How to get scholarship for USA: Types of Scholarship and Eligibility Criteria
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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:
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- Princeton University
- Columbia University
- Brown University
- Cornell University
- New York University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Rice University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
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
- Need-Based vs Merit-Based Scholarships: Popularity, Eligibility & Criteria
- Merit Scholarships for SAT and ACT Scores
- All about Need-Based and Merit-Based Scholarships for Studying Abroad
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.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
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:
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Q: Â 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: Â 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: Â 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: Â What is the maximum and minimum score in GRE to get admission for MS in USA?
GRE is a popular standardised test for getting admission in MS program in the world. However, there are many universities in the USA that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores. There is fixed minimum or maximum GRE score for admission. However, even if your GRE score is below the average for a particular program, you may still be considered for admission if you have strong qualifications in other areas. It is adviseble to check university website for the exact information.
Q: Â How much is the application fee for Alabama University?
The Alabama University application fee for International students vary by application type. Mentioned below are the application fee for UG and PG applications at Alabama:
- UG: USD 40 or INR 3,342.14
- MBA: USD 80 or INR 6,684.28
Q: Â 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: Â Is Texas Wesleyan hard to get into?
As per the US News and World Report, Texas Wesleyan University acceptance rate is 58%. This shows that the university's admission process is relatively selective. Therefore, some students may find it harder to get into the university. Also, international students are advised to check the minimum eligibility for their courses before applying. Please note that the data on the acceptance rate given above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.
Q: Â What is the OHIO Excellence Scholarship?
First-year students who are new to the Athens campus of Ohio University are considered for the OHIO Excellence Scholarship. The factors that are considered to grant this scholarship are academic achievement, financial need, and individual contributions to the incoming first-year class. This is a merit-based scholarship and the award amount for this scholarship varies up to USD 6,500 annually.
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
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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