Scholarships in USA for International Students

Fully Funded Scholarships in the USA 2027 (Updated Guide and List)

Fully Funded Scholarships in the USA 2027 are a great way for international students from around the world to study at leading US universities without bearing the full financial burden. These scholarships will open the door for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students to gain a world-class education and build a brighter academic and professional future. These fully funded scholarships will let you focus on your studies without worrying about the excessive fees of US universities and living expenses.

In this article, we have put together a carefully selected list of 23 Fully Funded Scholarships in the USA for International Students, along with their benefits and a simple step-by-step application process to help you apply with confidence. Many of these scholarships cover major study expenses such as full tuition fees, monthly stipends, accommodation, health insurance, and travel costs. At the end of this guide, you will also find a list of currently open scholarships in the USA, in addition to the fully funded scholarship list.

These scholarship opportunities allow international students to study at some of the US’s top institutions, including Yale University, Harvard University, Clark University, Stanford University, Berea College, and many more. They also include some of the most prestigious funding programs, such as the Fulbright Scholarships.

This guide covers 25 scholarships for studying in the USA. Open the list below to jump straight to the one that fits your study level, or keep scrolling to go through them in order.

See all 25 scholarships at a glance
ScholarshipLevel
Fulbright ScholarshipsMaster’s / PhD
Stanford University ScholarshipsMaster’s / PhD
Yale University ScholarshipsUG / Master’s / PhD
University of New Haven ScholarshipMaster’s
University of Memphis ScholarshipsUG / Master’s
University of Minnesota FellowshipMaster’s
AAUW International FellowshipMaster’s / PhD / Postdoc
ACI Foundation ScholarshipUG to Postdoc
Onsi Sawiris ScholarshipUG / Master’s
Rotary Peace FellowshipMaster’s / Certificate
Clark Global ScholarshipUndergraduate
Berea College ScholarshipsUndergraduate
Cornell University ScholarshipUndergraduate
Illinois Wesleyan ScholarshipsUndergraduate
Miami Stamps ScholarshipUndergraduate
University of Mississippi ScholarshipsUndergraduate
Harvard MBA ScholarshipMBA
IIE-SRF FellowshipPhD
Meta PhD FellowshipPhD
Maria Goeppert Mayer FellowshipPhD
ICO FellowshipPostdoctoral
Simmons Kotzen ScholarshipsUndergraduate
Harvard University ScholarshipPhD / Postdoc

Top Fully Funded Scholarships in the USA 2027

1. Fulbright Scholarships

Fulbright scholarship 2027

Fulbright Scholarships are fully funded scholarships for international students. These scholarships are only offered for master’s and PhD studies. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program covers the full tuition fee, a living stipend, the full accommodation fee, airfare, and health insurance.

2. Stanford University Scholarships

Stanford University Scholarships

The Stanford University Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for master’s and PhD studies. This scholarship offers full tuition fees, traveling allowance, a living allowance, and academic expenses.

3. Yale University Scholarships

Yale University Scholarships

The Yale University Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD degrees. Yale scholarships can vary from a few hundred dollars to over $70,000 per year; the average Yale need-based scholarship is over $50,000.

4. University of New Haven Scholarship

University of New Haven Scholarships

The University of New Haven Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is only offered for master’s studies. This scholarship will provide an experiential learning and work opportunity for the entirety of their graduate program, 75% tuition assistance, and an hourly wage

5. University of Memphis Scholarships

University of Memphis Scholarships

The University of Memphis Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for undergraduate and master’s studies. The scholarship amount varies and covers the difference in the cost of international and domestic non-Tennessee resident tuition rates.

6. University of Minnesota Fellowship

University of Minnesota Fellowship

The University of Minnesota Fellowship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for master’s. This scholarship offers full tuition costs, living expenses, travel, and health insurance.

7. AAUW International Fellowship Program

AAUW Fellowship Program

The AAUW Fellowship Program is a fully funded scholarship. This scholarship is offered by the American Association of University Women, USA. International students from all countries of the world are eligible to apply. This scholarship is only available for graduate and postgraduate studies in any subject offered by the university. The AAUW Fellowship Program covers $18,000 to $30,000 per year, contingent upon meeting academic standards for renewal. 

8. ACI Foundation Scholarship

ACI Foundation Scholarship

The ACI Foundation Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship or fellowship for international students. This scholarship is offered for undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral studies. This scholarship provides a $10,000–$15,000 US educational stipend for tuition, residence, books, and materials.

9. Onsi Sawiris Scholarship

Onsi Sawiris Scholarship

The Onsi Sawiris Scholarship program is a fully funded undergraduate and master’s scholarship for international students. This scholarship covers full tuition, a living allowance, travel, and health insurance.

10. Rotary Peace Fellowship Program

Rotary Peace Fellowship Program

Rotary Peace Fellowships are fully funded scholarships for international students. These scholarships are only offered for master’s and PhD studies. The Rotary Peace Fellowships Program covers tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses.

11. Clark Global Scholarship Program

Clark University Scholarship

The Clark Global Scholarship Program is a fully funded undergraduate scholarship for international students. This scholarship program covers $15,000 to $25,000 per year for four years, contingent upon meeting academic standards for renewal. 

12. Berea College Scholarships

Berea College Scholarship

The Berea College Scholarship is a fully funded undergraduate scholarship for international students. The scholarship provides 100% funding to 100% of enrolled international students for the first year of enrollment.

13. Cornell University Scholarship For International Students

Cornell University Financial Aid For International Students

The Cornell University Scholarship is need-based financial aid for international students. This scholarship is offered for undergraduate studies. This scholarship provides need‐based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and have demonstrated financial need.

