Scholarships for Panamanian Students at US Universities

What US Study Costs From Panama

Average published tuition and fees for 2025-26 run $31,880 a year at public universities charging out-of-state rates, up 3.4 percent from 2024-25, according to the College Board . Private nonprofit colleges average $45,000 a year, up 4.0 percent.

Add housing, food, health insurance, and books, and your total cost of attendance sits well above the tuition sticker price. International students pay out-of-state or international rates at public schools, so a scholarship changes what your family owes each year by a large margin.

IFARHU: Panama's Government Scholarship and Loan Institute

The Instituto para la Formacion y Aprovechamiento de Recursos Humanos (IFARHU) is the Panamanian government body that funds Panamanian students at home and abroad, according to IFARHU . It runs an International Scholarships (Becas Internacionales) program alongside an Educational Credit (Credito Educativo) loan program that Panamanian families use to pay for study abroad, including in the United States.

Eligibility, coverage amounts, and deadlines change by program and by year. Check the IFARHU site directly or visit a regional IFARHU office before you assume you qualify.

Apply well ahead of your target university's deadline, since a Panamanian scholarship or loan approval takes time and your US school asks for proof of funding before it issues your Form I-20.

Global UGRAD: One Fully Funded Semester

Panama is on the list of eligible countries for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD), a US Department of State program administered by World Learning, according to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs . The program funds one semester of non-degree undergraduate study at a US college, paired with community service and professional development activities. Grants cover tuition, travel, a living stipend, and program fees.

Apply through the Public Affairs Section at the US Embassy in Panama City rather than directly through World Learning. Contact the embassy for the current cycle's deadline, since exchange program timelines shift year to year.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program funds a full master's degree, doctoral study, or non-degree research at a US university. Grants cover tuition, a monthly stipend, round-trip travel, and health insurance.

Non-US citizens apply through a Fulbright Commission or the US Embassy in their home country, according to the Fulbright Foreign Student Program . Panama has no separate binational Fulbright commission, so route your application through the Public Affairs Section at the US Embassy in Panama City.

Fulbright is a graduate-level program.

If you already hold a bachelor's degree and want funded study at the master's or PhD level, treat this as your strongest named option. Start gathering transcripts, recommendation letters, and a study plan months before the embassy's deadline.

Free Advising Through EducationUSA

EducationUSA is the US Department of State's official advising network, with more than 430 centers in over 175 countries and territories, according to EducationUSA . Advisers help you build a school list, understand financial aid, and prepare a competitive application at no cost. Use the "Find an Advising Center" tool on the EducationUSA site to locate your nearest office and confirm its services before you shortlist schools.

Need-Blind Aid at Selective Universities

A small group of US universities admit international undergraduates without regard to their ability to pay and then meet full demonstrated financial need for admitted students.

Brown University joined this group starting with students who arrived in fall 2025, becoming one of eight US colleges with this policy for international applicants, according to Brown University . Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Amherst, and Dartmouth have run similar policies for years.

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.

University-Specific Awards

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

Get Your Transcript Evaluated Before You Apply

US universities and some scholarship committees want a course-by-course evaluation of your Panamanian transcript against the US grading scale. Use a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) , which lists 18 member organizations, including World Education Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).

Order your evaluation as soon as you have your final transcript, since turnaround takes weeks and admission deadlines will not move for you.

How to Start

1. Contact the Public Affairs Section at the US Embassy in Panama City to ask about the current Global UGRAD and Fulbright cycles.

2. Check IFARHU's Becas Internacionales and Credito Educativo programs for home-country funding.

3. Find your nearest EducationUSA advising center and book a session before you shortlist schools.

4. Apply to Global UGRAD if you are an undergraduate open to one semester away from your home degree.

5. Apply to Fulbright if you hold a bachelor's degree and want a funded master's or PhD.

6. Order your NACES evaluation the moment you have your final transcript.

7. Apply for admission and financial aid together, since most schools set one deadline for both.