate application is needed for most graduate funding packages.
Why Study in the USA Universities on a Scholarship?
Studying at USA universities offering scholarships for international students remains one of the most sought-after goals for international students. However, the cost of tuition, living expenses, and other fees can be significant. This is where scholarships from U.S. universities become a vital resource. Here’s why pursuing a scholarship-funded education in the U.S. is a smart investment:
- World-Class Education: U.S. universities consistently rank among the best in the world, offering cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art facilities, and innovative teaching methods.
- Diverse and Inclusive Campuses: American campuses bring together students from across the globe, creating a vibrant multicultural learning environment.
- Scholarships that Reduce Financial Burden: Many U.S. institutions offer scholarships that cover full tuition, housing, travel, and even living stipends, making education accessible regardless of financial background.
- Research and Career Opportunities: Scholarship recipients often gain access to exclusive research projects, internships, and networking opportunities that enhance their future career prospects.
- Support for International Students: Universities provide extensive resources, such as international student offices, visa assistance, academic counseling, and career services, helping students thrive both academically and personally.
Studying in the U.S. with the support of a scholarship not only reduces financial stress but also opens doors to a life-changing academic and cultural experience.
Final Thoughts
Securing a scholarship at a U.S. university as an international student is both highly competitive and deeply rewarding. With careful planning, strong academic preparation, and timely applications, it is entirely possible to gain admission and financial support from some of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Each university listed in this guide offers unique opportunities and eligibility pathways. Be sure to:
- Start early with your research and applications.
- Prepare compelling personal statements and recommendation letters.
- Demonstrate both academic excellence and extracurricular involvement.
- Meet all financial aid and scholarship deadlines.
Keep in mind that even if a university does not offer a named scholarship program, many departments and schools provide generous funding packages at the graduate level, especially for PhD students.
Studying in the United States can be the first step in a global career or research journey—and scholarships can make that dream affordable and achievable.