Many scholarships in the US are extremely expensive. Tuition fees alone can be over $60k per year, not to mention rent and flights. This means many students give up.
Most graduate fellowships have deadlines for 2027. The large need-based undergraduate scholarships have deadlines coming up soon.
All deadlines mentioned in this article were correct in November 2026. Please check the official page for accurate dates.
What Does “Fully Funded” Usually Cover?
- Tuition fees.
- Accommodation or a living allowance.
- A monthly stipend for living expenses. Often, this isn’t fully covered.
- Health insurance.
- Flight ticket. This varies between scholarships. Read the details carefully.
Need-based scholarships at US colleges depend on how much money your family has. You’ll only know how much you’ve received once you receive your award letter.
Quick Summary of Deadlines
- Berea College: Has a deadline of November 30th, 2026, for international students. However, some pages state December 15th or November 1st. Please check the official page.
- MIT: Has a deadline of February 15th, 2027, for undergraduate aid forms for Regular Action. Please check the official page for accurate admission dates.
- Harvard College: Requires applications by January 1st, 2027, and aid forms by February 1st.
- Princeton: Requires applications by January 1st, 2027, and aid forms by February 1st. I have only found these dates on guide pages. Please check the official page.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2027/28: Has closed in most countries. Deadlines ranged from February to October 2026, depending on your country.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford: Closed on October 6th, 2026.
- Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship 2027/28: Has closed in the countries I checked. Deadlines ranged from July to August 2026.
- Rotary Peace Fellowship 2027/28: Closed on May 15th, 2026.
Currently Open / Coming Soon
1. Berea College (Kentucky)
Berea does not charge tuition fees for any students. They have a small number of international students and require strong grades and genuine financial need.
Deadline:
Most pages state November 30th, 2026, for Fall 2027 entry. Please note that one guide says there are no extensions. Some pages state December 15th and November 1st. Please check the official page today.
Coverage:
Fully covers tuition fees for 4 years. There is conflicting information regarding accommodation and meals. Some pages say they are fully covered. One page says it is only in the first year. Please contact Berea.
Things to Note:
All students must work on campus. Be prepared.
2. MIT Scholarship (Massachusetts)
MIT does not offer any individual prizes. They are need-blind towards international students and state they will fully meet your demonstrated need, just like they would for domestic students.
Deadline:
Regular Action aid forms are due by February 15th, 2027. Offers are given in mid-March.
Early Action aid forms were due by November 30th, and Early Action admission has closed.
Regular Action admission is shown as January 1st on one page and January 5th on another. Please check the official page.
Coverage:
Depends on how much money your family has. MIT states they will fully meet your need. You can expect a grant rather than a full ride until you receive your letter.
Things to Note:
You will need to complete the CSS Profile using their code 3514. Their own help page states they do not offer any fee waivers for international students. Be prepared to pay this fee.
3. Harvard College (Massachusetts)
Harvard states they are need-blind and admit students without considering their ability to pay. They only offer need-based grants.
Deadline:
The application is due by January 1st. Financial aid forms for Regular Decision are due by February 1st, 2027.
The early round has passed, as aid forms were due November 1st.
Coverage:
Grants based on how much money your family has. Harvard fully meets your need. Awards are given around April.
Things to Note:
You will need to complete the CSS Profile using code 3434. You will also need to complete tax documents via IDOC.
If you cannot afford to pay for the Profile, there are alternative instructions on their financial aid page. Please read these early.
4. Princeton University (New Jersey)
Princeton is need-blind to all students. They do not offer any merit scholarships. They only offer need-based grants.
Deadline:
The application is due January 1st, 2027, and aid forms are due February 1st, 2027.
I was unable to find these dates on the official page. Please double-check.
Coverage:
Grant based on how much money your family has. One guide says there is no loan. Please check the official page.
Things to Note:
Princeton does not use the CSS Profile. They have their own free financial aid form.
Do not assume this! Check your checklist on your applicant portal.
