Studying in the US can be affordable if you plan well in advance, so you can apply to a range of scholarships offered by the American universities and colleges before deadlines. Open to meritorious international students to help them fund their studies, these financial aids can be partial or fully paid, depending on the criteria, course and the institution.

You can fund your studies by availing various kinds of financial aids available. These can be classified into:

• Need-based aid
• Athletic Scholarships
• Scholarships / Tuition Waivers
• Fellowships / Grants
• Teaching Assistantships
• Research Assistantships
• Administrative / Residence Assistantships

The most important criterion for most scholarships is a good academic score, however, it also depends on factors such as your chosen destination, subject and level. In some scholarships, factors like extracurricular activities, and volunteering can also be used to advantage.

These aids may be provided by the government, private organizations or educational institutions. Keep in mind that the competition for such aids is high and thus you must apply for them in advance.