Guide for Indian Students to get Scholarships in the USA

Pursuing higher education in the USA is a dream for many indian students for obvious reasons. However, the cost of education in the USA is significantly challenging. But the good news is that scholarships are available. 

Scholarships offer great financial assistance for students regardless of their background. Scholarships cover education expenses such as tuition fees, living expenses, and other educational-related costs.

However, securing scholarships is challenging because of its heavy competition. In this blog, we will uncover what are the available scholarships for Indian students to study in the USA, along with how to apply for them.

Why Study in the USA?

• The USA has been a favorite destination for Indian students to pursue higher education. There are many reasons why the USA has been a dream destination for many students.
• The USA is home to many top-class universities, such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, etc. Many top-ranking universities from around the world exist in the USA. 
• These educational institutes are known for their research, teaching methodologies, and strong connections with various industries across the world.
• The USA offers a wide range of courses from undergraduate to postdoctoral programs in various disciplines, offering students the flexibility to choose the course of their interest.
• Though pursuing education in the USA is financially challenging, students can get financial aid such as education loans, scholarships, crowdfunding, etc., making education in the USA accessible to indian students.
• Post studies, career opportunities are also one of the factors why the USA is the dream destination for students.
• Apart from the above factors, the cultural diversity and the global exposure that the state has allow individuals to choose the USA. Hence, many indian students prefer studying in the USA. 

Why are Scholarships Important?

• Scholarships play an important role in the educational journey of a student. These play a key role in making international education accessible. Scholarships offer great financial aid to students who wish to pursue bigger academic goals.
• Most scholarships are offered based on the merit of the students. This boosts the academic excellence of the students. Scholarships open doors to many opportunities, from academic, career, to personal opportunities.
• On top, scholarships reduce a lot of financial burden to students, which makes students focus on studies and helps them achieve their goals.

Types of Scholarships for Indian Students to study in the USA?

There are different scholarships available for students to study in the USA. The most common types of scholarships are discussed below.

1. Merit-Based Scholarship

• These are granted based on the outstanding performance of the students in academics or any other field.

2. Need-Based Scholarships

• These scholarships are awarded based on the financial situation of the student. They have to demonstrate financial status to avail these scholarships.

3. Program-Specific Scholarship

• These scholarships aim to provide financial assistance to specific fields of study, such as STEM courses etc.

4. Government-Funded Scholarships

• These scholarships are funded by the government organizations to encourage students to pursue their academic dreams.

Apart from these, there are other scholarships, such as privately funded scholarships, international scholarships, etc. help students by reducing financial burden and making students journey stress-free.

Scholarships are an incredible financial support for students, irrespective of their background. However, with the heavy competition for scholarships, an alternate option for students is recommended for a seamless academic journey. Education loans serve as a backup option for students for successful academics. If students are unsure about getting scholarships, education loans can help students in achieving their dreams.

Top Scholarships for Indian students in the USA

The following are the top scholarships available for indian students to study in the USA in different fields.

Scholarships for MS in the USA​

1. Scholarship: Nehru Study Abroad Scholarship
   Discipline: Master's in any discipline
   Scholarship Type: Merit-Based/ International scholarship
   Funding Type: Partial Funding
   Eligibility: Open to Indian Nationals, academic performance.
   Scholarship can be taken at Any University across the globe
   Application: Click here to apply
   Deadline: 31 AUG, 2025
2. Scholarship: Fulbright Foreign Student Program
   Discipline: Master's / PhD  in various disciplines
   Scholarship Type: Merit-Based/ International scholarship
   Funding Type: Partial Funding
   Eligibility: Open to all Nationals, varies by Country, and English Proficiency is required.
   Scholarship can be taken at: Universities in the USA.

