Drake University Scholarships for International Students: A Comprehensive Guide

For international students aspiring to study at Drake University, understanding the available scholarship opportunities is crucial. Drake University offers a range of scholarships designed to support international students in achieving their academic goals. This article provides a detailed overview of these scholarships, eligibility criteria, and the application process.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Drake University recognizes academic excellence and leadership potential through various merit-based scholarships. These scholarships are highly competitive and awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding achievements in their academic and extracurricular pursuits.

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is one of the most prestigious awards offered to incoming first-year international students. It awards $26,000 per year and is based on both academic achievement and leadership. This scholarship is typically given to the top 10% of incoming international first-year students.

Provost's Scholarship

The Provost's Scholarship awards $20,000 per year to students who demonstrate all-around good academic performance. It is usually given to the top quarter of the incoming class.

Fine Arts Scholarships

Fine Arts Scholarships are available to incoming first-time or transfer students who are enrolling in a Bachelor's degree program and who demonstrate excellence in the areas of Art & Design, Music, or Theatre Arts. Students must apply/audition to be considered for a Fine Arts Scholarship. These scholarships are generally available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study or until a student earns a bachelor’s degree. Renewal is contingent on satisfactory participation in the relevant fine arts discipline and on the student maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Scholarships may not be renewed for more than the amount awarded at the time of admission and are available only to students who are enrolled full-time (12+ credits) in the fall and spring semesters.

Read also: Early Days of Drake's Singing

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships are available for athletes in the sports of basketball, soccer, track & field, cross-country, golf, tennis, rowing, softball, and volleyball. Athletic scholarship recipients must be degree-seeking students and be otherwise eligible to compete in the NCAA. Generally, these scholarships are available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study, or until a student earns a bachelor’s degree. However, students enrolled in blended undergraduate and graduate programs (Law 3+3, Pharmacy, MATR 3+2, OTD 3+3) should review Program-Specific Policies to understand the structure of financial aid and billing in those programs.

CODE Scholarship

Entering freshmen planning to major in Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, and Information Systems can apply for the CODE Scholarship.

Physics Scholarship

The Physics Scholarship covers full-time tuition charges (12-18 credits) for fall and spring semesters. It is a renewable scholarship offered annually to an incoming first-time college student majoring in physics. This scholarship is tuition-specific and supersedes all other tuition-specific University awards. Recipients must be enrolled full-time in the physics program and maintain satisfactory academic progress. The scholarship is available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study or until a student earns a bachelor’s degree. Summer tuition and fall/spring tuition overload charges (for enrollment exceeding 18 credits) are not covered.

Need-Based Financial Assistance

Drake University also provides need-based financial assistance to international students who demonstrate financial need. The renewable International Student Grant may offer a partial award toward financial need.

International Student Grant

To apply for an International Student Grant, students must first apply for admission to Drake University. Our international admission counselors are experts at explaining financing options and helping students and their families budget resources.

Read also: Opportunities at Drake University

Other Scholarship Opportunities

In addition to the merit-based and need-based scholarships, Drake University offers several other scholarship opportunities for international students.

International Ambassador Grant

The International Ambassador Grant is worth $3,000 per year and is offered to new international students to help defray the cost of tuition. To be considered, students need to highlight their interest in sharing their culture and international experience with the campus community within their application essays.

Leadership Scholarship

Drake University also offers Leadership Scholarships, with award amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per year, to students who demonstrate leadership potential.

Music and Fine Arts Scholarships

Music and Fine Arts Scholarships are available, with award amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per year, to students who excel in these areas.

Drake-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship

Students who are recognized as National Merit finalists and who have indicated Drake University as their first-choice institution may be offered a renewable Drake-sponsored National Merit Scholarship of $1500. Finalists who have received a corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship are not eligible for this scholarship. The Drake-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship is tuition-specific. Recipients must be enrolled full-time and maintain satisfactory academic progress, and the scholarship is available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study or until a bachelor’s degree has been earned.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Undergraduate transfer students with active membership in Phi Theta Kappa and a cumulative college GPA of 3.5 are eligible for a renewable Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship. Students that have already earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible. Recipients must be enrolled full-time (12+credits) in the fall and spring semesters (not available for summer term). Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Awards are tuition-specific.

Legacy Award

The Legacy Award is available to full-time, Bachelor's degree-seeking undergraduate students who are children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Drake Graduates. Students should disclose their legacy affiliation on the application for admission. These awards are applied automatically at the time of admission for eligible students (no application needed). Generally, these scholarships are available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study, or until a student earns a bachelor’s degree. However, students enrolled in blended undergraduate and graduate programs (Law 3+3, Pharmacy, MATR 3+2, OTD 3+3) should review Program-Specific Policies to understand the structure of financial aid and billing in those programs. Renewal is contingent on the student maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

Public Democracy Scholar

Entering first-year students can apply to be a Public Democracy Scholar and will receive a renewable $5000 scholarship. This is a tuition-specific scholarship. Recipients must be enrolled full-time and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. The scholarship is available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study, or until a bachelor’s degree has been earned.

