Scholarships for Indian Students in the USA

Scholarships for the USA have become a major focus for Indian students as the United States continues to be one of the most preferred study-abroad destinations. According to the US State Department’s 2024 Annual Report on Visa Statistics, around 3.31 lakh student visas were issued to Indian nationals, making India the largest source of US student visa recipients for the second consecutive year. However, recent 2025 visa trends also indicate tighter US student visa approvals and increased competition for Indian applicants.

Studying in the US can be expensive. The average cost of studying at US university is nearly USD 55,000 per year, while monthly living expenses can reach around USD 1,500 – 3,000 depending on the city and university.

To reduce this financial burden, many Indian students apply for government-funded, private, and university scholarships such as Fulbright-Nehru, AAUW, Inlaks, and National Overseas Scholarship (NOS). In this guide, explore the top USA scholarships for Indian students in 2026-27, including eligibility, funding amount, deadlines, and application process.

Which Scholarship Should You Apply For?

Find Scholarships That Match Your Profile

Finding the right scholarship can be confusing because every program has different eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and deadlines. Use the Nomad Credit Scholarship Finder tool to discover scholarship for Indian students in USA based on your academic profile, course, and university preferences.

Types of Scholarships for International Students to Study in USA

If you plan to rely on a scholarship to fund your studies in the US, you can explore the following types of scholarships:

1. Government-funded scholarships: These are scholarships for international students funded by the US government.

2. Non-government-funded scholarships: Various trusts and private organizations offer merit/ need-based financial assistance to study in the US.

3. University-specific scholarships: Many universities in the US offer scholarships for international students based on their academic merit, financial need, and extracurricular involvement.

These scholarships are either merit-based or need-based. Let’s see the details of the scholarships to study in the USA.

Government-Funded Scholarships

The government-funded scholarships in the US for international students often help meritorious applicants to cover their complete expenses related to their studies. The table below shows the details of some popular government-funded scholarships in the US for Indian and international students for MS in the US and other courses.

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program aims to enhance leadership among international students studying in US universities. The fellowship lasts for 10 months, and those who are interested in taking up a non-degree study in the US can apply for this fellowship.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be a citizen of an eligible country, which India is. 
• Have an undergraduate degree
• Possess a minimum of five years of full-time professional experience
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and a record of public service in the community
• Show proof of English language skills
• Be less exposed to the US in the past

Know more about the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program.

Fulbright Fellowships

Fulbright Fellowships are designed to provide meritorious Indian students to pursue master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral study opportunities in the US. These fellowships are offered by the United States-India Educational Foundation. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Must have completed the equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree from an Indian institution (with minimum 55% marks) for master’s fellowships, a postgraduate degree for doctoral fellowships, and a Ph.D. for postdoctoral fellowships
• Possess relevant work or research experience of 3 years
• Demonstrated experience in leadership and community service
• Do not possess another degree from the US
• Employed students must present the employer’s consent for leave during the fellowship period.

Know more about the Fulbright Fellowships.

The National Overseas Scholarship

The National Overseas Scholarship helps low-income students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, denotified nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, landless agricultural laborers and Traditional Artisans category to pursue master’s or Ph.D courses abroad. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Students must be from the eligible categories. If there are vacancies, other category students will be considered under merit.
• Be a J-1 visa holder
• The student must have a minimum of 60% marks in the last qualifying exam
• The student’s family income must be less than INR 8 lakh per annum
• The maximum age limit is 35 years
• The university of admission abroad must be one of the top 500 universities in the world according to the latest QS World University Rankings.
• Studies concerning Indian culture, heritage, history, or social studies on India-based research topics are excluded from the scholarship.
• If employed, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer is required.
• Selected students must not change their university in the US

Note: Unlike most international students in the US who typically study on F-1 visas, NOS scholars are specifically required to study under the J-1 exchange visitor framework.

Know more about the National Overseas Scholarship.

Non-Government Funded Scholarships

International students of MS and various other courses in the US can apply for scholarships funded by various organizations for meritorious and financially weaker students. Some of the prominent non-government-funded scholarships for international students include the following:

Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship

The Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Program (ISP) aims to support financially weak students from developing countries to study postgraduate courses abroad. The scholarship is provided for full-time programs and supports distance learning programs or studies in local or regional universities only if the quality of the course is maintained.

Eligibility Criteria

• Have an excellent academic record
• Have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training / professional experience
• Demonstrate genuine financial need for the scholarship 
• Secure admission to a reputed university abroad (for the first year of the program) for master’s or Ph.D. courses
• Have a strong record of professional experience, extracurricular activities, and leadership skills. 
• Be under 30 years of age 

Know more about the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship.

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship 

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation offers scholarships to Indian students who secure admission to top universities in the US, the UK, and Europe for Masters, Phil, or Ph.D courses. The scholarships are provided based on the student’s academic merit and financial need.

Eligibility Criteria

• Indian passport holder and resident of India at the time of application
• Hold first class in the last qualifying exam
• Students with undergraduate from abroad must be residing in India at least for two years before applying for the scholarship.
• Students with a postgraduate degree from abroad can’t apply for the scholarship.
• Proof of admission is mandatory to apply for the scholarship
• Must possess an English proficiency certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.) if it applies to your course
• The student must be born on or after 01 January 1997 (for 2027 scholarship)
• The minimum academic grade requirement is 65% or a CGPA of 6.8 or a GPA of 2.6 for Social Sciences, Humanities, Law, Fine Arts, Architecture, and related subjects
• The minimum academic grade requirement is 70% or a CGPA of 7.2 or a GPA of 2.8 for Mathematics, Sciences, Environment, and related subjects

Know more about the Inlaks Scholarship.

