Scholarships for International Students in US Colleges/Universities after high school

EduretiX
Sep 27
6 min read

The landscape in one minute

U.S. federal aid (FAFSA money) is generally off-limits to most international (non-U.S. citizen/non-eligible-noncitizen) undergraduates. Your main funding will come from universities themselves (need-based aid or merit scholarships), home-government / third-party awards, and family funds. Student Aid, Eligibility for Non US citizens

A very small set of elite U.S. colleges are need-blind for international students and meet 100% of demonstrated need (examples include Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Amherst). Competition is extreme, but the policies are real and published.
Harvard for international students , MIT for internationals , Princeton , Yale College Admissions , Amherst College

Standardized tests are back at many top schools. MIT requires SAT/ACT; Harvard and Yale require scores again (Yale is “test-flexible,” allowing AP/IB as alternatives); Dartmouth lists multiple ways to fulfill the requirement for students at schools outside the U.S. If you can test well, scores can help for both admission and scholarships.
MIT Tests and Scores , Standardized testing for Harvard , Yale Standardized testing requirements , Yale test flexible policy , Standardized testing requirements at Dartmouth

Scholarships and financial aid for International Students in US Colleges/Universities after high school

1) Types of funding you can realistically pursue

A) Institutional need-based aid (from the university)

Some U.S. universities will calculate your family’s ability to pay and fill the gap with grants (not loans). At a few schools, e.g., Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Amherst, admissions for internationals are need-blind and they meet 100% of demonstrated need. At many others, admissions are need-aware for internationals but still offer generous need-based awards once admitted. These policies (and whether merit awards exist) are stated on official sites, always check the college’s own page.

How need is evaluated? Most private universities that give need-based aid to internationals ask for the CSS Profile to assess income and assets (you can submit in your home currency). cssprofile.collegeboard.org

B) Institutional merit scholarships (from the university)

Many public and private universities award scholarships for grades, curriculum rigor, leadership, and test scores. Example: University of Alabama publishes automatic merit awards for high GPAs plus specific SAT/ACT thresholds; international freshmen are considered and must send official scores for those automatic awards. Similar merit-based awards exist at other universities (e.g., Michigan State). Policies and thresholds are listed on each university’s site.

International Freshman Scholarships , International Freshman Admissions , Out-of-state Freshman Scholarships , MSU International Student Scholarships , Michigan State University Financial Aid

C) External / third-party scholarships

Use reputable, free databases that include awards open to non-U.S. citizens, such as College Board BigFuture Scholarship Search and the EducationUSA scholarship listings. You’ll find a mix of general awards and school-specific international scholarships (examples listed on those portals). Avoid pay-to-search services.

BigFuture – CollegeBoard , Special Opportunities and Financial Aid , International Underground Student Scholarship

D) Athletic scholarships

International students can be recruited and receive athletic scholarships at NCAA schools; the NCAA itself explains the pathway for international athletes. (Awards are made by colleges, subject to association rules.)

NCAA.org

2) Eligibility and selection criteria (what actually matters)

Across most scholarships and need-based aid decisions, committees look for:

Academic strength in context: transcripts, curriculum rigor, class rank if available.
Standardized tests where required or rewarded:
- MIT requires SAT or ACT.
- Harvard requires standardized testing again (for the class entering fall 2025).
- Yale requires testing but is test-flexible (SAT/ACT or AP/IB).
- Dartmouth requires testing and offers multiple options for students outside the U.S.Some public universities tie merit amounts to SAT/ACT bands, so testing can directly unlock money even if admission is test-optional.
English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo, unless waived by policy). Check each school’s requirement. (Policy pages vary by institution; confirm on the admissions site you’re applying to.)
Activities & impact: leadership, community work, competitions, arts/athletics—especially with evidence and results.
Essays & recommendations: essential for both admission and many competitive scholarships.
Demonstrated financial need (for need-based aid): Expect to file the CSS Profile and document finances; some colleges may request additional verification. cssprofile.collegeboard.org

