Are full ride scholarships available for international undergrads in the USA?

I'm an international student interested in pursuing undergraduate studies in the USA. I've heard about full ride scholarships, but I'm unsure how common they are and which schools offer them. Any suggestions or personal experiences would be helpful!

While finding a full-ride scholarship as an international student can be more challenging due to competition and a smaller pool of opportunities compared to domestic students, they do exist.

Relatively few colleges provide full-ride scholarships, and for international students, they're often even less common. However, there are universities that do offer substantial financial aid to international students. For instance, Harvard, MIT, and Amherst are "need-blind" for international students, meaning they don't factor in a student's ability to pay when making admissions decisions, and they commit to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need.

There is also a variety of merit-based scholarships available that could offer substantial aid, if not a full ride, for international students. For example, University of Southern California offers the Mork Family Scholarship that covers full tuition plus a living stipend.

Be aware that the qualifications for these highly competitive scholarships can vary. Typically, they seek out top performers both academically and in other areas such as leadership, service, or special talent. Remember to thoroughly research the requirements for each scholarship you're considering.

A thorough search through databases like Appily, the school's financial aid page, and contacting the university's financial aid office can help identify these opportunities. It's important to start your search early as these scholarships can have early deadlines.

Ultimately, securing a full-ride scholarship as an international student can be intensely competitive, but it's certainly not impossible. Be proactive, diligent, and persistent in your search and your efforts might be rewarded!