Iowa State International Merit Scholarships 2027 In Usa

Iowa State University International Merit Scholarships 2027 in the USA: Up to $40,000 for First-Year International Students

Applications are now open for the Iowa State University International Merit Scholarships 2027, a merit-based award for international students starting an undergraduate degree at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in Fall 2027. The top award, the Award of Achievement, is worth up to $40,000 in total — $5,000 to $10,000 a year — while the Award of Distinction is worth up to $16,000 in total, or $2,000 to $4,000 a year. Both awards are renewable for up to eight semesters, or until you complete your degree.

This is a partial funding opportunity, not a fully funded scholarship. The award is applied only towards your undergraduate tuition and fees, so you will still need to plan funding for the rest of your tuition and for living costs such as housing, food, books, health insurance and travel. Iowa State asks international applicants to show a bank statement of at least $49,300 as part of the admission process, which gives a sense of the annual costs involved. Even so, up to $40,000 across four years is a substantial reduction — and, unlike Iowa State's automatic Excellence Award, you do not need SAT or ACT scores to be considered for this one.

What does the scholarship cover?

The International Merit Scholarships are awarded in two tiers for first-year international students:

• Award of Achievement: up to $40,000 in total, paid as $5,000 to $10,000 per year
• Award of Distinction: up to $16,000 in total, paid as $2,000 to $4,000 per year

Funding is limited to a maximum of eight semesters or until degree completion, whichever comes first, and the money can only be used towards undergraduate tuition and fees.

Selection is highly competitive and based on a holistic review of your SAT or ACT scores and your high school grades. Transfer international students are also eligible for International Merit Scholarships — check the official page for the transfer award details.

Who can apply? Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the Iowa State International Merit Scholarship as a first-year student, you must:

• Be offered admission to Iowa State University as an international first-year student
• Be assessed international tuition rates
• Accept your offer of admission by 1 May 2027 for fall entry (or 15 December 2026 for spring entry)
• Submit the OneApp scholarship application — complete the General Application first, then under Opportunities > Recommended, select the International Student Admissions Scholarship Application for your entry term

One important point: this scholarship cannot be combined with Iowa State's automatic International Student Excellence Award. The Excellence Award is awarded automatically to admitted first-year international students based on high school GPA and, for some tiers, SAT or ACT scores. The Merit Scholarship is the route for students who do not qualify for that automatic award — and no SAT or ACT score is required to apply for it.

How to keep the scholarship: renewal requirements

The award renews each year as long as you:

• Maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Enrol in at least 12 credits per semester (excluding summer)
• Remain classified as an international student
• Apply the funds only towards undergraduate tuition and fees

How to apply: step-by-step

1. Apply for admission to Iowa State University as an international first-year student. Iowa State has a rolling admissions policy, so applications are evaluated as they arrive — but apply early, because scholarship consideration follows the priority deadlines below.
2. Receive your offer of admission and accept it by 1 May 2027 for fall entry (or 15 December 2026 for spring entry).
3. Complete the OneApp General Application on Iowa State's scholarship portal.
4. Under Opportunities > Recommended, select the International Student Admissions Scholarship Application for your entry term and submit it before the deadline.
5. Upload your supporting documents to your application, including English proficiency results, a copy of your passport, transcripts from all high schools attended, and a bank statement showing a minimum balance of $49,300.

Application deadlines

For Fall 2027 entry, the priority deadline is 15 February 2027 and the final deadline is 1 May 2027. Aim for the priority deadline — selection is competitive and funding is limited.

For Spring 2027 entry, the priority deadline is 15 November 2026 and the final deadline is 15 December 2026.

Why Iowa State?

Iowa State University is a public research university in Ames, Iowa, with more than 100 majors and over 800 student organizations across a 1,900-acre campus. It is known for strong programmes in engineering, agriculture, design, business and the sciences, and its international community — the Cyclones — includes students from around the world.

Official application links

Read the full official details and apply through Iowa State University's official pages:

https://www.iastate.edu/admission-and-aid/admissions/international-admissions/international-merit-scholarships

https://www.iastate.edu/admission-and-aid/admissions/international-students