AAUW International Fellowships

AAUW International Fellowships helps international students who identify themselves as women to pursue full-time graduate, postgraduate, or postdoctoral studies in the US. Students are selected based on their application’s strengths.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be an international student with no intention to stay back in the US after studies
• Must have an undergraduate degree equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree
• Must show proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge)
• Should have applied to a US university while applying for the AAUW fellowship
• Possess academic merit and a commitment to women and girls
• Previous recipients of the fellowships are ineligible to apply
• Certificates, associate degrees, and undergraduate degrees are ineligible to be considered for the fellowship
• A few fellowships are available for study outside the US, in any of the US university branches
• Distance learning or online programs are not supported by the fellowship

Know more about the AAUW International Fellowships.

Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Scholarship

The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Scholarship is dedicated to Indian students who are planning to pursue a PG or PhD course. Each year this scholarship is awarded to Indian students with high academic records.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian Nationals, residing in India and below 30 years of age
• Graduates from an accredited Indian University (students in their final year of study or waiting for results are also eligible to apply)
• Candidates planning to pursue a Master’s or PhD at top universities in the Fall Semester
• Candidates awaiting their university acceptance letter (award of scholarship is subject to securing admission)

Know more about the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Scholarship

The Next Genius University Scholarships

The Next Genius University Scholarships cover the tuition fee for international undergraduate students admitted to select universities in the US. Students are selected based on their academic merit. 

Eligibility criteria

• Be an Indian or a citizen of Nepal or Bangladesh
• Apply or get admitted to any of the partner universities of The Next Genius Foundation
• Maintain an excellent academic record

Know more about the Next Genius University Scholarships.

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University-Funded Scholarships in the US

US universities offer scholarships for international students based on their academic merit, extracurricular activities, and financial needs. If you are planning to study MS in the US or any other courses, see the table below for a handpicked list of US universities with their scholarship details. 

Scholarship Eligibility by Degree Level in the US

Different scholarships support different study levels. While some are designed specifically for master’s students, others also fund doctoral research or undergraduate programs. Use the table below to quickly identify which scholarships match your degree level.

Eligibility for a Scholarship in the US

To win a scholarships for Indian students to study in USA, you must fulfill the eligibility requirements specified for that scholarship. In general, the following requirements are applicable to all scholarship options: 

• Have the minimum academic score required for the scholarship
• Be a citizen of the countries eligible for the scholarship
• Submit documents on time in the right format
• Have standardized test scores, such as GMAT, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, etc.

Tips to Increase the Chances of Getting a Scholarship in the US

The competition for winning your desired scholarship is tough, depending on the total number of scholarships available and the competition at the time when you apply for the scholarship. Here are some tips to help you enhance your chances of winning a scholarships in USA:

• Research extensively: There are numerous scholarships for international students in the US than those listed here. You have more chances of securing a scholarship when you explore the maximum scholarship options. You may get in touch with your department or seniors, exhaust the sources on the internet, reach out to independent sponsors, etc. 
• Maintain academic excellence: If you maintain academic excellence throughout your education journey, your scholarship application will have more weightage. For merit-based scholarships, it is mandatory that you must possess a steady track of academic merit. 
• Strengthen your application: You can increase your application’s supremacy by providing the right documents, an outstanding essay, and well-articulated reasons to apply for the scholarship. Remember, the US is a country that gives weightage to extracurricular activities where you have shown your leadership skills. You must highlight the extracurricular involvements to build strength and stand out from other applicants. 
• Apply as early as possible: Most often, the scholarships are limited, and late applications may have fewer chances of winning. Gather your documents and plan your scholarship applications simultaneously with your admission application. 

India-Specific Tips to Improve Your Scholarship Chances

• Aim for a strong CGPA: For most merit-based US scholarships, academic performance plays a major role. Competitive applicants often have a CGPA equivalent of 8.5-9.0+ on a 10-point scale, especially for top universities and STEM programs.
• Keep your TOEFL or IELTS scores ready: Most US scholarships require proof of English proficiency. Ensure your TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score is valid and taken within the last two years before scholarship applications begin.
• Apply to multiple Indian-origin scholarships together: Scholarships such as Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship, Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship, and Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship typically open between February and March. Since their application requirements overlap significantly, students should prepare one strong SOP base draft and apply to all eligible scholarships simultaneously.
• Prepare financial documents in advance: Need-based scholarships often require financial proof documents such as parental Income Tax Returns (ITR), bank statements, salary slips, Form 16, and income certificates. Keeping these documents ready before the application season can help avoid last-minute delays.

In short, a well-planned approach will be beneficial to increase your chances of winning a scholarship in the US. Don’t forget to check your eligibility before planning your application.

Scholarships are competitive, so it helps to plan a backup. Many Indian students pair a partial scholarship with an education loan for USA to cover the remaining cost, borrowing only what the scholarship doesn’t cover — and keeping your debt as low as possible from day one.

To kickstart your planning, visit the website of the university of your choice and see which scholarships are available for you. For information on scholarships and proper guidance on funding options for your education in the US, get in touch with our experts who will provide you with the best service after analyzing your profile.

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