Scholarships for Ivorian Students at US Universities

Confirm you can travel before you commit

As of August 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10998 restricts new F-1 student visas for Cote d'Ivoire nationals who do not already hold a visa issued before January 1, 2026. A scholarship only helps if you can travel to use it. Check the U.S. Embassy Abidjan visa page for the current status before you sign an enrollment agreement or turn down another offer.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program funds graduate study, research, and some professional training in the US for students outside the country. Ivorian applicants apply through the Fulbright Commission or the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Abidjan , not directly to Fulbright offices in Washington. The award typically covers tuition, a living stipend, travel, and health insurance for the length of the program. Competition is high and the process starts about a year before your intended enrollment date, so contact the embassy's education office early.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

This program funds African students at partner universities worldwide, and all 54 African countries, including Cote d'Ivoire, are eligible. In the US, partner schools include Arizona State University and UC Berkeley , among others worldwide. The award covers tuition, accommodation, books, and mentoring, according to the Mastercard Foundation . You apply directly through the partner university's own scholarship application, not a separate Mastercard Foundation portal, and you must show financial need plus a strong academic record. The standard age limit is 28, extended to 32 for applicants who are refugees or living with a disability.

University need-based aid

A short list of private US universities, among them MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Amherst, admit international applicants without regard to ability to pay and then cover most or all of the remaining cost with grants once admitted. Most other private and public universities are need-aware for international applicants, meaning your ability to pay factors into the admission decision, though many still offer partial merit or need-based aid. Check the financial aid page of each school on your list rather than assume a policy, since these rules differ school by school and change between admission cycles.

Athletic scholarships

NCAA Division I and II schools award athletic scholarships to international students who meet eligibility rules set by the NCAA Eligibility Center. If you compete at a national level in Cote d'Ivoire, contact college coaches directly and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center early, since recruiting timelines run well ahead of enrollment.

Home-country and regional funding

Ask your secondary school, your employer if you already work, or a professional association in Cote d'Ivoire about study-abroad grants before you assume none exist. Regional funders and the Ivorian government's own scholarship programs for study abroad change their lists and deadlines yearly, so verify current offerings directly with the relevant ministry or agency rather than trust a listicle you find online.

Where to get help in Cote d'Ivoire

The EducationUSA Advising Center in Abidjan , run through the US Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section, gives free, official guidance on US admissions, funding, and visa preparation. Book an appointment rather than rely only on paid consultants or scholarship aggregator sites, which often list expired or unverified opportunities.