Scholarships for Filipino Students at US Universities

What Filipino Students Actually Pay for US Study

Average published tuition and fees for 2025-26 run $31,880 a year at public universities charging out-of-state rates and $45,000 a year at private nonprofit colleges, according to the College Board . Add room, board, health insurance, and books, and total cost of attendance runs well above the tuition sticker price. International students pay out-of-state or international rates at public schools, so a scholarship or a strong aid package changes what you owe each year by a large amount.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program (PAEF)

The Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) runs the Fulbright program in the Philippines and is the oldest continuing Fulbright commission in the world, according to Fulbright Philippines . The Fulbright Foreign Student Program funds a master's or doctoral degree, or non-degree dissertation research, at a US university. A grant covers round-trip international travel, a monthly maintenance allowance, tuition and fees, a book allowance, and health and accident insurance.

PAEF has sent nearly 3,000 Filipinos to the US on Fulbright grants since 1948. The program is for graduate-level study, not undergraduate admission. Applications for the 2027-28 cycle close April 30, 2026, so start your application materials early in the year you plan to apply.

Fulbright-CHED Grant for Faculty

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) partners with the US Embassy on a Fulbright-CHED grant for doctoral study in the US, open to Philippine higher-education faculty and staff rather than incoming students, according to the US Embassy in the Philippines . If you already teach at a Philippine university, ask your school's research or human resources office about this route before you apply directly.

Global UGRAD (Undergraduate Exchange)

Global UGRAD funds one semester of non-degree study at a US college for undergraduates. The US Department of State sponsors the program and World Learning administers it, according to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs . The Philippines is an eligible country, and a grant covers tuition, travel, a living stipend, and program fees for the semester.

Apply through the US Embassy in Manila. Recent cycles opened mid-year with a December deadline, so check the embassy's exchange programs page early rather than wait for a reminder.

Free Scholarship Advising Through EducationUSA Philippines

EducationUSA, the State Department's official advising network, runs a center in the Philippines that helps you search for scholarships matched to your field and study level at no cost, according to the US Embassy in the Philippines . Book a session before you shortlist schools, since an adviser can point you to funding you would not find through a general search.

Need-Blind Aid at Selective US Universities

A small group of US universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Amherst, and Dartmouth, admit international undergraduates without regard to their ability to pay and then meet full demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Notre Dame and Brown are moving to the same policy for upcoming incoming classes, according to Brown University .

These schools accept a small share of applicants and expect a strong academic record, so treat them as reach schools rather than your main plan. Most other US universities are need-aware for international applicants and offer partial merit aid at best, so apply to a mix of schools and compare aid offers before you commit to one.

Get Your Transcript Ready Before You Apply

US universities and some scholarship committees want a course-by-course evaluation of your Philippine transcript against the US grading scale. Use a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) , which lists 18 member organizations as of 2026, including Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) and World Education Services (WES). Order the evaluation early, since turnaround takes weeks and most scholarship and admission deadlines will not move for you. Ask for a course-by-course report rather than a document-by-document report if a scholarship or school asks for a GPA conversion, since a course-by-course report lists individual grades against the US scale.

University-Specific Awards

Beyond the named programs above, individual US universities fund their own scholarships for admitted international students, often tied to your major or an alumni-endowed fund. These awards are not listed anywhere central, so search each target school's financial aid and international admissions pages directly, and ask the admissions office in writing whether any funds apply to your profile before you rule out a school on cost alone.

How to Start

1. Book a free session with EducationUSA Philippines before you shortlist schools.

2. Apply to Fulbright by April 30 if you already hold a bachelor's degree and want a master's or PhD.

3. Apply to Global UGRAD through the US Embassy in Manila if you are an undergraduate open to one semester away from your home degree.

4. Order your NACES evaluation as soon as you have your transcript, not after a school asks for it.

5. Apply for admission and financial aid at the same time, since most schools set one deadline for both.