Pay for College With These STEM Scholarships for International Students

The cost of college continues to rise, and it can be especially difficult to cover your expenses if you’re an international student.

One way to find funding to pay for college is to use scholarships. There are a number of different scholarships available — especially for those in high-demand fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Let’s take a look at STEM scholarships for international students (domestic students can access some of these options too).

What are STEM scholarships?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The assumption is that, moving forward, our society and world will need more people who understand the concepts associated with STEM fields. As a result, some schools and programs try to attract people to study these subjects by using scholarships.

There are STEM scholarships for international students as well as for domestic students. If you’re hoping to study in a STEM field, you can get help paying for school by qualifying for a STEM scholarship.

6 STEM scholarships for international students

If you’re looking for STEM scholarships for international students, there are several options. These scholarships aren’t huge, but they can help offset some costs of attending college, especially when combined with other strategies to pay expenses.

AfterCollege STEM Inclusion Scholarship

AfterCollege says it has awarded more than $1.6 million to students to help them move forward in the world. In general, you need to come from an underrepresented background and meet other eligibility requirements.

• Amount: $500.
• Enrollment: Currently enrolled in college and working toward a STEM degree.
• Academic requirements: Minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Other requirements: Must be from a background that’s underrepresented in your field of study.

Build U. Scholarship

Buildium offers this scholarship as a way to encourage more people in technology. Buildium is a tech company and offers scholarships to engineers, designers and developers. There are two main scholarships: a general scholarship and one aimed at women in STEM.

• Amount: $2,500.
• Enrollment: Current enrollment and majoring in STEM.
• Academic requirements: N/A.
• Other requirements: Write an essay and answer a video prompt.

GeneTex Scholarship Program

Designed to encourage young scientists, GeneTex offers a scholarship for each semester. This scholarship program specifically mentions that it will consider international students as well as graduate students.

• Amount: $2,000.
• Enrollment: Current enrollment with a declared STEM course of study.
• Academic requirements: Must be in good academic standing.
• Other requirements: Complete an essay.

MPower Women in STEM Scholarship

Specifically aimed at women who want to study STEM fields in the United States or Canada, the MPower Women in STEM Scholarship is designed for international students. DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, students can also apply. There are three different scholarships: one with a prize of $6,000, one for $2,000 and one for $1,000. 

• Amount: $6,000.
• Enrollment: Current enrollment at school in the U.S. or Canada and studying in a STEM field.
• Academic requirements: Must be in good academic standing.
• Other requirements: Must be a woman who doesn’t have U.S. or Canadian citizenship.

MyBioSource Scholarship Program

This scholarship program is designed to help multiple students at once, giving away up to $12,000 for fall 2022. There are five awards for STEM majors, five awards for those with other majors and two awards for students with disabilities. This program is open to undergraduate, graduate and international students. Here’s what you need to know about the STEM scholarships.

• Amount: $1,000.
• Enrollment: Current enrollment and interested in STEM.
• Academic requirements: N/A.
• Other requirements: Complete an essay.

RevPart STEM Scholarship

This is another STEM scholarship for international students (and domestic students) that is aimed at helping multiple students. In the past, one scholarship for $1,000 was awarded, along with two $250 scholarships. Moving forward, the runner-up scholarships will be $500, and there will be three of them instead of two. These scholarships are designed to help with college costs.

• Amount: $1,000.
• Enrollment: Planning to attend an accredited school and study in a STEM field.
• Academic requirements: N/A.
• Other requirements: Complete an essay.

Other ways to pay college costs as an international student

While STEM scholarships for international students can be one way to cover expenses, there’s a good chance you will need additional sources of funding. Many of these scholarships don’t come close to covering all your school costs, so it’s important to use them in conjunction with other strategies.

Some of the ways that you might be able to raise money for college costs are:

• Apply for additional scholarships: You can apply for multiple scholarships, not just STEM scholarships for international students. Look for other scholarships in your home country as well as the United States to find more opportunities.
• Fulbright scholarship: While it won’t pay for your tuition, a Fulbright scholarship for international students can help you pay for travel and some other costs. It can help with expenses while you live in the U.S. for school.
• Work: Depending on your situation and visa restrictions, you might be able to get some work to help you pay for school. Even a part-time job can help you cover your college costs.
• Student loans: While it can be difficult to get federal aid from the U.S. government, it’s possible to get private student loans as an international student. In fact, Juno can help you find international student loans to bridge the funding gap and pay for school.
• Personal savings: If you have some personal savings, they can go a long way toward helping you pay for college and reducing the amount you need to borrow.
• Family and friends: Depending on your situation and network, you might be able to find others who can help you pay for school. 

Bottom line

No matter your status as a student, chances are you’ll need to use multiple strategies to cover your college costs. STEM scholarships for international students are just one part of the equation. Carefully consider different sources of funding for your university experience in the United States and put together a strategy that includes multiple opportunities for funding.