Financial Aid

Scholarships for Vietnamese Students

Named scholarships open to Vietnamese citizens applying to US undergraduate programs. Every entry links to the scholarship's official page. Verification date: 2026-04-17. Target cycle: 2026-27 applications for fall 2027 entry.

Scope note. This page covers named merit scholarships and third-party awards that a Vietnamese citizen can apply for. It does not cover institutional need-based aid, which for most Vietnamese families is the single largest source of funding and is described on the Aid Overview page. For a Vietnamese family demonstrating need, need-based institutional aid at a need-blind meet-full-need school typically exceeds any single named scholarship. Admission to those schools is very competitive, plan accordingly.

For international applicants, most named merit scholarships are awarded far less frequently to non-US students than to domestic applicants. Named full-rides in particular (like the Robertson, Stamps, or Johnson) typically make 1 to 3 awards per year out of applicant pools that include thousands of students globally. Treat these scholarships as reach outcomes when building your list, not a reliable funding plan.

On this page

1. Scholarships that explicitly name Vietnam 2. University-sponsored merit scholarships open to Vietnamese citizens 3. Third-party scholarships and pathways 4. Commonly assumed but NOT open to Vietnamese citizens 5. Unconfirmed, inquire directly 6. Methodology & sources

Note on badges: "Full COA" means Full Cost of Attendance, which covers tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and travel. A "Full tuition" award is smaller and covers tuition only.

What is Cost of Attendance (COA)?

Cost of Attendance is the school's total estimated annual cost for one student. It includes tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and travel. For Vietnamese students, the travel line matters: COA usually budgets one or two flights home per year, which adds several thousand dollars on top of tuition and housing. COA is the sticker price ceiling, not what your family pays. If you receive need-based aid or a merit scholarship, your net price (COA minus aid) is the actual out-of-pocket figure. When comparing schools, compare net price after aid, not COA.

1. Scholarships that explicitly name Vietnam

Very few named US undergraduate scholarships name Vietnam in their eligibility criteria. One is worth prioritizing.

Freeman Asian Scholarship Vietnam-named Full COA

Wesleyan University (Connecticut)

Award: Full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, supplies, travel home). Over $90,000/year.
Number: ~11 per year, from 11 Asian countries including Vietnam.
Eligibility: Citizen or permanent resident of Vietnam (or one of 10 other Asian countries). Cannot be a dual US citizen/PR. Must apply for need-based aid and demonstrate need. Not available to transfer students.
Process: Auto-considered with admission application; no separate scholarship form. The Freeman is awarded through the Regular Decision cycle only; if you apply Early Decision to Wesleyan, you are not considered for the Freeman.
Deadline: Regular Decision deadline (typically January).

Source: wesleyan.edu/admission/undergraduate-admission/international/freeman-scholars.html

2. University-sponsored merit scholarships open to Vietnamese citizens

These are named merit scholarships at US universities where a Vietnamese citizen is eligible to compete. They are distinct from need-based aid. Many auto-consider you with your admission application; some require a separate scholarship application.

Robertson Scholars Leadership Program Full COA

Duke University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Award: Full cost of attendance at Duke or UNC + summer enrichment funding. Cited total value ~$323,000 over four years.
Eligibility: Robertson's published policy states international students of any nationality are eligible provided they can obtain a US visa. Vietnamese citizens are eligible to apply; confirm the current cycle's terms on the Robertson page before relying on this.
Process: Separate Robertson application in addition to Duke and/or UNC admission applications.
Deadlines: Past cycle: Early Notification 10/15, Regular 11/15. Expect similar in 2026-27.

Source: robertsonscholars.org

Morehead-Cain Scholarship Full COA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Award: Tuition, fees, room and board, laptop, summer enrichment funding.
Eligibility: International students eligible via nomination from a Morehead-Cain nominating school or via UNC's Admissions Referral Program.
Process: Morehead-Cain application + UNC admission application required.
Deadline: Morehead-Cain application 10/1; UNC application by EA 10/15 or RD 1/1.

Source: moreheadcain.org

Cornelius Vanderbilt, Ingram, and Chancellor's Scholarships Full tuition + stipend

Vanderbilt University

Award: Full tuition + one summer stipend. Need-based aid can stack if demonstrated need exceeds full tuition.
Number: Cornelius Vanderbilt: ~250 total awards per year (largest of Vanderbilt's merit programs). International students compete for these alongside domestic applicants and are a small share of past cohorts. Ingram and Chancellor's: smaller cohorts.
Eligibility: International applicants eligible for all Vanderbilt merit scholarships, including Vietnamese citizens.
Process: Separate scholarship application in MyAppVU after applying for admission.
Deadline: Scholarship application: 12/1. Notifications: end of March.

