Reasons for Choosing U.S. Education as a Nepali Student
In terms of the number of international students, the U.S. ranks first in the world, hosting more than 900,000 overseas learners, and the trend of Nepalese students studying in the U.S. has been consistently increasing over the years. As of 2023, around —shifting Nepal to the 12th position in the list of countries sending international students to the United States.
Studying in the USA offers unparalleled educational opportunities, including diverse campus life; world-class teaching and research facilities at American universities. Despite these impressive offerings, the average annual tuition (for international students) of $25,000-$60,000 comes at a hefty price. This necessitates scholarships for students from Nepal.
Top US Universities with Generous Scholarships for Nepali Students
- Amherst College –
Location: Massachusetts
Area of Study: Liberal Arts
Type of Scholarship: Need-blind admissions for all international students, meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need.
Average Award for Nepali Students: 65,000-70,000 USD per year
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: Together with other international students seems successful, almost guaranteed at 15% of the qualified applicants’ pool.
Usually, students from developing countries face exorbitant tuition fees and even having partial funding makes attending an International School impossible. With at least 3 full scholarships in different disciplines, allow proven, passionate learners in from Nepal, which makes Amherst College stands out in the list of options.
- Yale University
Location: Connecticut
Known for: Research, Liberal Arts
Scholarship Details: Need-based financial aid covering full demonstrated need
Average Award for Nepali Students: $60,000-$68,000 per year
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 4-6% of applicants
Yale's commitment to diversity has resulted in significant aid packages for qualified Nepali students under the diversity scholarship. Their financial aid does not require loans, making it a grant-based scholarship.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Location: Massachusetts
Known for: Engineering, Technology, Science
Scholarship Details: Need-based financial aid for all admitted students
Average Award for Nepali Students: $62,000-$72,000 per year
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 3-4% of applicants
Nepali students are attracted to MIT because of the comprehensive financial support programs available to students pursuing STEM fields.
- Berea College
Location: Kentucky
Known for: Liberal Arts, No-Tuition Promise
Scholarship Details: Tuition Promise Scholarship (full tuition) for all admitted students
Average Award for Nepali Students: $40,000-$50,000 per year
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 8-10% of applicants
Unlike other colleges, Berea specifically reserves spots for international students and has a strong history of supporting Nepali scholars.
- Harvard University
Location: Massachusetts
Known for: Comprehensive Programs, Research
Scholarship Highlights: Need-based aid meeting full demonstrated need.
Average Award for Nepali Students: USD 64,000 to USD 76,000 annually
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 2 to 4 percent of applicants
Most financially assisted Nepali candidates have their whole tuition, housing, living costs, and other financial obligations covered under Harvard’s Aid program.
- University of Richmond
Location: Virginia
Known for: Business, Liberal Arts
Scholarship Highlights: Richmond Scholars Program, need-based aid.
Average Award for Nepali Students: USD 45,000 to USD 68,000 annually
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 12 to 15 percent of applicants.
UR offers specific scholarships funded by the Richmond Grant Policy for international students coming from low-income countries, Nepal included.
- Arizona State University
Location: Arizona
Known for: Research, Innovation
Scholarship Highlights: International Undergraduate Excellence Award.
Average Award for Nepali Students: USD 10,000 to USD 27,000 annually
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 25 to 35 percent of qualified applicants..
These admission figures suggest a high acceptance rate alongside a generous grant program for Nepali applicants.
- The University of Texas at Dallas
Location: Texas
Known for: Engineering, Computer Science
Scholarship Highlights: Global Leadership Scholarship, Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Average Award for Nepali Students: USD 18,000 to USD 28,000 annually
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 30 to 40 percent of qualified applicants.
Prospective overseas students with good academic records are actively sought by UT Dallas, and merit scholarships are available, which are awarded yearly.
- Dartmouth College
Location: New Hampshire
Known for: Research, Liberal Arts
Scholarship Details: All students are provided with need based financial aid
Average Award for Nepali Students: $58,000-$70,000 annually
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 5-7% of applicants
- Mount Holyoke College
Location: Massachusetts
Known for: Women’s Liberal Arts Education
Scholarship Details: Scholarships based on financial constraints and academics
Average Award for Nepali Students: $35,000 - $62,000 annually.
Success Rate for Nepali Applicants: 20-25% of applicants.
Mount Holyoke has a long history of enrolling Nepali students and offers dedicated support services for South Asian scholars.
Application Process for Nepali Students Seeking Scholarships
Step One: Research and Preparation {For 12 and 18 months before enrollment}
- Evaluate your academic profile (Scan your GPA and convert it to US system from Nepali)
- Earn standardized tests such as SAT/ACT, TOEFL, and IELTS.
o Your score should be: SAT-1350+, ACT- 29+, TOEFL-100+, IELTS-7.0+.
- Receive robust leadership positions and take on more extracurriculars
- Look for aids that deal with financial assistance (Based on merit and need).
