How to get a fully funded scholarship in USA
The dream of most international students is to further their career path through the help of a scholarship opportunity and to cap it all, some students’ wildest dream is to study in the USA.
The US is undoubtedly one of the most popular study destinations for most international students worldwide with over 1.1 million international students currently studying in the USA.
Now, here is the main contract: if you don’t have enough money to sponsor your undergraduate master’s or Ph.D. and you want fully funded scholarships in the US to study then this article is what you need as we have good news for you.
However, in this article, we will discuss how you can get a fully funded scholarship in the USA, a list of fully funded scholarships that are available, criteria for eligibility, etc.
So, without much further ado, let’s jump straight into what we have for today.
How to get a fully funded scholarship in USA
One thing you should know is that there are several different ways to get a fully funded scholarship in the United States as an international student and here are some of them listed below;
- Apply to federal financial aid programs:
The U.S. government offers several financial aid programs, including the Pell Grant, which is awarded to undergraduate students with financial needs.
- Apply to state financial aid programs:
Another way to get a fully funded scholarship in the USA is to apply to state financial aid programs as many states in the U.S. offer financial aid programs to residents attending college within the state.
- Apply to college-specific scholarships:
Another sure way to get a fully funded scholarship is to apply for college-specific scholarships as there are many colleges and universities that do offer scholarships to their students.
However, these can be merit-based, need-based, or based on other factors such as talent or field of study.
- Apply to private scholarships:
Also, several different private organizations offer scholarships to students.
These can be found through a scholarship search service, online search, or by contacting the financial aid office at your college or university.
- Serve in the military:
Military service academies, such as the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, offer fully funded scholarships to students in exchange for a commitment to military service after graduation.
To increase your chances of getting a fully funded scholarship in the U.S. it is considered very important to start the process early, do the necessary research and apply to as many scholarship opportunities as possible, and follow the application instructions carefully.
Top Ranked fully funded scholarships in the USA
If you are looking for a fully funded scholarship in the USA to study for your undergraduate, master’s, or Ph.D. pursuit then you should watch out for these lists of programs that offer international students with fully funded scholarships in the USA.
- Fulbright Foreign
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- Rotary Peace Fellowship for Masters and Professional Program
- Joint Japan World Bank Group Scholarship Program
- Knight Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University
- Obama Foundation Scholars Program for Emerging Leaders
- AAUW International Fellowship for Women
- Clark University Presidential LEEP Scholarship for Undergraduate International Students
- Georgetown University Scholarship for African Students
- American University Emerging Global Leaders Scholarship
Also Read: How to apply for Canada Scholarship 2023
Requirements for eligibility for a fully funded scholarship in the USA
It is considered very important to know that there are different criteria/requirements for different scholarship programs in the USA and this is one major thing most international students fail to understand.
Let’s quickly discuss some of the criteria that can be attached to getting a fully funded scholarship in the USA;
Merit-based
To be eligible for a fully funded scholarship in the USA you need to merit the opportunity and here is where your academic potentials, grades, and scores come into play.
With a relatively low score in international exams and texts, it may be nearly impossible for you to secure a scholarship opportunity as a foreign student as some scholarship programs are strictly based on merit.
Career goals
Some fully funded scholarships in the US are only open to international students who have specific career goals in aspects such as education, science, technology, and engineering.
Financial needs
In most cases, international students who are incapable of raising funds for their studies in the US can get easily approved for a fully funded scholarship which will require them to pay nothing as a matter of fact, there are a lot of scholarship programs in the US specifically offered to students who can’t afford to pay tuition fees.
Demographics
Some fully funded scholarships in the US are open for certain categories of people such as women, disabled students, and minorities.
For example, AAUW International Fellowship for Women in the US is open to women from all over the world.
Conclusion
To easily get a fully funded scholarship in the US it is very important that you do useful research on which scholarship program to apply for as there are many you will come across.
The reason why you should do research before sending out your application is to know if the scholarship opportunity is a perfect fit for you and to also learn more about the requirements and criteria needed to be eligible.
Originally posted on January 5, 2023 @ 8:15 pm