10 Scholarships for International Students Attending College in the US
International students are a burgeoning demographic at American universities. There are approximately 1.1 million international students enrolled in colleges across the United States, accounting for 12% of the total student population.
Jump ahead to the scholarship list!The Importance of Scholarships for International Students
Higher tuition fees lead to additional financial stress, especially for international students. Federal student debt makes up about 92% of all student loans. Unfortunately, federal loans aren’t available for most international students.
As a result, 72% of international students pay out of pocket. Other forms of financial aid, like home country government or university financial assistance, are offered to these students as well. Nonetheless, that’s a heavy burden for international families, especially those who came to the United States from developing countries, to have to undertake.
Private scholarships, like those offered on Bold.org, are vital for foreign students looking to fund their education in the US.
Spending your family’s life savings on college is simply not sustainable. Luckily, 75% of students who are awarded merit-based scholarships receive them from private or community organizations. You won’t have to go far, as there are plenty of great international scholarship opportunities right here at Bold.org! Remember, every little bit helps, so be sure to apply to as many scholarships as you are eligible for.
Need help finding international student scholarships? We have you covered, with Bold.org’s exclusive list of 10 scholarships for international students!
International Student Scholarship List
- Amount: $3,020
- Eligibility: Any student with English as their second language
- Application Deadline: August 1st, 2021
- Winners Announced: August 16th, 2021
- Description: It all started with a passion for music, but DJ/Producer Sikdope wouldn’t have been able to attain global success without the opportunity to learn English. In an effort to improve opportunities for non-native speakers, this scholarship will be awarded to one student for whom English is their second language. To apply, write an essay detailing how learning English as a second language has shaped your experience in the United States and what your dreams for the future are.
- Amount: $2,000
- Eligibility: All Asian American female students
- Application Deadline: September 1st, 2021
- Winners Announced: September 30th, 2021
- Description: The Soo Joo Park Scholarship seeks to uplift and support Asian American women from immigrant backgrounds who have faced discrimination in their lives. To apply, write an essay describing your experience as an Asian American woman.
- Amount: $2,000
- Eligibility: Any Latinx high school senior or undergraduate student
- Application Deadline: June 30th, 2021
- Winners Announced: July 31st, 2021
- Description: The Abran Arreola Latinx Scholarship is designed to help rectify the lack of diversity of academic mentors. This scholarship will be awarded to two Latinx students who are pursuing higher education and believe in the power of community. To apply, write an essay about an important experience in your life and how it has shaped your outlook on life.
- Amount: $1,500
- Eligibility: Any Black female high school senior
- Application Deadline: August 1st, 2021
- Winners Announced: August 31st, 2021
- Description: The Penny Collins Scholarship seeks to help bridge the gap between men and women, especially women of color. To apply, write an essay detailing ways you can address challenges that may arise in the workforce as a result of intersectionality.
- Amount: $1,000
- Eligibility: Any high school senior attending an HBCU
- Application Deadline: March 30th, 2022
- Winners Announced: April 30th, 2022
- Description: The Art of Giving Scholarship is designed to support one high school senior who will be attending a historically Black college or university in the fall of 2022. To apply, submit a video of yourself talking about the career goals you have set for yourself.
- Amount: $750
- Eligibility: Any AAPI high school senior or undergraduate student
- Application Deadline: August 1st,2021
- Winners Announced: August 31st, 2021
- Description: The Asian American/Pacific Islander Scholarship is designed to both support both Pacific Islander and Asian students struggling to pay their tuition, as well as to promote further diversity in education.
- Amount: $750
- Eligibility: Any Hispanic high school senior or undergraduate student
- Application Deadline: August 2nd, 2021
- Winners Announced: August 31st, 2021
- Description: The Hispanic Empowerment No-Essay Scholarship is designed to both support Hispanic students struggling to pay their tuition, as well as to promote further diversity in education.
- Amount: $515
- Eligibility: Any low-income high school senior
- Application Deadline: February 1st, 2022
- Winners Announced: March 5th, 2022
- Description: The Normandie Cormier Greater is Now Scholarship aims to help mitigate the educational opportunity gap and support a low-income student who needs help paying for college. To apply, write an essay about a time you overcame adversity and what that experience taught you.
- Amount: $500
- Eligibility: Any immigrant to the United States
- Application Deadline: September 1st, 2021
- Winners Announced: September 21st, 2021
- Description: Similar to our other international scholarships, the WiseGeek Recent Immigrant Scholarship seeks to rectify the negative stereotypes surrounding immigrants in this country, offering $500 to one student who has immigrated to the United States on or after January 1st, 2010 and wants to live their life here.
- Amount: $500
- Eligibility: Any first-generation college student
- Application Deadline: August 2nd, 2021
- Winners Announced: August 31st, 2021
- Description: The First-Generation College Students Scholarship is designed to support one first-generation student who needs help paying for school while pursuing their degree.
Why are International Scholarships Advantageous for Students from Developing Countries?
There are distinct educational advantages to studying in the US. The Covid-19 pandemic and the switch to online learning have highlighted America’s outstanding infrastructure and exceptional learning environments. The switch to online learning has had its challenges, but students have largely been able to continue their education unimpeded. For developing countries like Zimbabwe, the learning curve has been much more difficult. In fact, only 23% of people in Zimbabwe have access to the internet.
Bold.org understands the importance of education. Going to college or university in the US provides incredible opportunities for students originating from developing countries such as Zimbabwe, while also offering them the chance for substantial upward mobility. As part of our efforts to lessen student debt, we are now offering scholarships exclusively for international students. Let's take a look at the demographic of students who could benefit from scholarships for international students.
International Student Enrollement Facts
Origin Countries with the Largest Enrollment of International Students:
- China: 373,000 students
- India: 193,000 students
- South Korea: 50,000 students
- Saudi Arabia: 31,000 students
- Canada: 26,000 students
Universities with the Largest Enrollment of International Students:
- NYU: 19,605 students
- USC: 16,340 students
- Northeastern: 16,075 students
- Columbia: 15,897 students
- University of Illinois: 13,497 students
In addition to adding diversity and different perspectives to the classroom, international students studying at US colleges and universities contribute significantly to the US economy. During the 2019-2020 academic year, international students added $38.7 billion and supported 415,996 jobs to the U.S. economy as blossoming young professionals.
In the 2018-2019 academic year, 51% of international students in the United States pursued a STEM-related degree. Engineering is still the most popular major among international students, followed by business management and computer science.
Because of the increasing value of science and technology in the workforce, the US provides international students who study STEM with the opportunity to work in this country for up to three years after their graduation, with no additional requirements. There are plenty of opportunities for international students to find work in the US, many employers valuing the diverse perspectives that international students provide.
Overall enrollment for international students in the U.S. slipped 1.8% in 2019-2020, the third year in a row that enrollment for international students has declined. The resulting impact on the US economy between 2016 and 2019 was a loss of $11.8 billion, affecting nearly 65,000 jobs.
Reasons for Enrollment Decline:
- The visa application process is more arduous
- International competition, from countries such as the UK, Canada, and Australia
- US social/political climate under the Trump Administration
- High tuition costs
- Difficulty in securing jobs in the US post-graduation
Despite evidence of decline these past few years, international student enrollment is expected to surge post-pandemic, starting in the fall of 2022. Our scholarships for international students will help you be a part of the new era of progressive and influential international students.
Have questions? Send us an email at contact@bold.org.