Step Two: University Selection {From 10-14 months prior to enrollment}
- Balance the list of your universities by adding: 3-4 targets, 2-3 safety, 2-3 reach schools)
- Look for their financial support history and research every university
- Target all Nepali students that study at the Universities
- Prepare financial documentation (Income statements and Bank statements)
Step Three: Application Preparation (8-12 months enrollment)
- Establish accounts for every application (Common Application, CSS Profile)
- Add up Personal and Statement essays
- Assure strong recommendation letters from Teachers who know you from the start
- Exhaust forms and applications for financial aid
Step Four: Submission of Application (Most deadlines are November to January)
- Make final touches and submit University Applications to be in good time before the deadlines.
- Financial Aid documentation should be thorough.
- For other applications, apply to turn specific scholarships likeoseof USEF Nepal.
Step Five: After Applying and Before the Follow Up Date (January-April)
- Be on the lookout for the status of your documents and check them often.
- Examine the financial aid offers and funds that come with it (Ex-grants, loans, work-study).
- Document the reasons why you wish to appeal your tuition assistance.
Prerequisites for Applying for Scholarships for Students under Nepalese Citizenship
Scholarly Qualication
- Transcriptions: grade 11 and 12 documents are to be provided in English.
- Standardized Examinations: SAT/ACT and relevant English language tests.
Financial Affidavit Documents
- Extracts of 2 to 3 previous years of parent`s income tax returns.
- Bank documents evidencing account and savings.
- International Students Certification of Finances.
- Official translation for all financial documents by a notary public.
Additional Information Documents
- Essay of not more than (650 words) narrating on notable encounters one has ever experienced.
- Essays discussing the need for financial aid specifically for the associated scholarship.
- 2-3 letters of recommendation from an academic scholar.
- Summary of personal achievements including active and leadership positions held professionally.
Most Encounters with Nepali Students: Challenges and Recommendations
- Documents Identification
Recommendation: For documents identification, one may rely on credential evaluation conducted through WES or ECE where detailed course outlines have been provided and transcripts are attached.
- Collection of required information documents
Recommendation: Collect documents and have them ready six months prior to the set time, including notarized certified translation together with written justifications supporting claim made regarding the family business income.
- Granting access to standardized examinations
Recommendation: Register from 3-4 months prior to the examination Buy the plane ticket to Kathmandu along with the traveling materials and the materials necessary for examination preparation.
- Visa application follow scholarship award
Recommendation: Have supporting documents that demonstrate connections to the family together with proof demonstrating proof of the intent to reapply together with the explained scholarship term along with teller's interviews.
Conclusion
Sizable scholarship opportunities at most US universities are the outcome of calculated planning, research, and a well-structured application approach. Financial aid, however generous it may be, has increasingly been acquired by Nepali students within the United States.
Plan ahead and make the most out of the resources offered by EducationUSA Nepal, communicate your story, and your financial situation without holding back. With adequate effort and mindful choices on where to apply to, the prospect of attending US colleges can become a reality irrespective of one’s finances.
Shift your focus to institutions offering need-blind admissions and keep a healthy mix of both highly competitive and less selective universities on your list. Not only could your educational pursuits have an immense impact on your community and country, but with the right mindset, so could the potential pro-vided by many scholarship committees seeking out such promising talents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it required to pay the application fee without receiving a scholarship first?
Indeed, most universities do require an application fee of $50-100 paid upfront, which will not be refunded whether the individual receives an admission offer or scholarship. Fee waivers, however, are provided to students from low-income families by EducationUSA Nepal and directly through some university’s admission offices.
Is It Possible To Apply For Scholarships After Getting Admitted Into The University?
External scholarships may be available after admission, but university-specific scholarships are usually given during the period of admission. For the best consideration, financial aid applications should accompany admission applications.
To What Extent Do Standardized Test Scores Impact Scholarship Opportunities?
They tend to be essential, especially for merit-based ones. Although some colleges have adopted a test-optional policy for admissions, scholarship awarding bodies still place a significant amount of importance on standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, for international students, this is especially true. Generally, competitive scores are at the 75th percentile.
Is It Permissible To Work While On Scholarship?
A large part of scholarships come with job placements. With an F1 visa, students are allowed to work part time. There are restrictions concerning off campus employment during the academic period, but students may work during holidays and through programs such as CPT or OPT.
What If My Financial Circumstances Change Midway During Studies?
Most universities have contingency funding for students facing unexpected financial changes. If there is a documented change, students must immediately contact the International Student Office along with the Financial Aid Office.
Student Testimonials
Sherpa Pratima - Taking up a study at Dartmouth College, "I've been awarded a full scholarship for Dartmouth College Despite my enduring background in vivid Kathmandu."
The critical factor was starting two years earlier than everyone else. Scholarship: Comprehensive – Includes tuition, room and board, and a stipend Strategy: Applied Early Decision and highlighted community service
Biraj Sharma - Arizona State University “After getting rejected from college, I took a gap year to bolster my profile. My tailored strategy paid off with significant scholarship funding for my computer science degree.” Scholarship: International Excellence Award $25,000 Strategy: Emphasized primary and secondary education research entrepreneurial highlight curriculum projects
Anisha Raut - Mount Holyoke College “Coming from a rural setting in Nepal, I crafted my essays over months. The pieces had to showcase my talents alongside a genuine need for financial aid.” Scholarship: Need based: $58,000 Strategy: Focusing on women's health in rural Nepal
