Could you name some scholarships available for public universities or other universities that I might be eligible for for a Master's?
Yes, real options exist: the Fulbright Program funds international students, AAUW International Fellowships award around $20,000 to women in STEM, and Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships give up to $90,000 over two years. Many public universities also offer assistantships that waive tuition and pay a monthly stipend.
Yes, real Master's scholarships exist for public and private universities, and several apply broadly regardless of which specific school you choose. Your best strategy is combining a major external fellowship with a university assistantship, since public universities often fund graduate students internally rather than through named scholarships alone. Below is a breakdown of what to target first.
Scholarships and Funding You Can Target
| Program | Who It Is For | Typical Award |
|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program | International students pursuing a Master's in the US | Tuition, textbooks, airfare, and a living stipend |
| AAUW International Fellowships | Non-US citizen women in STEM graduate programs | Around $20,000 |
| Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships | Immigrants and children of immigrants in the US | Up to $90,000 over two years |
| Rotary Peace Fellowships | Peace and conflict resolution Master's students | Full funding at partner universities |
| Graduate Assistantships (TA/RA) | Students admitted to public research universities | Tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend |
How to Actually Qualify
- Apply for teaching or research assistantships the moment you are admitted, since many public universities award these separately from admission.
- Check for Non-Resident Tuition Waivers or regional exchanges like WICHE if you are eyeing a public university outside your home state.
- Look into smaller field specific awards, such as $1,000 to $5,000 corporate STEM grants, to stack on top of a major fellowship.
- Confirm citizenship and field restrictions early, since AAUW and Soros both target very specific applicant groups.
My Advice
Start by emailing your target department's graduate coordinator to ask directly about assistantship openings, since that funding often gets allocated before public scholarship deadlines even open. Pair that outreach with one external fellowship application, like AAUW or Soros if you qualify, so you are not relying on a single funding source.
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