Changemaker Scholars Program

Entering freshmen have the opportunity to apply to the Changemaker Scholars Program and receive renewable $5000 scholarships. This is a tuition-specific scholarship. Recipients must be enrolled full-time and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. The scholarship is available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study, or until a bachelor’s degree has been earned.

Crew Scholarships

Crew Scholarships are available to incoming undergraduate students who are invited to be participants of the Crew Scholars Program. Generally, these scholarships are available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study, or until a student earns a bachelor’s degree. Renewal for Crew Scholarships is contingent on satisfactory participation in the Crew Scholars Program and on the student maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Scholarships are renewed for the amount awarded at the time of admission and are available only to students who are enrolled full-time (12+ credits) in the fall and spring semesters.

George Carpenter Scholarship

Three candidates for the National Alumni Scholarship program will be awarded the George Carpenter Scholarship for $10,000. This is a tuition-specific scholarship. Recipients must be enrolled full-time and maintain a GPA of 3.25 for renewal, in addition to general Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. The scholarship is available for the lesser of four years of undergraduate study, or until a bachelor’s degree has been earned. George Carpenter Scholarship recipients are seen as student leaders at the University and are expected to be actively engaged in the Drake community.

Student Senate Endowed Scholarship

The Student Senate Endowed Scholarship is a renewable scholarship available to an employee or dependent of Drake's food service provider. Renewal is contingent on the student maintaining satisfactory academic progress. This scholarship is tuition-specific.

Vote Smart Internship Scholarship

First-time students who are offered a Vote Smart Internship through Drake University may receive a $1,000 one-time scholarship for the semester of their internship.

Carver Scholars Program

The Carver Scholars Program is funded by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust and provides one new scholarship each year to a Drake student from Iowa who will be starting their junior year, in an amount of about $8,800. Scholarships may renew for a student's senior year, but renewal is not automatic--recipients must re-apply for a 2nd year of support.

Noyce Scholarship Program

The Noyce Scholarship program provides scholarships, stipends, and enhanced learning opportunities to high achieving students interested in teaching secondary physics, mathematics, chemistry, or computer science. Undergraduate students can apply in either their junior or senior year and receive $15,000 in scholarships per year.

Competitiveness of Scholarships

The competitiveness of Drake University scholarships varies depending on the specific scholarship and the applicant pool in a given year. Factors such as academic achievements, leadership skills, extracurricular involvement, and overall fit with Drake University are all considered. International students are a minority group at Drake, thus these scholarships can be relatively less competitive compared to scholarships for domestic students.

Application Process

To apply for scholarships at Drake University, international students should follow these steps:

Apply for Admission: First, apply for admission to Drake University as an international student.
Complete the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA): While Drake automatically considers every international applicant for its merit scholarships, completing the ISFAA is recommended to be considered for additional aid opportunities.
Highlight Achievements and Interests: Showcase academic prowess, unique experiences, skills, and interests in the application essays. For the International Ambassador Grant, highlight your interest in sharing your culture and international experience with the campus community.
Apply for Specific Scholarships: Some scholarships, such as the Fine Arts Scholarships and the CODE Scholarship, require a separate application. Be sure to follow the specific application instructions for each scholarship.
Check Scholarship Deadlines: Scholarship deadlines may be earlier than the study abroad program deadline, therefore, early planning can pay off!

External Scholarship Opportunities

In addition to Drake University scholarships, international students can also explore external organizations that offer funding for international experiences. Drake’s Global Learning Scholarships are also an option. If applying to an Affiliate program, students are likely eligible for their scholarships and grants, which may be need- or merit-based awards and require a separate application directly with the Affiliate partner.

Some examples include:

Fulbright Scholarship Program: The Fulbright Program awards around 1,500 student grants every year, based on a student’s application and what the needs of the country are. Drake University endorses Fulbright candidates who maintain a relatively high GPA and/or excel in the upper levels of their grade. Fulbright requires that candidates meet with a faculty committee, which discusses and assesses each application. Examples of past projects funded by Fulbright Scholarship grants to Drake students include studying the impact of women politicians in the Moroccan Parliament, multinational business practices in Mexico, and the experiences of Muslim women in the Philippines who had worked in the Middle East.
Rhodes Scholarship: The Rhodes Trust provides full financial support for Rhodes Scholars to pursue a degree or degrees at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership.
Marshall Scholarships: Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom.
Mitchell Scholarship: Up to twelve Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Truman Scholarship: The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation supports the graduate education of outstanding young people committed to public service leadership. Each new Truman Scholar receives up to $30,000 for graduate study.
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program: The JET Program is a competitive employment opportunity that allows young professionals to live and work in cities, towns, and villages throughout Japan.
DAAD, German Academic Exchange Service: Administered by the German Government, this program provides short and long-term scholarships for Americans wanting to go to Germany.

Additional Resources

Drake University offers several resources to help international students navigate the scholarship application process:

International Admission Counselors: International admission counselors are experts at explaining financing options and helping students and their families budget resources.
Global Learning Scholarships: These scholarships are designed to enable students to reach their full potential as responsible global citizens. In the online application, students are prompted to write up to two essays, if they are interested in applying for a Global Learning Scholarship.

tags: #drake #university #scholarships #for #international #students