Securing a Fully Funded Scholarship is only the first step. Many Nigerian students are now utilizing No-Cosigner Student Loans through providers like MPOWER Financing and Prodigy Finance to cover living expenses in the USA, Canada, and the UK.
If you are applying to Ivy League or Russell Group Universities, look for programs offering Graduate Assistantships. Many top-tier universities are currently granting GRE and GMAT Waivers for African applicants with strong professional backgrounds or high GPAs from recognized institutions.
For Canada and the US, a WES Course-by-Course Evaluation is often mandatory. Additionally, if your degree was taught in English, you may qualify for an IELTS/TOEFL Waiver, saving you significant costs during the Graduate Admissions process.
If you are an international student planning undergraduate study in the United States for Fall 2027, the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, offers a straightforward route to funding: its merit scholarships are worth up to $34,000 per year towards tuition, and you are automatically considered when you apply for admission. There is no separate scholarship form to fill in.
Key deadline: apply for Fall 2027 entry by 1 May 2027. The University of Dayton's official international admission page states that international applications are due by 1 May for the fall term (August–December) and 1 November for the spring term (January–April). For Fall 2027, work to 1 May 2027 — and submit your application and required documents in good time, because merit consideration happens when the university receives them.
According to the University of Dayton's official international undergraduate page, the majority of international undergraduate students receive an international merit scholarship upon admission. The awards are:
The university publishes four first-year merit tiers:
This is a partial funding award, not a full scholarship. The university states this plainly on its international page: it does not offer full-tuition scholarships. For context, the university lists Fall 2026 full-year tuition at $51,910, plus estimated living expenses of $17,990 — so even the top $34,000 tier leaves a significant balance to cover. Treat the $34,000 figure as the maximum, not a guaranteed amount: awards are based on criteria including GPA, test scores (if submitted) and academic rigour.
The merit scholarships are for international students applying for full-time undergraduate study at the University of Dayton. The university is test-optional in admission, and it states that an applicant's scholarship eligibility will not be negatively impacted by a test-optional application — although students who choose to submit or resubmit test scores must do so by 15 February.
There is no application fee. You apply either through the University of Dayton's own application or through the Common App, and you are automatically considered for a merit scholarship when the university receives your application and required documents.
Required documents for international admission include transcripts from all previously attended secondary schools (with a certified English translation where the original is not in English), proof of English proficiency unless you qualify for an exemption, and financial documentation showing sufficient funds for the first year of study for F-1 and J-1 students. Students who have taken undergraduate coursework outside the United States must also submit an official transcript evaluation. Once your application is complete, the university says evaluation and review take approximately four weeks, although some programmes may take longer.
Scholarship ranges can differ for partnership programmes, such as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme, or for degree programmes shorter than eight semesters, so check the terms for your specific programme before you rely on a tier.
Many US merit awards require a separate essay, nomination or portfolio. Dayton's does not — the barrier is simply a complete, on-time admission application. The trade-off is equally clear: this is tuition help, not a full ride, so plan your budget around the remaining tuition, housing, meal plan and other costs. If you want a US university where most international undergraduates receive some merit funding, and you are happy to cover the balance, Dayton is a practical, currently open option for Fall 2027.
Details verified against the University of Dayton's official pages on 5 November 2026. Award values, deadlines and requirements can change, so always confirm them on the official pages before you apply.
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