Undergraduate funding for international students in the US tends to fall into two categories: named scholarships run by a specific college, and broader need-based financial aid policies that a small number of well-resourced universities extend to applicants regardless of citizenship.
The ten options below span both categories and give a realistic starting point for undergraduate applicants planning ahead for admission.
1. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University
The [Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University](/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program-asu/) funds undergraduate study for academically strong students from Africa, covering tuition, housing, books, and travel for the full length of the degree.
2. Clark University Global Scholars Program
Clark University offers full-tuition awards to a limited number of incoming international undergraduates with strong academic records, paired with mentoring and research opportunities during the first year.
3. Davis United World College Scholars Program
Graduates of United World College schools who continue to partner American colleges can receive Davis-funded scholarships covering much of the gap between standard financial aid and the real cost of attendance.
4. Berea College No-Tuition Promise
The [Berea College No-Tuition Promise](/berea-college-no-tuition-promise/) means every admitted student, including a small number of international students each year, attends tuition-free, with part-time campus work built into the arrangement.
5. Emerging Global Leader Scholarship at American University
The [Emerging Global Leader Scholarship](/au-emerging-global-leader-scholarship/) funds a significant share of tuition for an incoming international undergraduate from a developing country, based on academic merit and leadership potential.
6. Princeton University Need-Based Financial Aid for International Students
Princeton admits undergraduates without regard to citizenship and meets full demonstrated financial need for every admitted student, which often means international students from lower-income backgrounds pay little toward tuition and housing.
7. Yale University International Financial Aid Program
Yale extends the same need-blind admission and full-need financial aid policy to international applicants as it does to domestic ones, covering tuition, room, and board based on a family’s documented financial circumstances.
8. MIT Need-Based Financial Aid for International Students
MIT meets full demonstrated financial need for admitted undergraduates regardless of citizenship, making it one of the few technical universities where an international student’s ability to pay plays no role in admission decisions.
9. Pomona College Need-Blind International Admission
Pomona College reviews international applications without regard to ability to pay and commits to meeting full financial need for every admitted student, a policy shared by only a small number of US liberal arts colleges.
10. Harvard University Need-Based Financial Aid for International Students
Harvard meets full demonstrated financial need for every admitted student, international or domestic, which frequently results in low or no net cost for undergraduates from families with modest incomes.
Because need-based aid depends heavily on a family’s documented financial situation, gathering tax and income records early and completing the required financial aid forms accurately often matters as much as the admissions essay itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does need-blind admission mean financial aid is guaranteed?
At the universities listed above, yes, need-blind admission is paired with a commitment to meet full demonstrated need for every admitted student.
Are these scholarships only for students with top test scores?
Academic strength matters, but factors like leadership, community involvement, and financial circumstances also weigh heavily, particularly for need-based and foundation-funded programs.
Can international students work on campus to help cover costs?
Yes, most US universities allow international students to work a limited number of hours per week on campus under their visa status, and some scholarships, like Berea’s, build this in directly.
Is the application process different for international applicants?
International applicants typically submit additional financial documentation and English proficiency scores alongside the standard application materials required of domestic students.
How early should international undergraduate applicants start the process?
Most competitive scholarships and need-based aid programs expect applications roughly a year before the intended start date, so beginning research in the junior year of secondary school is a reasonable timeline.
Do these universities require the same standardized tests from all applicants?
Testing policies vary and have shifted in recent years, so checking each university’s current requirements directly is the safest approach rather than assuming a uniform policy.
Are regional scholarships like the Mastercard Foundation program limited to specific countries?
Yes, programs tied to a particular foundation or region, such as the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, are restricted to applicants from the countries or regions the foundation targets.