Which universities in the USA provide significant scholarships for international students?

The idea of studying in the USA is appealing, but it's expensive. I need as much financial help as possible. Are any universities known for offering high scholarships to international students?

There are U.S. universities that provide significant scholarships for international students. Some have scholarship programs specifically for international students, while others offer scholarships to all students, regardless of their nationality.

1. University of Oregon: The "International Cultural Service Program (ICSP)" scholarship offers tuition waiver awards which can range from partial to full tuition.

2. Iowa State University: The "International Merit Scholarship" is awarded to well-rounded international students who have strong academics and accomplishments in various activities outside of academia.

3. University of Minnesota: Their "Global Excellence Scholarships" (for freshmen and transfer students) reduce the non-resident tuition rate to the in-state rate, which can be a significant reduction.

4. Emory University: The "Emory Scholars Program" presents international students with the opportunity for merit scholarships.

5. Vanderbilt University: Their "Ingram Scholarship Program" covers full tuition, plus a stipend for a summer project. An important note is that Vanderbilt is a need-blind school, meaning your financial situation won't bear on your acceptance likelihood.

6. Harvard University: Harvard provides need-based aid and meets 100% of the demonstrated need of all admitted students, including international students. If your family earns less than $85,000 per year, you will have to pay nothing towards the cost of attendance.

Remember that scholarships are competitive. Knowing this, make sure to check the individual university's scholarship application process, requirements, and deadlines. Some require separate applications, while others automatically consider you when you apply for admission.

Besides scholarships, you should also look into grants, loans, and work-study jobs as other ways to finance your U.S. education. It's also important to use the net price calculator provided by each college to estimate your costs, if available.

Last but not least, make sure to keep your grades up and put effort into your application, as scholarships, especially those for international students, are often merit-based. Stand-outs in academics as well as in extracurricular activities (preferably Tier 1 or Tier 2 activities) have the upper hand when scholarship selection takes place. Good luck!