Need-Based Scholarships for International Undergraduate Students

For international students aspiring to pursue undergraduate studies, the financial aspect can be a significant hurdle. While the cost of education in countries like the United States can be substantial, various need-based scholarships are available to help alleviate the financial burden. This article explores the landscape of need-based scholarships for international undergraduate students, providing valuable information and resources to aid in their pursuit of higher education.

Understanding Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships are financial aid awards granted to students who demonstrate financial need. These scholarships aim to provide access to education for talented individuals who may not otherwise be able to afford it. Eligibility is typically determined by assessing the student's financial resources, including family income and assets.

Institutional Aid

Many universities and colleges offer financial incentives for international students to attend their institution. Although funding for undergraduate international students is limited, it is available. Remember that both private and public institutions may waive application fees in some situations; be sure to consult with your university to take advantage of any supplements or waivers they may offer.Some institutions offer full-ride need-based aid to international students, and most scholarships require essays, academic merit, or service commitments.

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Scholarships

SNHU provides several scholarship opportunities for international students, including:

Charles and Barbara Bickford International Scholarship: Awarded to graduate or undergraduate international students studying at the Manchester campus.
Hassa Jadvani Memorial Scholarship: Supports students enrolled in the Graduate School of Business, with preference given to those in International Business or Finance.
Li Xu Scholarship Fund: Recognizes undergraduate or graduate students who exemplify Li Xu's giving spirit by supporting new students.

Note that students must first complete the SNHU application process for admission. Awards are applied to tuition only and are non-refundable.

Read also: TOPS Eligibility Requirements

University of Arkansas Scholarships

The University of Arkansas offers several scholarships to undergraduate international students, including the New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award Scholarship, which provides an annual award of $9,500 to $17,000 per year based on 30 hours of enrollment. The school also offers several college and departmental scholarships, as well as scholarships to currently enrolled students who have excelled in their academic program or demonstrate financial need.

University of California, Berkeley Scholarships

UC Berkeley values the diverse perspectives international students bring to our campus and is committed to supporting their academic success. The Robinson International Scholars Program enriches UC Berkeley’s global learning environment by developing transformational leaders. Robinson International Scholars demonstrate resilience, passion, and a strong commitment to serving and giving back to their communities. The program includes a need-based scholarship for up to four years. This need-based scholarship provides financial assistance for up to four years, empowering recipients to maximize their UC Berkeley education and drive positive change in their communities. Scholars contribute to the university’s diversity and excellence, bringing valuable perspectives to campus. Scholars receive the full benefits of the Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship in addition to the Rodriguez-Pastor Family Scholarship.

Other University-Based Scholarships

Numerous university-based scholarships are open to international undergraduate applicants. The Wien International Scholarship Program, for example, was established in 1958 at Brandeis University in Massachusetts and has brought more than 890 scholars from 115 countries to the school. Wien Scholars "are committed leaders with a proven record of academic excellence and desire to effect positive change in their communities."

American University in Washington, D.C., has two endowed partial scholarships - one for an international student from Turkey and one for an international student from anywhere in Cyprus - that are available every few years rather than annually. The school also offers partial merit scholarships based on academic excellence and rigor to first-year applicants, including international students, that range from $8,000 to $20,000 a year.

The Presidential Scholarship offered by Clark University in Massachusetts is offered to domestic and international students and covers full tuition and on-campus room and board for all four years, regardless of financial need.

Read also: Navigating CDL Education

External Scholarships and Programs

Beyond institutional aid, several external organizations and programs offer need-based scholarships to international undergraduate students.

#YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship

Colleges and universities have the opportunity to be a part of the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship and host two yearly renewable scholarships for international undergraduate students. Each institution has different eligibility criteria - check if your school hosts the scholarship and what requirements you need. You must submit either a short essay question or present a multimedia project about applying your leadership skills on campus. The scholarship covers at least 50% of tuition.

