There are various scholarships available in the USA for international students, with a list of the top 10 options. These financial aids help support international students studying in the country. If you don’t, then you know now. Every year, the United States welcomes a noteworthy number of international students. Since 2019, over 1.5 million international students have enrolled in master’s degree programs at US universities to secure scholarships.
However, applying for scholarships can be threatening due to the admissibility criteria and the immense competition to face. To assist with this, I will review the top 10 scholarships available in the USA for international students.
The top 10 scholarships in the USA for international students
Are you in search of a scholarship in the USA for international students? Search no more, because the solution is here. The lists below are the top 10 scholarships in the USA for international students, and they are as follows:
MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship
If you are an international student looking for a way to boost your academic career, you may be qualified for external scholarship opportunities such as the Mpower-sponsored scholarships. It is one of the top 10 scholarships in the USA for international students. To be eligible, one must apply to a university sponsored by the Mpower organization. Then possess a valid student visa for studying in the United States. These scholarships are meant for gifted individuals with financial hardships who otherwise would not be able to chase higher education. The program provides financial assistance up to about $10,000 to cover tuition fees and other educational expenses.
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, established in 2012, provides financial support to talented students facing financial barriers to their education. The program offers comprehensive support to scholars, including financial assistance for books, tuition, accommodation, and other academic materials. Over the next 8 to 10 years, the scholarship program aims to benefit more than 12,000 students at the master’s, undergraduate, and secondary levels. The University of California, Duke University, the University of Michigan, Wellesley, and Arizona State University participate in the scholars program.
Joint Japan World Bank Group Scholarship Program
An international scholarship for students in the USA is now available. The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program is collecting applications from individuals of both genders from developing nations with relevant professional experience. The scholarship program is related to those who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree program in a development-related topic. Numerous scholarships are provided yearly. The scholarship covers the costs of completing a master’s degree, with return air travel, tuition fees, basic medical and accident insurance, a $500 travel allowance, and a monthly allowance to cover living expenses.
YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship
The #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship is an exceptional opportunity for international students studying in the United States of America. This scholarship’s purpose is to support international students by emphasizing that they are welcome in the United States of America. Then, it offers up to about 50% coverage to help students with their tuition fees. The scholarship is outstanding and needs students to demonstrate excellent writing skills by submitting an essay that showcases their creativity. Presently, it only applies to undergraduate studies, but it will develop to cover other levels of education in the future.
Rotary Peace Fellowships
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is dedicated to supporting highly promising individuals for their future contributions.The scholarship’s purpose is to offer students full tuition coverage, housing, and field expenses for their studies. The scholarship is associated with a trustworthy nonprofit organization that supports formal education in the United States. The scholarship requires a bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience related to the master’s degree.
University of New Haven Dean’s Scholarship Program
The University of New Haven Dean’s Scholarship Program is a grant that aims to assist students who are either presently studying or planning to study at the University of New Haven. This scholarship program covers up to about 50% of the tuition fees based on the student’s course enrollment and is granted for the full duration of their studies. This scholarship is awarded solely based on merit to the applicants with the highest academic achievements. The application process is very easy and straightforward, as the scholarship is granted alongside the admission process, and students need not take any additional steps in their application. The admissions staff carefully reviews all the applications to recognize the most admirable candidates for the scholarship.
Obama Foundation Scholars Program for Emerging Leaders
The Obama Foundation Scholars Program is a newly introduced initiative by the Obama Foundation and the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. This program is planned to offer a platform for developing leaders from various parts of the world who are loyal to addressing global issues of significance. The program provides full financial assistance for a year of master’s studies in arts, in addition to covering the expenses for travel to conferences and service projects.
American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship
American University yearly provides the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship to a brilliant international undergraduate student who is devoted to positive civic and social change and to returning home to advance under-resourced and underserved communities in their home country. The scholarship is renewable for a total of 4 years of undergraduate study based on acceptable academic performance. It offers full tuition, room, fees, and board.
AAUW International Fellowship for Women
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers International Fellowships for women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and wish to pursue full-time study or research in the United States. These fellowships assist both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited U.S. institutions. To be qualified, applicants must have earned the corresponding U.S. bachelor’s degree and must have submitted their applications to their planned institutions of study by the time of application. The application period opens from the 1st of August to the 1st of December yearly. Moreover, the fellowship offers financial support of about $18,000 to $30,000 and is awarded to up to 5 fellows.
Rotary Peace Fellowship for Master’s and Professional Programs
Every year, Rotary chooses individuals from all over the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at one of its peace centers. These fellowships cover room and board, round-trip transportation, tuition and fees, as well as all internship and field-study expenses. The program provides up to about 50 master’s degree fellowships at Duke University and the University of North Carolina in the US, as well as other non-US institutions.
Final Thought
To expand your chances with employers, registering in some of the top universities in the world is a great option. However, studying abroad can be pretty exclusive, especially during the present economic crisis. But do not let that limit you because there are other ways to improve your career that you can explore.