14. Illinois Wesleyan University Scholarships

Illinois Wesleyan University Scholarships

The Illinois Wesleyan University Scholarship is a fully funded undergraduate scholarship for international students. Illinois Wesleyan University Scholarships are full-tuition scholarships and range from US$16,000 to US$30,000 per year.

15. University of Miami Stamps Scholarship

University of Miami Scholarship

The University of Miami Stamps Scholarship is a fully funded undergraduate scholarship for international students. This scholarship covers full tuition, standard room and board, textbooks, a one-time allowance for the purchase of a computer, and $12,000 for undergraduate research and conferences.

16. University of Mississippi Scholarships

University of Mississippi Scholarships

The University of Mississippi Scholarship is a funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is only offered for undergraduate studies. The award of the program ranges from $3,900 to $23,454. International applicants who show a high school cumulative grade point average between 3.50 and 4.00 on a 4.00-U.S. scale will be considered.

17. Harvard University MBA Scholarship

Harvard University MBA Scholarship

The Harvard University MBA Scholarship is a fully funded MBA scholarship for international students. This scholarship covers financial aid amounting to US$102,200 (US$51,100 per year) towards tuition fees.

18. IIE-SRF Fellowship

IIE SRF fellowship

The IIE-SRF Fellowship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for doctoral research studies. The IIE-SRF Fellowship covers a grant of up to US$25,000, along with individual health insurance, to support a visiting academic appointment of up to one year.

19. Meta PhD Fellowship

Meta PhD Fellowship

The Meta Fellowship Program is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for doctoral research studies. The scholarship covers two years of study and fees, an annual stipend, and conference travel aid.

20. Maria Goeppert Mayer Fellowship

Maria Goeppert Mayer Fellowship

The Maria Goeppert Mayer Fellowship is open to international students from all over the world who intend to pursue doctoral studies at Argonne National Laboratory, USA. This fellowship is given globally to excellent doctoral researchers and engineers.

21. International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Fellowship

International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Fellowship

The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Fellowship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This fellowship provides the recipient with up to a USD 50,000 stipend to help cover living expenses and return travel.

22. Simmons University Kotzen Scholarships

Simmons University Kotzen Scholarships

The Simmons University Kotzen Scholarships are fully funded scholarships for international students. This scholarship is offered for undergraduate studies. The scholarship covers full tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board.

23. Harvard University Scholarship

Harvard University Scholarships

The Harvard University Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for postdoctoral research studies. Postdoctoral Academy Scholars will receive an annual stipend of $75,000.

More Scholarships in the USA by Study Level

This page covers the biggest awards, but it isn’t the full picture. If you know your study level, these lists go deeper:

How Scholarships in the USA Work for International Students

Before you apply, it helps to know where US funding actually comes from, because it changes how you go about getting it. There are three main routes.

Government scholarships

The best known is the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, which funds master’s and PhD students. You don’t apply to Fulbright directly from a website. Each country runs its own Fulbright competition through a local commission or the US embassy, so you apply through the office that covers your country.

University aid

This is the largest pool, and it is where most international students find their funding. US universities award two kinds of aid: merit aid, based on your grades and achievements, and need-based aid, based on what your family can afford. A small number of universities are need-blind for international applicants and meet their full demonstrated need, which is as close to a free education as it gets.

Private foundations

Organizations like the Aga Khan Foundation, the Rotary Foundation, and the Sawiris Foundation fund students from specific countries, regions, or fields. Eligibility is narrower, but the awards are often generous.

One thing to keep in mind: federal student aid in the US is for citizens and eligible non-citizens only, so as an international student, you focus on the three routes above rather than government loans.

US Universities That Meet International Students’ Full Financial Need

A handful of US universities admit international students without considering their ability to pay, then cover whatever they can’t afford themselves. These are the need-blind, full-need universities, and they are worth applying to even if the sticker price looks impossible. The group includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, and Amherst, with a few others joining in recent years.

Many more universities meet full need but are need-aware for international applicants, which means your ability to pay is one factor in the admission decision. Either way, you apply for the aid as part of your admission application, usually by submitting the CSS Profile and your family’s financial documents. Check each university’s financial aid page for international students to see which category it falls into and what it asks for, since policies change.

How to Apply for a US Scholarship as an International Student?

  1. Shortlist scholarships and universities that fit your level, field, and country. Apply to several rather than pinning everything on one.
  2. Check eligibility and the application route. Some scholarships take direct applications; others, like Fulbright, run through your home country’s commission or the US embassy.
  3. Sit the tests you need. Undergraduate applicants often need the SAT or ACT, graduate applicants may need the GRE or GMAT, and most students need TOEFL or IELTS for English. Book these well ahead of the deadline.
  4. Prepare your documents. Expect transcripts, essays, and financial records for need-based aid. Your statement of purpose carries the most weight, so write it for each university rather than reusing one everywhere. Keep your academic CV clean and current, and ask for your recommendation letters early; professors get swamped near deadlines
  5. Apply before the deadline, then, once you’re admitted and funded, apply for an F-1 student visa to study in the US.

Do You Need the SAT or IELTS?

For undergraduate study, many US universities ask for the SAT or ACT, though a growing number have gone test-optional and no longer require it. For English, most universities want TOEFL or IELTS, but some waive it if you studied in English before or come from a country where English is the official language. The rule is set by each university, not by the scholarship, so check the admissions page of the schools on your list before you assume you need a test or rule yourself out for not having one.

Latest Scholarships in the USA (Open Now)

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Sadia Munir
Written by

Sadia Munir

Software Engineer & Scholarship Consultant

Software Engineer and Scholarship Consultant at Scholarship Roar, focusing on international student mobility, technical data analysis, and financial accessibility.

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Reviewed by Muhammad Faizan, PhD Researcher · Last verified July 2026