The Ultimate 2027 Guide to US Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students

We are at the time of the year when students, aspiring to study in top US universities, are appearing for the final SAT/ACT attempt, polishing their essays, requesting letters of recommendation from their school, and waiting with bated breath to submit a stellar application while simultaneously juggling with their academic and extracurricular activities.  In the rush to perfect SAT scores and essays, scholarship planning often becomes an afterthought—until the tuition bill arrives. As a result of which students and parents have to make the hard choice of giving up on their dream universities.

Expert advice – Don’t wait for an admit letter. Scholarship opportunity isn’t going to knock on your door. Devote quality time in searching for the right kind of scholarships, so that you will have ample time to collate the required data, gather financial/official documents, and meet all the eligibility criteria.

Through this article, we have tried to shed some light on different types of scholarships offered by US universities to International students planning to pursue their undergraduate studies in the US.

There are generally three types of scholarships offered by top US universities:

• Merit-based scholarships are given to meritorious students with outstanding academic, extracurricular, and leadership achievements.

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Scholarship Award	Deadline
Robertson’s Scholars by UNC Chapel Hill and Duke	Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA after the first semester at UNC or Duke Must be enrolled full-time One letter of recommendation must be from a current faculty member at UNC or Duke Students must apply for undergraduate admission to Duke and/or UNC-Chapel Hill the same year they apply to the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program. Students must apply to the school(s) of their choice by the respective Early or Regular deadlines. Admission to Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill are separate processes. All forms and correspondence dealing with admission to these institutions should go directly to their respective Offices of Undergraduate Admissions. International students are eligible to apply for Robertson as long as they are able to obtain a Visa to study in the United States.	full tuition (all 8 semesters) , room and board, and most mandatory fees for Scholars at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.	ED Deadline: October 15 and RD Deadline:    November 15
International Freshmen Scholarship by the University of Pittsburgh	International freshmen who apply before February 1 will be reviewed for international student scholarships. Submission of the international student short answer response, Common Application essay, or a personal statement is required for scholarship consideration.	up to $10,000 per year	February 1, 2027 (estimated based on 2026 actuals)
Women’s Leadership Scholarship by Babson College Awarded for all subjects	Candidates for the scholarship are evaluated using the information in their admission applications · finalists are invited to an interview (online/offline) for the award Offered to students based on their academic achievement and demonstrated leadership in school and community activities.	a four-year, quarter-tuition merit scholarship	March 20, 2027 (estimated based on 2026 actuals)
Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program by Washington University (St Louis)	The Rodriguez Scholars Program is open to students applying to any undergraduate school. It recognizes students of exceptional merit who demonstrate academic and leadership achievements, as well as the passion for community service exemplified by Annika Rodriguez.	Full-tuition or partial-tuition scholarships and a $2,500 stipend	January 2, 2027 (estimated based on 2026 actuals)
CEO Women in Leadership Scholarship  by Wesleyan College	This award is open to students with a minimum weighted cumulative GPA of 3.5. Ideal candidates show initiative, a drive for change, and understand why representation matters in every field.  The CEO Scholarship supports students with a bold vision for advancing equal opportunities for women in leadership.	$80,000 over four years ($20,000 per year)	2 Feb 2027 (estimated based on 2026 actuals)

• Need-based scholarships are reserved for students who belong to economically weaker communities. To avail this scholarship, students need to submit their financial documents, bank statements, salary slip, etc. US Universities offering need-based scholarships are divided into two categories – Need-blind and Need-aware

• Need-blind colleges admit students regardless of their socio-economic status and provide the required financial aid. Some need-blind colleges are –

• Amherst College

• Bowdoin College

• Dartmouth College

• Harvard University

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Minerva University

• Princeton University

• Yale University

• Need-aware colleges do factor students’ scholarship requirements into admission decisions

Pro Tip 1 : While Need-Blind institutions offer the gold standard of financial support, they are among the most selective in the world. With admit rates often dipping below 5% for international applicants, these programs demand a "spiky" profile and exceptional academic rigor. They don't just look for students who need aid; they look for students the university cannot afford to lose.

Pro Tip 2 : Did you know that 60% of EZScholar students secure significant scholarships? Mapping out your financial strategy is part of our core mentorship.

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Scholarship Award	Deadline
Harvard Scholarship offered by Harvard University	Harvard University offers financial aid to all incoming students—regardless of financial need. · International students are eligible for the same amount of aid as US students, and the application process is essentially the same Applicant must be able to demonstrate financial need while filing scholarship application	Full tuition, food and housing	November 1, 2026 (Early Action) and February 1, 2027 (Regular Decision) (estimated based on 2025 -26 actuals)
Yale Scholarship by Yale University	Applicants must have passed High school · Proof of English Proficiency Test · Good SAT/ACT Score In addition to the University application, students will be required to fill the CSS Profile	It varies from a few hundred dollars to over $80,000 per year; the average Yale need-based scholarship is over $65,000.	January 2, 2027 (estimated based on 2025 -26 actuals)

• While merit-based scholarships don’t need any extra documents/forms, need-based scholarships do require a CSS profile. For additional information on the CSS profile, please refer to the College Board website.

• Activity-based scholarships are offered to highly competitive students who have demonstrated exceptional performance in any sport, Olympiads, or competitions outside school.

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Scholarship Award	Deadline
First Robotics Scholarship by Harvey Mudd College	Applicants must have participated in a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) in high school or FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Top candidates will have assumed some kind of leadership role on their team. · FRC or FTC scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated an aptitude for Science, Technology, and other STEM subjects	Amount awarded: $27,183 (awarded to 1 student)	February 1, 2027 (estimated based on 2025 -26 actuals)
World Robot Olympiad Scholarship by Illinois Tech	Be a senior in high school, applying to colleges for the fall 2027 semester Have participated in at least one full season during your junior or senior year on a WRO team (note: if a WRO team is in its first season, seniors can still apply for the WRO scholarship)	$5,000 per year for up to four years of undergraduate study (five years for architecture).	November 15, 2026 (estimated based on 2025 -26 actuals)

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