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What scholarships and fee waivers can I apply for when applying to U.S. universities through your agency?

24 Sept 2026 · Answered by Tamanna Jaisingh · 1 min read
Quick Answer verified

Yes, you can pursue need-based financial aid at need-blind schools, merit scholarships, external awards like Inlaks and Fulbright-Nehru, and application fee waivers, which can save you 50 to 100 dollars per university through Common App or a direct email request.

Tamanna Jaisingh
Tamanna Jaisingh Verified
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Yes, you have several funding routes for U.S. university applications, ranging from university-level need-based aid and merit scholarships to external Indian scholarships and application fee waivers.

Main Scholarship And Waiver Options

OptionWhat It Covers
Need-based financial aidSome universities meet 100% of demonstrated need, even for international students
Merit scholarshipsAwarded for academics, leadership, or talent, sometimes automatically
External Indian scholarshipsInlaks Shivdasani, JN Tata Endowment, Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
Application fee waiversCommon App/College Board waivers, or university-specific hardship waivers

How To Reduce Your Application Costs

  • Attend a university's virtual or in-person information session, which some universities use to waive the application fee
  • Apply by an early priority deadline if the university offers a waiver for it
  • Email the admissions office directly, explaining currency conversion or financial hardship, and request an international fee waiver code

My Advice

Build your university list around need-blind or need-full institutions if cost is a major concern, and apply for external scholarships like Fulbright-Nehru 6 to 10 months before your intended start date, since these deadlines fall much earlier than university deadlines.

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