How to get scholarship for USA: Types of Scholarship and Eligibility Criteria

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Study Abroad Expert

Updated on Nov 26, 2024 18:50 IST

The USA is one of the biggest study destinations for international students. With home to the best universities in the world, students look forward to pursuing their higher studies here. However, pursuing higher studies in the USA can be a costly affair for Indian students, so, they look for scholarships to fund their education. Earlier, we discussed popular scholarships to Study in the USA. In this article, we will inform you how to get a scholarship to USA University.

Planning in advance can help you reduce your costs. You can apply for a number of scholarships offered by US universities and colleges to international students. Some of these scholarships are available for meritorious students while some are granted to students who require financial help for completing their studies. Some US universities give scholarships to students automatically i.e. students get the scholarship if they secure admission.

Check: Top scholarships to Study in the USA for international students.

Harvard University offers scholarships to international students. Illinois State University offers Illinois State University International Awards to international students who secure admission. Many universities offer scholarship programs and international students are eligible to apply to them. However, one needs to fulfil the criteria for securing these scholarships as there is high competition for them. So, candidates need to have a good SAT or ACT score or a strong academic profile to secure these grants. You may also check some of the Stanford University Scholarships for Indian Students here.

Top 10 US Universities Offering Scholarships

Here is a list of top 10 US universities offering financial aid to Indian or international applicants:

Eligibility to get Scholarship to Study in USA

The first and foremost thing is to check the eligibility criteria of the scholarship for which you are going to apply. It can be your academic score, profile, subjects chosen to study, or your study destination. Various scholarships are based on your home country i.e. given to students from a particular region or country. Whereas for some scholarships, candidates need to have proven skills other than academics, it can be in sports or any extracurricular activities. If it is a research-based scholarship then you need to showcase your previous work or assignments. Apart from this, if the grant is provided by the university then do contact the University for any Query regarding the scholarship.

Types of scholarships available

Majorly, there are two kinds of scholarships:

Merit-based scholarships
Need-based scholarships

Merit-based scholarships are awarded to candidates with excellent academic or extracurricular profiles. Whereas, need-based scholarships are given to candidates who are from weaker sections.

Read more about need-based and merit-based scholarships

Documents required to apply for scholarships to study in the USA

You need a lot of documents to apply for a scholarship. There can be different types of documents for different kinds of grants. However, there are certain documents that you require for applying for every kind of scholarship. Below we have mentioned the list of some of those documents.

Academic scores copy (GPA)
Standardized test scores:
- UG: SAT or ACT
- PG: GRE or GMAT score
Photo ID/Passport (Aadhar card in certain cases)
Language proficiency proof (IELTS, or TOEFL exam score)
Motivation letter/Statement of Purpose
Recommendation letter

Check the amount of money you get from scholarships

The amount of money offered in a scholarship varies between organizations and institutions. Some universities offer a 100% tuition fee waiver while some institutions offer a partial waiver. Similarly, some organizations allow you to spend money on specific things only. Some of the scholarships cover only the tuition fee and living costs while some also include airfare and other expenses.

Popular scholarship programs to study in the USA

Some of the most popular scholarships offered in USA for Indian applicants are as follows:

Fulbright- Nehru Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships are designed for outstanding Indians to pursue a master's degree program at select U.S. colleges and universities.

Presidential Scholarship

LTU awards hundreds of competitive scholarships including the Presidential Scholarship to high-achieving freshmen and transfer students each year.

Tata Scholarship

Launched by the Tata Education and Development Trust, a $25 million endowment (Tata scholarship) has been established by the philanthropic affiliate of India’s Tata Group that would allow Cornell University to provide financial aid to undergraduate students from India.

Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship

The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) is seeking MBA candidates, who are citizens of India and interested in contributing to the country’s human and socio-economic progress, to apply for the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai MBA Fellowship.

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AAUW International Fellowships

American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships were designed to provide Latin American women opportunities to pursue graduate and postgraduate studies in the US.

We suggest you apply early for a scholarship as it will definitely increase your chances of getting it. There is higher competition in government-funded scholarships than in university scholarships. Applying ahead of the last dates will give you an edge over others.

Learn more about scholarships in the USA:

Scholarships to Study in USA for International Students	Scholarships to pursue UG courses in the US
Top college-funded scholarships for MBA in the US	What is the Right Time to Apply for a Scholarship?

Interested in studying in the USA with a scholarship? Sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling and get expert advice from our counsellors.

Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?

The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.

Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?

There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.

Q: Is it hard to get into the UTSA in San Antonio Texas?

According to various sources, University of Texas San Antonio has an overall acceptance rate of around 87% which makes it somewhat selective for international student admissions. Some of the general requirements to be considered for admission are given as follows:

SAT/ACT scores
Overall Student's GPA
Letters of Recommendation
High School Class Rank
Additional Academic Records

Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?

MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.

Q: How long does it take to get admission to Iowa State?

After submitting the application the Iowa State admission committee will review the application for admission on the basis of documents that applicants provide. A decision may require several weeks as it depends on the time of year the applicant submits the application (Applications submitted right before the deadline require a much longer processing time due to the volume of applications received then.). Applicants will receive an admission offer letter and the I-20 Form if admitted.

Q: Is Texas A&M Commerce a good university?

Texas A&M Commerce is regarded as one of the top public universities across the United States. Moreover, the Texas A&M Commerce ranking 2024 under the category of Best Colleges is National Universities is #369. Also, the acceptance rate of this university is 42%. Additionally, the university offers the best academic programs, expert faculty, job & placement, and more. Besides, Texas A&M University-Commerce also offers over 130 academic degrees for its students.

Q: Is the University of South Dakota hard to get into?

With a 99% acceptance rate, the University of South Dakota is easy to get into. The university follows an easy approach during admission. The university takes a simple admissions procedure. The high acceptance percentage does not mean that the university admits every applicant; rather, it suggests permissive admittance as compared to another university.

Students must prove themselves by scoring excellent academic scores, English proficiency requirements, and standardized test scores. Also, the university prioritizes factors, such as rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, standardized test scores, application essays, recommendations, and more.

Q: What GPA do you need to get into Iowa State?

International students who wish to study at Iowa State must have at least GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for UG and PG admission. International transfer applicants must have a minimum equivalent GPA of C+ on a scale of A to F or 2.25 on a 4.0 scale for all transferable courses.

About the Author

Written by

Aishwarya Bhatnagar

Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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Niha

All courses in US

A postgraduate in English Literature from Jamia Milla Islamia, Niha has been associated with the education industry as a student counsellor for the past eight years now. Her expertise in customer service, communicat... Read Full Bio

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