Not eligible: National Merit Scholarships are tied to the U.S. PSAT/NMSQT program and generally require U.S. citizenship (or specific eligible statuses). International students educated abroad without U.S. citizenship are not eligible. National Merit

3) How SAT/ACT scores fit into scholarships (2025 reality)

At top privates, strong scores support admission where required (MIT, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth) and can corroborate academic readiness; some of these schools do not award merit scholarships at all (aid is need-based only), so scores help with admission, not dollars.
At many publics, published charts tie merit money to score + GPA (e.g., University of Alabama’s automatic awards). If your goal is to reduce cost at a broad range of schools, testing often pays. afford.ua.edu

4) What internationals cannot usually use and what you can do instead

U.S. federal aid (Pell Grants, Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study) is not available to most non-U.S. citizens. Only “eligible noncitizens” qualify. Plan on institutional aid, external scholarships, family funds, or (if you pursue them) private/third-party loans.
Student Aid, Eligibility for Non US citizens

Federal Work-Study: typically not open to F-1 students. However, F-1 students can work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during terms (and more during breaks) under DHS rules, separate from Work-Study.
On-campus Employment for F-1 Students , USCIS Employment

5) Visa paperwork & proof of funds (what colleges will ask for)

To issue your Form I-20 (needed for the F-1 visa), universities must verify you can cover one year of estimated expenses after scholarships/aid. Expect to submit bank statements or sponsor letters even if you receive aid. Specific proof-of-funds rules are posted by universities and by U.S. government resources.

Students and the form I-20 , UCSD Funding Requirements

Check out our comprehensive guide on US student visas.

6) How to build a smart, scholarship-friendly college list

Mix need-blind/full-need schools with merit-friendly universities. If you aim high financially, include schools that state (publicly) they are need-blind for internationals and meet full need (e.g., Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Amherst). Then add institutions that publish automatic or competitive merit charts where your stats fit (e.g., University of Alabama; many flagships and mid-selectives). Always verify on the university site.
Search external awards early using BigFuture and EducationUSA listings; save school-specific international scholarships you find there.
Plan for testing if your target schools require or reward scores (MIT/Harvard/Yale/Dartmouth; publics with merit grids).
Prepare the CSS Profile (if the colleges request it) and gather translated/official financial documents.

7) Step-by-step checklist (save this)

Shortlist 10–12 colleges: 2–3 need-blind/full-need targets + 4–6 need-aware but generous + 3–4 merit-friendly options. Use EducationUSA’s “Finance Your Studies” and each college’s aid page to confirm policies. EducationUSA

Decide on SAT/ACT timeline if aiming at test-required/flexible schools or merit grids. Check each college’s admissions testing policy. (MIT requires; Harvard requires; Yale requires but allows AP/IB; Dartmouth lists multiple options for applicants outside the U.S.).

If applying for need-based aid, complete CSS Profile on time; some schools may also ask for additional documentation.
Build a separate calendar for external scholarship deadlines (filter for “International” on BigFuture and browse EducationUSA opportunities).

Keep visa logistics in mind: after admission and aid are finalized, you’ll submit proof of funds so the school can issue the I-20.

Frequently asked realities

Do international students ever get “full rides”?

Yes, most commonly at need-blind/full-need privates once admitted, or via top athletic or exceptional merit awards at specific universities. They’re rare and highly competitive; plan for a mix of sources. (Confirm each college’s policy; several elite schools explicitly do not offer merit; aid is strictly need-based.)

Is the FAFSA useful to me?

If you are not an “eligible noncitizen,” FAFSA does not award you federal aid—but some colleges may still ask for a form or an indicator for their own internal processing. The authoritative rule: federal aid is restricted to U.S. citizens and certain eligible noncitizens.

Can I work to cover costs?

F-1 students can work on campus up to 20 hours/week during the academic term (more during breaks). Federal Work-Study jobs are typically not available to international students.

Trusted places to start searching

College Board BigFuture – Scholarship Search (filter by “International” where applicable).
EducationUSA – Finance Your Studies & Scholarships (official U.S. Department of State network).
Your target colleges’ Financial Aid and International Admissions pages for exact policies and forms (CSS Profile, institutional deadlines).