Source: vanderbilt.edu/scholarships/signature

Emory Scholars Program (Woodruff, Emory, Liberal Arts) Partial to full

Emory University

Award: Partial to full merit scholarships + programming and mentorship. The Woodruff Scholarship (the top tier within Emory Scholars) covers full tuition, fees, on-campus room and meals.
Eligibility: All students regardless of citizenship, including Vietnamese.
Process: Apply via Common Application by ED I (Nov 1) or RD (Nov 15) and opt in to merit consideration. No separate application.

Source: apply.emory.edu

Jefferson Scholarship Full COA

University of Virginia

Award: Full cost of attendance + enrichment funding.
Eligibility: International students eligible, but nomination-only, through a Jefferson Scholars Foundation-affiliated school or the at-large regional process.
Process: No open direct application.
Deadlines: At-large nominee materials 11/15; school-nominated 12/1. Final selection late February.

Source: jeffersonscholars.org

Reynolds, Carswell, Stamps, and Gordon Scholarships Full cost + enrichment

Wake Forest University

Award: Full cost (tuition, room, board) + $3,400 personal expenses + up to $5,000 each summer for enrichment.
Number: Up to 5 Reynolds and 5 Carswell Scholars/year.
Eligibility: Reynolds, Carswell, and Stamps are open to international students including Vietnamese citizens. Gordon eligibility for Vietnamese citizens is not explicitly confirmed, the program historically prioritizes underrepresented US students. Check with Wake Forest admissions before relying on Gordon.
Process: Regular admission application is the scholarship application, no separate form.

Source: scholars.wfu.edu

Danforth Scholars Program & Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program Full or half tuition + stipend

Washington University in St. Louis

Award: Full-tuition + $2,500 stipend OR half-tuition.
Eligibility: Open to international students including Vietnamese citizens.
Deadline: 12/16.

Source: scholars.washu.edu • Note: The WashU Ervin Scholars Program is restricted to US citizens, permanent residents, and US-based undocumented/DACA students, Vietnamese citizens are not eligible for Ervin.

Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program Full tuition + summer funding

Boston College

Award: 4-year full tuition + funded summer experiences. Additional funds if demonstrated need exceeds tuition.
Number: 18/year.
Eligibility: Open to domestic and international applicants. International selection is historically limited, confirm current-cycle practice with BC Admissions.
Process: Auto-considered for ED or RD applicants with complete BC application by priority deadline.
Deadline: 11/1 priority.

Source: bc.edu

Paul Tulane Award & Stamps Scholarship at Tulane Full tuition to full COA

Tulane University

Paul Tulane Award: Full tuition, renewable for 4 years (GPA ≥ 3.0). Open to domestic and international students.
Stamps Scholarship: Full cost of attendance + $14,000 enrichment stipend.
Deadline: Past cycle: 12/5. Winners announced late February.

Source: admission.tulane.edu

Stamps Scholarship at Miami & Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship Full COA + enrichment

University of Miami (Florida)

Stamps Scholarship: Full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, insurance, books, laptop) + $12,000 enrichment fund.
Singer Scholarship: Full tuition; invitation-only for top Early Action applicants.
Deadline: 11/1 (Early Action).
Process: Complete admission application with all materials including bank letter.

Source: admissions.miami.edu. University of Miami's Stamps page does not explicitly state international eligibility. International students including Vietnamese citizens have been awarded historically, but verify current-cycle eligibility directly with UM Admissions before building application strategy around this.

Notre Dame Scholarships (Hesburgh-Yusko, Stamps, Scott) Merit + need

University of Notre Dame

Programs: Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars, Stamps Scholars, and the Suzanne and Walter Scott Scholarship.
Eligibility: International students, including Vietnamese citizens, are eligible. Confirm current-cycle requirements at Notre Dame's scholarship pages.
Note: Separately, Notre Dame's Pathways to Notre Dame covers tuition for families under ~$150K (need-based, not merit, but relevant for families in that income range).

Source: admissions.nd.edu

Clark Global Scholarship Program $15K to $25K/yr

Clark University

Award: $15,000 to $25,000 per year, renewable for four years contingent on meeting academic standards. Applicants with demonstrated need above the award may qualify for up to an additional $5,000 in need-based aid.
Eligibility: First-year (non-transfer) international applicants who have attended school overseas for at least four years. Clark also considers international citizens attending school in the US.
Process: Check the Global Scholarship option on the Common Application. A short essay is required. Deadlines: November 15 for Early Action/Early Decision, February 1 for Regular Decision.

