Financial aid is available for students at some US universities, with different funding options for US and international students. Financial aid can be used to cover some or all of your tuition and/or living expenses. It is either:
- Need-based – based on how much your family can afford to pay towards the total cost of completing a degree programme at that institution. You will have to fill in special documentation as part of your application to apply for this type of financial aid, so check each institution’s website carefully to make sure you understand their requirements.
- Merit-based – for achievement in a particular area such academic results or performing arts. Competition for merit-based scholarships is high and they often require you to apply early, or may have an additional application for you to submit.
Some institutions also offer scholarships to attract particular applicants (e.g. based on your country of origin or specific interests). You can find details of the scholarships available at each university by searching the institution’s website.
There may also be scholarships available from:
- other organisations in your home country or your local US embassy
- external funding bodies such as charities or private sponsors – these kinds of scholarships often have specific qualifying criteria such as gender, nationality or achievement in a particular field or interest.
Athletic scholarships
Athletic scholarships are offered to top athletes who will represent their university in a particular sport. Competition for these scholarships is extremely high and you will need to start your research into your application plans early if you intend to apply for one of these opportunities.
Athletic associations, such as the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) control the qualifying criteria. Therefore you will need to make sure you register with the association your chosen institution is a member of, as well as applying to the institution in the normal way. The university will usually require you to meet the standard academic entry criteria. You will also need to contact the university coach for your sport or use a sports scholarship agency to contact coaches on your behalf.
Finding scholarships
The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers detailed information about funding opportunities for study in the US. If you are an international student, your local EducationUSA office will also be able to provide information. As well as checking individual universities' websites, here are some examples of other databases you can use to search for scholarships that match your profile, needs and plans: