There is something hopeful in discovering a scholarship that doesn’t require GRE or TOEFL. For many African students, those tests feel like tall walls built before you even start the race. You wonder if your English is “good enough,” if you can afford test fees, or if you can even travel for those exams. Realizing there are USA scholarships without GRE/TOEFL changes everything. It turns what seems impossible into something reachable.

I remember a friend who applied to graduate school in the United States. He had good grades, strong motivation, and the kind of passion that showed whenever he talked about his goals. What he lacked was time and money for standardized tests. When he found universities that waived GRE and TOEFL requirements, it felt like someone finally saw his potential instead of just his test scores. His application was considered not because he scored high on a standardized test but because he carried a dream worth believing in.

Today, more American institutions and scholarship programs are offering admission and funding without insisting on GRE or TOEFL. Some do this because they understand that standardized tests aren’t always the best way to measure a student’s potential or intelligence, especially for those coming from different educational systems. Others accept alternative proofs of English proficiency or waive them for students who studied in English-medium institutions. This shift has opened doors for people who were once excluded because of language or testing barriers. (Scholarship Region)

For example, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program remains a top option. It supports international students pursuing master’s or PhD studies in the USA. For many applicants, English test requirements are not strictly mandatory if they can show proof that their prior education was in English or if they pass a language interview. (UniScholarships 2025-2026)

Some universities make it even easier. The University of Dayton offers merit-based scholarships and allows international students to apply without TOEFL or GRE, especially if they attended an English-instruction school or can prove their English proficiency in other ways. (Exam2Job) The Clark University Global Scholars Program is another example — it awards students strong financial support and may waive English test requirements depending on the applicant’s background. (swatwheelz.com)

Some graduate and PhD programs in the United States are also dropping GRE requirements entirely. Schools such as Washington State University and Oregon State University offer fully-funded PhD scholarships where GRE is optional or waived, focusing instead on research potential, academic records, and recommendation letters. (My School Portal)

What this means for you — especially if you are coming from Nigeria or another African country — is that you might just qualify. If you studied in English, have good grades, and a strong story, you may not need to prove your English with TOEFL or pass the GRE to get a shot at a scholarship. You just need perseverance, application worthy of your story, and readiness to follow through.

I know many people who thought they couldn’t because they didn’t have test scores. But they tried anyway. They applied to programs that accepted their existing credentials. They wrote strong essays, showed their ambition, their potential, and their will to make a difference. Some got in. Some got funding. Their lives changed. Sometimes it isn’t the perfect score that opens the door — it’s the right mindset and the courage to try.

If you are reading this and hesitating because you don’t have GRE or TOEFL, know that the door is not closed. There are real opportunities out there. The path might look unconventional, but many students are already walking it, building their futures one application at a time. The United States is shifting, slowly but surely, from a test-based system to a more inclusive, human-focused admissions model.

Your dreams don’t need a perfect test score to become real. All they need is courage, honesty, and action.