Source: clarku.edu

Oberlin Commitment Scholarship

Oberlin College

Award: $10,000/year.
Eligibility: All admitted students including internationals.
Need-based aid: Oberlin meets 100% of calculated need for international applicants.

Source: oberlin.edu

Mount Holyoke 21st Century Scholars Program

Mount Holyoke College

Award: ~$25,000/year (merit-based; varies by award cycle).
Eligibility: Open to international applicants, including Vietnamese students.
Process: Auto-considered with admission application.

Source: mtholyoke.edu

University of Rochester International Merit Awards

University of Rochester

Award: Merit scholarships, typical awards in the low-to-mid five-figure range per year.
Eligibility: Rochester has historically awarded merit scholarships to roughly half of admitted internationals, with typical awards in the low-to-mid five-figure range per year. Specific amounts vary by cycle and are not currently published on Rochester's international admissions page; request current figures from their admissions office before budgeting.
Process: All Arts/Sciences/Engineering/Business admits considered.

Source: rochester.edu

Dickinson College Merit Scholarships

Dickinson College

Award: Merit scholarships, amounts vary by award tier.
Eligibility: International students eligible with no separate application.

Source: dickinson.edu

USC Trustee / Presidential / Dean's Scholarships Full to quarter tuition

University of Southern California

Award: Trustee: full tuition. Presidential: half tuition. Dean's: quarter tuition.
Eligibility: USC Office of Admission confirmed that all USC applicants, including applicants from Vietnam, are eligible to apply for these merit scholarships.
Context: USC does not offer need-based aid to internationals at all, so merit scholarships are the primary USC aid pathway for Vietnamese students who cannot pay full sticker.
Process: Submit the USC application by the early decision/action scholarship deadline for merit consideration. USC indicated the 2027/2028 academic-year dates were not yet finalized as of April 27, 2026, and were expected to be posted around August 2026.

Source: USC Office of Admission email reply to Jay Park, Apr. 27, 2026; admission.usc.edu.

3. Third-party scholarships and pathways

Davis United World College Scholars Program

Davis UWC Scholars

Award: Need-based aid to graduates of any UWC school, usable at ~100 US partner colleges (Wellesley, Middlebury, Princeton, Colby, and others).
Eligibility: Any UWC graduate regardless of nationality. A Vietnamese citizen who attends a UWC school anywhere in the world qualifies.
Path: Apply to UWC as an 11th-grade candidate; if admitted and graduate with IB Diploma, apply to US partner schools, which nominate Davis Scholars.
Note: There is no UWC school in Vietnam. Regionally accessible options: UWC Thailand, Singapore, China, Hong Kong. Requires planning 2+ years ahead, relevant for 9th/10th graders, not current 12th graders.

Source: davisuwcscholars.org and uwc.org

EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program Unconfirmed for Vietnam

US Department of State / EducationUSA

Award: Covers up-front application costs (TOEFL/IELTS, test prep, SAT, application fees, airfare) for highly qualified students likely to receive full US college aid but who cannot afford application costs.
Administration: EducationUSA advising centers at US embassies and consulates.
Note: Country participation changes annually. Vietnam was not listed on the central Opportunity Funds country page at the time of verification. Recommend contacting EducationUSA advisors at the US Embassy Hanoi or Consulate Ho Chi Minh City directly to confirm Vietnam's 2026-27 inclusion.

Source: educationusa.state.gov • Find your local advising center: educationusa.state.gov/find-advising-center

MPOWER Financing

MPOWER Financing (private lender, not a scholarship)

Product: Private loan for international students without requiring a US cosigner.
Purpose: Gap-filler if institutional aid does not cover the full cost. This is a loan, it must be repaid with interest. Use only after exhausting institutional aid and scholarships.

Source: mpowerfinancing.com

4. Commonly assumed but NOT open to Vietnamese citizens

These programs are often recommended in generic "US scholarships" lists but are not available to a Vietnamese citizen applying from Vietnam. Listed here so you do not waste application effort.