Rotary Peace Fellowship

The Rotary Peace Fellowship master’s and certificate programs are for people who are committed to peace and conflict resolution and who can be leaders in their field. The certificate program is for mid-career people who come with an initiative to promote peace in the program’s region. The scholarship covers full program tuition, costs, and housing.

Swaniker Scholars Program

The Swaniker Scholars Program supports talented students from across the African continent who demonstrate academic excellence, character, leadership, and high potential. A select number of outstanding ALX Pathway participants and African Leadership Academy (ALA) graduates are nominated for this scholarship. Swaniker Scholars receive a need-based scholarship covering up to the full cost of attendance for four years.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables undergraduate students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. The program aims to diversify the students who study and intern abroad and the countries where they go. The program also supports students who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints.

Read also: Stanford Admission GPA Guide

Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. Grants are given in all world areas except Western Europe as the program aims to encourage the study of regions and cultures that are not commonly explored.

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships provide opportunities for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to engage in area studies and world language training at schools that have established a FLAS fellowship program. FLAS provides allocations of fellowships to institutions of higher education, which then make awards directly to meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students. Students must be enrolled at and apply through a FLAS-recipient institution.

Cobell Scholarship

The Cobell Scholarship is annual, non-renewable, and available to any full-time and degree-seeking American Indian or Alaska Native post-secondary student attending any nationally, regionally and industry accredited non-profit, public and private, institution while pursuing a vocational certificate or diploma, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, professional degree or certificate.

USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program

USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program provides scholarships for applicants attending 1994 Land Grant Tribal Colleges and Universities seeking careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences, and/or other related disciplines.

USDA/1890 National Scholars Program

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is designed to increase the number of minorities studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and the related disciplines.

Other Scholarship Databases and Resources

Numerous online resources can help international students find need-based scholarships:

College Board: A free online financial aid source for scholarships, grants, and loans for all college-bound students, including permanent residents and international students wishing to study in the United States.
Scholarship Finder: A searchable database of scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities from the U.S. Department of Labor.
EducationUSA: A searchable directory of special opportunities and financial aid for international students and scholars.

Demonstrating Need

To be considered for need-based scholarships, international students must demonstrate their financial need effectively. This typically involves providing detailed information about their family's income, assets, and expenses.

Applications

Students may apply for scholarships through the University Scholarship Application. For Summer and Fall scholarships, the application is open October 15 - February 1. For Spring scholarships, the application is open September 10 - October 12. Students should complete all sections of the application by following the appropriate instructions. The essay section must be completed to be considered for most scholarships. The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is the application for need-based financial aid such as the International Texas Public Education Grant (ITPEG) or the Mexican Citizens with Financial Need Waiver.

The Importance of Essays and Personal Statements

The most critical part of a scholarship application is the personal statement, which allows admissions officers and scholarship committees to really get to know a student. Scholarship essays level the playing field, giving students from various backgrounds and with different accomplishments an opportunity to win an award. Good writing skills will help communicate strengths about your profile with ease, enhancing your chances for a scholarship.

Avoiding Mistakes

Avoid the temptation of plagiarizing essays or even full sentences from the Internet or from past submitted essays, including not using ChatGPT to write your scholarship essay. Be honest in what you write, especially about your achievements and extracurricular activities, as scholarship committees can very easily tell if an essay actually depicts a student's potential. Carefully review, reread, and edit scholarship essays and use spellcheck before submitting them to a university. Ask your school counselor, English teacher or EducationUSA adviser to read and review your essays before submission.

Funding Factors to Consider

When planning to study abroad, it is essential to consider all funding factors beyond tuition fees.

Calculating Cost of Attendance

The budgeted Cost of Attendance is a calculation of total cost by each institution that is used to determine a student’s level of financial need. It is a total of tuition, mandatory fees, room, board (where applicable), and estimated cost of books and other living expenses (and sometimes travel) for students at the particular institution. Separate determinations can be made for students living at home or independently at the institution’s discretion.