PhD Scholarships in the USA​

1. Scholarship: Nokia Scholarship
   Discipline: PhD in Information and Communication Technology
   Scholarship Type: Merit-Based/ International scholarship
   Funding Type: Partial Funding
   Eligibility: Open to all Nationals, varies by Country, and English Proficiency is required.
   Scholarship can be taken at: Any University abroad
   Deadline: 18 SEP, 2025
2. Scholarship: ACI Foundation Scholarships
   Discipline: PhD in Concrete Related Programs
   Scholarship Type: Merit-Based/ International scholarship
   Funding Type: Partial Funding
   Eligibility: Open to all Nationals, varies by Country, and English Proficiency is required.
   Scholarship can be taken at: Any Institution in the USA.
   Deadline: 01, NOV, 2025

Scholarship for an MBA in the USA​

1. Scholarship: Nehru Study Abroad Scholarship
   Discipline: MBA in any discipline
   Scholarship Type: Merit-Based/ International scholarship
   Funding Type: Partial Funding
   Eligibility: Open to Indian Nationals
   Scholarship can be taken at: Any University abroad, including the USA
   Deadline:31 AUG, 2025
2. Scholarship: Study Abroad Excellence Award
   Discipline: MBA in any discipline
   Scholarship Type: Merit-Based
   Funding Type: Partial Funding
   Eligibility: Open to Indian Nationals
   Scholarship can be taken at: Any University abroad, including the USA
   Deadline:31 AUG, 2025

Scholarship for Master's in the USA 

1. Scholarship: Education Future International Scholarship
   Discipline: Masters
   Scholarship Type: Merit-Based/ International scholarship
   Funding Type: Partial Funding
   Eligibility: Open to Indian Nationals
   Scholarship can be taken at: Any University abroad, including the USA
   Deadline:31 AUG, 2025
2. Scholarship: Igniting Minds Foreign Fellowship
   Discipline: Masters
   Scholarship Type: Merit-Based
   Funding Type: Partial Funding
   Eligibility: Open to Indian Nationals
   Scholarship can be taken at: Any University abroad, including the USA
   Deadline:31 AUG, 2025

How to Apply for Scholarships to Study in the USA

Here are the steps to follow before applying for a scholarship

1. Start Early

• It is recommended to start the process at least one year prior, considering the heavy competition for scholarships.
• Many scholarship headlines fall well before university admission deadlines; therefore, the early the students apply, the higher the chances of scholarships.

2. Research Available Options

•  Not all scholarships match every student. As previously discussed, various scholarships are available to pursue higher education in the USA.
•  Often, students face rejection while applying to the wrong scholarship. For a successful scholarship process, it is important to find a scholarship that suits the student.

3. Know the Eligibility Criteria

• This should be one of the primary concerns for students before applying for a scholarship. Many scholarship applicants are rejected after the scholarship providers evaluate their profiles and check their eligibility.
• Eligibility criteria such as the age, field of study, university, country, etc, are tro mtchead to avail these scholarships.
• Hence, it is recommended to review the eligibility criteria and then apply for scholarships. This indeed increases your scholarship approval chances.

4. Keep the Documents Ready

• Students are advised to keep all the necessary documents ready to avoid rejection.
• Documents such as academic documents, statement of purpose, etc, are required to be submitted. 

5. Apply through the Right Platform

• Many students make mistakes by approaching the wrong platform.
• Apply through the official websites of the scholarships or WeMakeScholars for authentic information and application.

6. Track the Deadline and Submit on time

• Missing one deadline means waiting another year. Therefore, it is important to keep a check on the deadline and submit before the date expires.

7. Follow up

• After the application is submitted, a time-to-time follow-up is important to fill in any missing information.
•  Keep a track of the email to know the status of your scholarship application. This reduces scholarship rejections.

Documents Required to Apply for a Scholarship in the USA

The documents for scholarships are influenced by various factors such as the scholarship type, country, student profile, etc. However, the basic documents for any scholarship are given below

• Student identity proofs and photographs
• Academic records
• Income certificate(for need-based scholarships)
• Domicile certificate

Conclusion

Scholarships play a crucial role in a student's journey. In this blog, we have discussed different scholarships available for indian students along with the strategy for applying. WeMakeScholarship has comprehensive data that helps students find the scholarship that matches their profile. Apply through WeMakeScholars and find the relevant scholarship.