Top 25 Scholarships in USA for International Students

You've worked hard all throughout high school and are an academic and extracurricular superstar. You're looking forward to the challenges that college will bring. But are you ready for the challenge of paying for college?

There are a lot of ways students come up with the money to fund their higher educations. Did you know, though, that it can be as easy as getting one award? In this article, we give you a list of 80 colleges that offer at least one full-ride scholarship to cover all of your tuition costs.

Getting a scholarship that fully covers tuition costs is most students' dream. It's hard to believe there's something even better out there— the full-ride scholarship. These scholarships are special because they cover not only tuition but also other basic costs such as room and board, books, travel, and supplies.

For most private schools, this means you're getting more than $200,000 of expenses covered with these scholarships.

Unlike financial aid, which many schools offer to students based on what they and their families can afford to pay for their educations, these scholarships are based entirely on merit.

The idea is that these schools think certain students are special—so special that they want it to be a no-brainer for you to choose to attend their school. As a result, they're going to try their hardest to make you want to partner with them for the next four years.

As you look through the list of schools below, you'll probably recognize at least some of the names. A lot of the schools on this list are very good schools, but apart from a few notable exceptions, you're not likely to see top schools in the country giving out full-ride scholarships. Why is this?

Full-ride scholarships are meant to lure top, super-attractive students who have a lot of choices. It's the school's way of telling you that among the student population, you really stand out. These full-ride scholarships are merit based, meaning that in your grades, extracurricular activities, and/or leadership skills, you've worked harder or achieved more than the average student.

At the most competitive schools, full rides are extremely rare. Pretty much all applicants to these schools are going to be high achievers across the board, making it a lot harder to pick out who the real stars are.

Are International Students Eligible for These Scholarships?

Unfortunately, the vast majority of scholarships of any kind are only available to US citizens, or at least people residing in the United States. In the article below, we mention some scholarships that international students are eligible for, but it isn't a complete list.

If you're an international student and are interested in a particular full-ride scholarship, we recommend researching the scholarship online to see if it mentions if international students are eligible. If you can't find the information online, your next option should be to contact the school's scholarship/admissions office to ask them about scholarships for international students.

t’s no secret that the US is one of the most expensive nations in which to pursue higher education, but don't let that put you off, as there are hundreds of opportunities to gain funding for your studies here.

As an international student, you won’t be eligible for funding intended specifically for US nationals. However, as US universities prioritize internationalization, the number of international scholarships to study in the US has grown. There are also some US universities that offer need-blind admission to international students.

Below is a selection of US scholarships for international students, some funded by the US government, some funded by private organizations and some funded by specific institutions. Good luck with your applications!

Where Should You Look for a Full-Ride Scholarship?

If you're hoping for a full ride, you might want to look at schools that are “safe” for your grades, test scores, and extracurricular achievements. If you're scoring much higher than the average admitted student, you'll have a better chance of getting scholarship money.

You might also want to consider colleges you've not heard of before. A lot of these schools offer top academic experiences but lack the name recognition of other schools. Thus, they are trying to attract student superstars who can help raise their profiles.

Of course, even if you apply to the schools on the list below, expect competition to be fierce. Don't bank everything on getting one of these scholarships—they're very tough to come by! This is why it's important to go after other forms of college money as well, such as traditional need-based financial aid and other independent merit-based scholarships.