Specific Costs to Consider:

Application fees
Test/entrance exam fees (e.g., TOEFL)
Visa/SEVIS fees
Tuition and fees
Room and board (accommodation and food)
Books and supplies
Travel to the United States
Travel within the United States
Health and medical insurance
Personal expenses during term-time for on-campus accommodation (including clothing, phone charges, entertainment, and leisure); and personal expenses during term breaks for on-campus accommodation (including travel, food, extra housing fees, phone charges, entertainment, and leisure)

Note: Types of expenses will change according to housing allocation. If you plan to live in private, off-campus housing, you should also expect to pay electricity, heating, water, and other utility expenses. Geographic location will impact your expenses as a result of differing costs of living.

Additional Ways to Lower Costs

International students can reduce costs through part-time jobs, budgeting, and campus events like textbook exchanges or open houses with free food.

Working Part-Time

F-1 international students can work on campus for up to 20 hours per week when classes are in session. Openings to be a Residence Assistant become available from time to time. These positions require living in a campus residence hall and being responsible for assisting students on a floor. RA awards include a scholarship, a stipend, and a reduced rate on a single room accommodation.

Upon graduation, F-1 international students are eligible to extend their student status in order to work in the US for up to 12 months (for certain science subjects it could be up to 36 months). J-1 international students may be eligible to extend their student status in order to work in the US for up to 18 months, or the period of the full course of study in the US, whichever is less. Students can work at full time, full paying positions related to their course of study in companies anywhere in the US.

Additional Tips for Cutting Costs

Live With a Host Family to Reduce Housing Costs
Stay in Campus Housing During Breaks to Save on Travel
Lower Your Spending With Student Discounts and Used Textbooks
Get Involved on Campus to Access Free Events and Resources

Loan Options

If scholarships and other forms of financial aid are insufficient, international students may consider loan options to finance their education.

International Student Loan Program

You may qualify for the International Student Loan Program, which offers loans for up to the full cost of your education. Repayment terms are up to 25 years. This loan is available for both graduate and undergraduate programs, but not for Intensive English.

Private Loans

There are international student loans available to individuals who meet certain criteria. Many loans require a cosigner. A cosigner is someone who guarantees and is responsible for payment to the loaning institution if for any reason you are unable to pay back the loan. A variety of organizations and institutions provide private loans to international students. Many provide assistance that is targeted to students from specific regions or countries and who meet certain criteria.

When considering taking out a student loan from any private organization or institution, do thorough research and compare the rates and terms offered by various loan providers. Interest rates, repayment terms, loan maximums, and fees can vary significantly between lenders. Carefully review all terms and conditions, and strongly consider seeking advice from a financial advisor or student loan expert to ensure you make an informed decision.

Interest-Free Loans

The Organization of American States, an international organization based in Washington, DC offers, through the Rowe Fund program, interest-free loans to competent students from Latin American and Caribbean countries to help them finance their graduate, postgraduate, and final two years of undergraduate studies at accredited universities within the United States.

Tax Implications

Many of the financial resources available to undergraduate international students are deemed taxable. In some cases, international students may be exempt from paying taxes on certain forms of financial aid. These exemptions depend on visa type, duration of time in the United States, and the type of financial aid award. If your home country maintains a tax treaty with the United States, you may qualify for a full refund of any taxes withheld from your financial aid award. You must file a Non-Resident tax return (1040NR) with a letter indicating that your home country holds a tax treaty with the United States.

If your scholarship exceeds tuition and required fees, the taxable portion may be reported to the IRS on Form 1042-S, and tax may be withheld at a rate of 14% or more depending on visa status, unless a tax treaty exemption applies. Any tax withheld will be charged to your student account.

Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid

As a general rule, students in a nonimmigrant category are not eligible for federal financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education publishes a handbook with information for financial aid professionals which addresses eligibility for international students and includes fairly detailed descriptions of the statuses that do and do not qualify for federal financial aid. If you are a permanent resident, you can apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). As a permanent resident, you may qualify for federal and state government aid, including the Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, PLUS Loan, Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, or Federal Work-Study.

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