What You Should Know about Scholarships in the United States
- Scholarships in the United States are awarded by universities, the government, and private organizations.
- The average amount of university scholarships is 25-50% of tuition. Full tuition coverage is extremely rare and requires outstanding achievement.
- Scholarships are available for all levels of education – undergraduate, graduate, and PhD. But the last two will be easier to get a scholarship – the competition is lower.
- Scholarships come in all shapes and sizes: public and private, for academic excellence and for the needy. There are even sports scholarships, and they too can fully cover the cost of education in the United States.
- Need-based scholarships at universities provide financial assistance to those in need. They cover up to 100% of the cost of tuition, room and board. Large scholarships are available at the Ivy League and other prestigious universities.
- Assistantship programs allow master’s and doctoral students to work on campus and receive a tuition discount for doing so.
- The best-known state grants are The Fulbright Program for master’s degrees and the Year Program for bachelor’s degrees. They pay full tuition, room and board.
U.S. Scholarships
All education in the U.S. is tuition-based. For four years of study at not the most prestigious university will have to spend about 16 million rubles, including room and board. But this does not mean that the way to American universities is closed for a Russian with an average income. You can reduce your expenses by winning a scholarship or grant.
There is no clear distinction between scholarships and grants in the United States. Both are often referred to by the common word scholarship. They are paid by:
- Universities;
- Government;
- Private organizations.
The average coverage for most scholarships is 25-50% of tuition. But some pay for all expenses: tuition, room and board. Bachelors will have a harder time getting funding – there are many more applicants, so the competition is higher.
Scholarships in America are not given “for nothing. With their help, the state and universities attract the most talented students from around the world. Once they graduate, they can help build the American economy. Or spread American culture and values in their home country, and thereby improve attitudes toward the United States. So to qualify for a scholarship, candidates need to show the committee that the investment in them will not be in vain.