Pursuing higher education in the United States can be life-changing—but also expensive. Thankfully, several top universities across the U.S. offer fully funded scholarships for international students, especially those enrolling in graduate programs. These scholarships cover tuition, living expenses, and sometimes even travel costs.
If you’re dreaming of studying in the U.S. without the financial burden, here are 10 universities that offer excellent fully funded opportunities for international students.
🎓 1. University of St. Thomas, Minnesota
Location: St. Paul & Minneapolis, Minnesota
Website: stthomas.edu
The University of St. Thomas offers a wide range of graduate programs in fields like business, engineering, law, and education, with a commitment to ethical leadership and hands-on learning. The university provides merit-based scholarships and fellowships for international students, often covering full tuition.
✅ Fully funded fellowships available through the Office of Graduate Admissions.
🎓 2. University of Michigan–Dearborn
Location: Dearborn, Michigan
Website: umdearborn.edu
Part of the University of Michigan system, UM-Dearborn offers graduate programs in business, computer science, and engineering. They award fully funded research assistantships and graduate fellowships to top-performing students, including international applicants.
✅ Highly research-oriented programs with teaching/research assistant positions.
🎓 3. Cornell University
Location: Ithaca, New York
Website: cornell.edu
As an Ivy League school, Cornell University offers fully funded Ph.D. and some Master’s programs. Students can receive fellowships, assistantships, and tuition waivers across disciplines such as law, engineering, science, and the humanities.
✅ Most Ph.D. programs are fully funded for 5 years.
🎓 4. West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech)
Location: Beckley, West Virginia
Website: wvutech.edu
WVU Tech offers strong technical graduate programs and provides scholarships and assistantships for international students, particularly those in STEM fields. Their focus is on career readiness through experiential learning.
✅ Offers research assistantships and tuition waivers in tech and business.
🎓 5. University of Notre Dame
Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
Website: nd.edu
Notre Dame is renowned for its strong commitment to research, global service, and ethics. It offers fully funded fellowships for international graduate students, especially in law, science, engineering, and business.
✅ The Keough School and Graduate School offer full funding for most accepted students.
🎓 6. University of Colorado Boulder
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Website: colorado.edu
With a reputation for innovation and sustainability, UC Boulder offers graduate programs in environmental science, engineering, and arts. International students can apply for fellowships, research assistantships, and tuition support.
✅ Top-ranked for environmental and climate-related research funding.
🎓 7. Michigan Technological University
Location: Houghton, Michigan
Website: mtu.edu
MTU is a leader in engineering, computing, and science. International students are eligible for graduate assistantships and fellowships that cover full tuition and stipends for living expenses.
✅ Strong industry partnerships for hands-on research opportunities.
🎓 8. Northeastern University – College of Engineering
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Website: coe.northeastern.edu
Northeastern’s engineering graduate programs are deeply tied to real-world industry needs, offering co-op opportunities, assistantships, and full scholarships for international students in cybersecurity, data science, and more.
✅ Known for experiential learning and industry-funded research.
🎓 9. University of Dayton
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Website: udayton.edu
With a focus on practical application, Dayton offers graduate programs in education, law, engineering, and business. Full-tuition scholarships and research assistantships are available to top international applicants.
✅ Offers a Graduate International Merit Scholarship and Research Opportunities.
🎓 10. Wayne State University
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Website: wayne.edu
Wayne State is known for its urban research focus. It offers graduate funding packages that include tuition, healthcare, and stipends across fields like medicine, law, and business.
✅ Home to the prestigious President’s Graduate Fellowship for full funding.
🌟 How to Apply for These Scholarships
Here are general tips to boost your chances:
Start early – Begin preparing your application at least 6–12 months in advance.
Research faculty – Professors with similar research interests can support your admission and funding.
Craft a strong SOP – A compelling Statement of Purpose is crucial.
Secure great recommendations – Get letters from mentors or professionals who know your academic strengths.
Ace your English tests – Most programs require TOEFL or IELTS scores.
✅ Final Thoughts
Fully funded scholarships are highly competitive but absolutely achievable with the right preparation. Each of these universities provides not just education but also support for international students to thrive in a global academic environment.
📢 For regular updates on scholarships, education news, and career tips, follow Kelvin Kibet Media.
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