US-citizenship-required programs

The Gates Scholarship: US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents only; Pell-eligible required. source
Coca-Cola Scholars: US citizens, nationals, PRs, refugees, asylees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, or humanitarian parolees only. F-1/J-1 visa holders ineligible. source
Ron Brown Scholar Program: Black/African-American students only.
APIA Scholars: Requires US citizenship/national/PR status. source
Regeneron Science Talent Search: Open to students in their last year of secondary school in the US or its territories, regardless of citizenship. US citizens attending school abroad may also qualify. Students at American schools abroad who are not US citizens are not eligible. Vietnamese citizens attending secondary school in Vietnam are therefore not eligible. source

US-high-school-required programs

QuestBridge National College Match: Must be attending high school in the US or be a US citizen/PR. Vietnamese citizens in Vietnam not eligible. source
Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship: Requires residing in the US and completing all four years of high school in the US, US territory, or US military base. Explicitly does not serve students attending high school outside the US. source

US-residency-required diaspora programs

Vietnamese American Scholarship Foundation (VASF): Requires Texas residence and Vietnamese descent.
Long Nguyen & Kimmy Duong Scholarship: Requires Vietnamese-American US citizen or PR status.
VAUSA Scholarship: Vietnamese-American students in the US only.

These diaspora programs serve Vietnamese-Americans who already have US legal status, not Vietnamese citizens applying from Vietnam.

Graduate-level only (not undergraduate)

Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF / VEF 2.0): Graduate STEM study in the US only. No undergraduate pathway.
Fulbright Vietnamese Student Program: Master's-level only. Requires existing undergraduate degree + work experience. (Note: Fulbright University Vietnam is a separate institution in HCMC, unrelated to this scholarship.)
AAUW International Fellowships: Master's/doctoral only, women only.
Rotary Foundation Global Grants: Graduate-level only. District grants may fund undergrads but are discretionary.
Schwarzman Scholars: Master's at Tsinghua (Beijing), not US undergrad.
Obama Foundation Scholars: Graduate or mid-career only.
Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship: Postgraduate only; Vietnam not on the country list.

Country-list exclusions

OFID (OPEC Fund) Scholarship: Historically graduate-level and not currently accepting applications. Vietnam generally not on the priority list.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Focus is Sub-Saharan Africa. At US partner schools (UC Berkeley, Arizona State, Michigan State) applicants must be from African countries only.
Georgia Tech Stamps Scholars Program: Georgia Tech Stamps Scholars Program is open to US citizens and permanent residents only. Vietnamese citizens are not eligible. (The Stamps program at Miami, Tulane, and Wake Forest is a separate international pathway, see Section 2.)

Institution-specific merit restrictions

Bryn Mawr Merit Scholarships: International students are not eligible for merit aid at Bryn Mawr per the college's published policy. Need-based aid is available separately for admitted international students. source
Mount Holyoke Leadership Award: US citizens only.

5. Unconfirmed, inquire directly

These programs may be open to Vietnamese citizens but could not be confirmed from primary sources at the time of verification. Contact each directly before investing application effort.

Lafayette College Marquis and Trustees Scholarships

International eligibility not explicitly confirmed on Lafayette's site. Contact Lafayette financial aid directly.

Lehigh University Founder's and Trustees' Scholarships

Lehigh reports ~30% of admits receive merit awards of ≥$15,000/year. Vietnamese-citizen-specific eligibility not explicitly stated. Contact Lehigh financial aid to confirm.

Grinnell Trustee Honor Scholarship

Grinnell explicitly excludes internationals from the Grinnell Choice Scholarship. The Trustee Honor international status is not explicitly confirmed. Contact Grinnell directly.

VietAbroader / ABROADER

Appears to be advising-focused rather than direct cash scholarships. No verified direct undergraduate scholarship funding was found. If interested, contact abroader.org directly.

Mount Holyoke Global Perspectives Award

The separate international merit track at Mount Holyoke. Confirm award amount and current-cycle eligibility directly with Mount Holyoke admissions.

6. Methodology & sources

Every scholarship on this page was verified on 2026-04-17 against the scholarship's official page or the administering organization's .org/.edu page. Each entry links to its primary source. Where eligibility language was ambiguous on the official page, the ambiguity is flagged and the program is listed in section 5 (Unconfirmed) rather than section 2.

What this page does not cover:

Institutional need-based aid, see the Aid Overview page. For many Vietnamese families, need-based aid at need-blind or meet-full-need schools exceeds any named scholarship on this page.
Athletic scholarships (requires recruitment by a specific coach).
Graduate-level scholarships (VEF, Fulbright, Schwarzman, etc.), Vietnamese students are eligible for several of these after earning their undergraduate degree, but they are outside the scope of undergraduate planning.
Scholarships funded by Vietnamese government or Vietnamese private foundations for study at Vietnamese universities, this page is specific to US undergraduate study.

Verification cadence: Scholarship eligibility criteria, award amounts, and deadlines change annually. Re-verify each scholarship's current page before submitting an application.

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