Closed for 2027 – Plan for Next Year
5. Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Students from around 160 countries can study for a master’s or PhD, fully funded by the US government.
You will not apply to one place. You will apply to the Fulbright office or embassy in your country.
Deadline:
Deadlines for 2027/28 ranged from February to October 2026.
For example:
- South Africa had a deadline of April 8th.
- The Philippines had a deadline of April 30th.
- Albania had a deadline of June 30th.
The 2028/29 call has not been officially released. Watch your country’s Fulbright page next Spring.
Coverage:
This varies between countries. It usually covers study costs and living costs. Often, it covers flights and health insurance. Please check your country’s page for exact coverage.
Things to Note:
This is not for US citizens or permanent residents.
This is not the same as the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which is for Americans.
6. Knight-Hennessy Scholars (Stanford)
This scholarship fully funds your postgraduate studies at Stanford. It is open to all nationalities, with up to 100 winners each year.
Deadline:
The 2027 deadline closed on October 6th, 2026, at 1 p.m. Pacific Time.
The application opened on June 1st. Dates for next year have not been announced.
Coverage:
Up to 3 years of tuition and fees. You will also receive a stipend for living and study costs. PhD students will receive funding for later years from their department.
Things to Note:
You will need to apply twice. Once for the scholarship and once for your degree at Stanford. If you miss either, you will not get in.
7. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship
This is a mid-career professionals programme by the US government. It is 9–10 months long and does not award a degree.
Deadline:
Dates vary between countries.
- Ethiopia had a deadline of July 19th, 2026.
- Bangladesh had a deadline of August 13th.
- Romania had a deadline of August 31st.
The 2028 call has not been released yet.
Coverage:
This is fully funded. You will receive a monthly stipend. Please check your country’s office for exact coverage.
Things to Note:
This is only for working professionals from eligible countries. Usually, fresh graduates will not qualify.
8. Rotary Peace Fellowship
Rotary will fund your master’s degree or short certificate in peace and conflict. The centre in the US is hosted by Duke and UNC in North Carolina.
Deadline:
The 2027/28 deadline closed on May 15th, 2026.
The official page states the form will open in February 2027 for 2028/29. It is likely the deadline will be May 15th, 2027.
Coverage:
- Tuition.
- Living costs.
- Flights.
- Health insurance.
Please check the Rotary page.
Things to Note:
You will need around 3 years of work/volunteering experience. You will not be placed in a centre in your home country.
How to Pick the Right Scholarship
Find One to Suit Your Profile
If you’re applying from high school, then look at Berea, MIT, Harvard, and Princeton, as they are currently open.
If you have a bachelor’s degree, then Fulbright, Knight-Hennessy, and Rotary are options for next year.
If you work in the public sector, then look at the Humphrey Fellowship.
Check If Your Country Offers It
Fulbright and Humphrey are run through your own country’s office. Start here.
Rotary will not place you in your home country.
Yale and Amherst also state they are need-blind to international students. Check their pages for deadlines.
Be Aware of Busy Deadlines
The major undergraduate deadlines are between November 30th and February 15th. Don’t plan to write 4 applications in the last week!
Start applying to the slow applications now. Tax documents, transcripts, and translations can take weeks to complete.
Add all deadlines to your phone and set reminders 2 weeks before.
3 Common Mistakes
1. Old Dates
Berea has 3 different dates online. Always check the official page.
2. Missing Second Steps
Many scholarships require 2 steps. Knight-Hennessy also requires you to apply to Stanford. Fulbright is run through your country’s office.
If you miss a step, you haven’t actually applied.
3. Expecting a Full Ride
MIT, Harvard, and Princeton only offer grants based on how much money your family has.
You may receive a large amount, but you won’t know until you receive your letter.
Conclusion
The closest deadline is Berea. Most pages say November 30th, 2026.
Harvard requires applications by January 1st, and Princeton by the same date. MIT Regular Action is in early January. Check their page.
Harvard and Princeton require aid forms by February 1st, and MIT by February 15th.
Open the official international page for Berea tonight and note the deadline. Start applying.