How to Get a Scholarship in the USA as an International Student

Are you dreaming of studying in the USA but worried about the cost that is always involved? You may not be alone. It may actually be the wish of an average person from the developing world to study in the best university in the U.S, but the truth is that studying in the U.S may not really be very affordable to a common man.  

However, the good news is that there are always numerous scholarships available to help you achieve your academic goals. From time to time, universities in the U.S offer fully funded scholarships for brilliant international students to come and study in the U.S. It is not only one university in the U.S that does that, there are a lot of top universities in the U.S that offer these scholarships from time to time.

These scholarships are usually fully funded, and mostly covers the visa cost, travel cost, tuition fee and other costs that may be involved. What this means is that if you get this scholarship, you may not be spending anymore for the studies in the U.S, as the sponsor is going to take care of all.

Why Study in the USA?

The United States is one of the best places to study in the world. No matter the kind of course you want to study, the U.S will give you the best quality education and training for the field. 

Many international students in the U.S are there not just because they want to leave their country; most of them are there in order to gain quality education which prepares them locally and internationally. Let’s look at some of the reasons studying in the U.S might be a great choice. 

1. Quality Education 

 

The first thing that sets the U.S. apart is the quality of education. Universities in the U.S. don’t just focus on academics, they build you up in every area of life.

 

Schools like MIT, Stanford, and Harvard are not just names; they are institutions with history, resources, and recognition. Even the lesser-known universities in the U.S. often have better facilities than many top schools elsewhere. That is why when you graduate from a U.S. school, your certificate carries weight, and is well recognized in any part of the world.

1. Good Educational System

The educational system of most developing countries is not really encouraging at all, if I may tell ourselves the truth. But the U.S has a very flexible education system. Students don’t need to suffer or go through all the stress that they go through here just to get an educational certificate. 

1. Work and Study Options

Another major attraction is the international student visa that comes with the opportunity to work part-time on campus during your studies. During school breaks, you can also apply for Optional Practical Training, which allows you to work legally in your field of study for up to 12 months—or even longer for some programs.

This work and study options gives you real life experience and also helps you save money even while you study. 

1. Opportunities After School

One thing I love about the U.S. education system is that there are always opportunities for students when they graduate. Unlike most developing countries where graduates wallow about, finding it difficult to find a reasonable job after school. But this is not the case when you study in the US. Employers respect U.S. degrees, and many students get job offers even before graduation. If you study high-demand courses like in tech, healthcare, engineering, or finance, you even have a far higher opportunity to get good offers after graduation. 

Types of Scholarships Available

So, you want to study in the USA but school fees and cost of living dey fear you small, right? No wahala. You are not alone. Many Nigerians and international students like you think the same thing, and that is where scholarships come in.

But here is what many people don’t realize: not all scholarships are the same. Some scholarships cover everything, some only pay for part of your tuition, and others give you small funds to support your studies. So, let me walk you through the main types of scholarships you can get as an international student in the USA.

1. Fully Funded Scholarships

This type of scholarship is always everybody’s dream. Fully funded scholarships in the USA for international students usually cover your tuition fee, accommodation, feeding, travel, books, and sometimes even monthly stipends. Once you land this type of scholarship, your parents can rest. You don’t need to stress about anything money-related again.

Some of the most popular ones are:

• Fulbright Foreign Student Program:  for postgraduate students. 
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: usually for African students. Some U.S. schools partner with them. 
• Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship: fully funds postgraduate studies in development-related fields. 
• AAUW International Fellowships: for women pursuing master’s or PhD programs in the U.S. 

These scholarships are really hot cakes. To get any of them, make sure your documents, essays, and recommendations are strong before applying.

2. Merit-Based Scholarships

As the name suggests, this type is based on your academic performance. If you were one of those first-class or sharp students in Nigeria or other countries, especially with WAEC, JAMB, or your CGPA, this is the type of scholarship that fits you very well.

Universities in the USA often reward academic excellence, and many offer automatic merit-based scholarships once they review your application. Some schools even use your SAT/ACT scores (if you have them) to determine how much funding you can get.

Examples of this type of scholarship are:

• Clark University’s Global Scholars Program 
• Illinois Wesleyan University Merit Scholarships 
• University of Oregon International Excellence Award 

But merit is not only just about books o. If you have done volunteer work, leadership roles, or shown exceptional talent in a field, you can still qualify.

3. Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships are for students who can’t afford U.S. school fees but have shown strong academic potential.

To qualify for this scholarship, you may need to show proof of financial hardship; things like your parents’ income, your bank statement, or an affidavit of support.

Some top U.S. schools that offer need-based scholarship to international students are:

• Harvard University 
• Amherst College 
• Yale University 
• Princeton University 

Once you get this type of scholarship, they are going to take care of everything you may need to study in the US.

4. Athletic Scholarships

Are you good at sports like basketball, football, track and field, or even swimming? There are always many U.S. colleges that offer sports scholarships to talented athletes. This can be a fully-funded offer or partial funding.

To get this type of scholarship, you may need to prove that you have the required talent. Coaches usually request game footage, performance stats, or similar report. If you play at the national level or you have won competitions, your chances are high.

Some of this type of scholarship are:

• NCAA and NAIA athletic scholarships 
• Division I and II schools

6. Government and Organization Scholarships

Apart from universities, many external bodies like NGOs, foundations, and even the U.S. government also offer scholarships from time to time.

Some of this type of scholarship are:

• EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program: This one is run by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria and helps brilliant students from low-income backgrounds prepare and apply to U.S. schools. They cover your application fees, IELTS test, and visa costs. 
• Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program: For experienced professionals who want to do short-term training programs in the USA. 
• Rotary Foundation Global Grant 
• Microsoft Diversity Scholarship: for tech-related studies.

Steps to Secure a Scholarship in USA

Getting a fully funded scholarship in the USA is not actually a magic, it’s real and not complicated, many people get it every time. Let’s show you a simple guide on how you can get this opportunity. 

1. Build a Good Academic Profile

As one aiming to get an international scholarship, you need to make sure you are doing very well in all your current academics in your country. Because most of the scholarships may depend on your academic performance. 

2. Decide on What type of Scholarship you want

The first thing you need to do in trying to secure a scholarship in the U.S is to decide which type of scholarship that you want or the one that you qualify for. Then know the period or season of the year that such scholarships usually come up, then start your journey on time, not when they scholarship is already about to close.

3. Search for Available Scholarships

Now that you have decided the type of scholarship that you want, you can now go ahead to search for an available offer of such scholarship. You can search for this online just as you are doing here on our website or search on the official website of the institutions that scholarship in the US.

4. Prepare your Documents

Once you have seen the available scholarship offer, you can now gather all the documents that are required for the scholarship application. In some cases, some of the documents commonly required are your transcript, recommendation letter, international passport, ID Card, and so on.

1. Write Your Statement of Purpose

In most of the U.S scholarships, a statement of purpose may be required. A statement of purpose is usually like writing an official letter stating your aim or purpose that you want to study in the U.S under a scholarship. In your writing, you should be able to convince them that you are really qualified for the scholarship, and giving you the scholarship cannot be a waste of resources.

Submit Your Application

Once you have put everything required together, you can now go ahead and submit your application. Some of them may require you to submit the application through their email, while some may require you to submit the application right on their website.