International student scholarships

The International Excellence Award (IEA) is NAU’s premier merit-based tuition-reduction award for high-achieving international students. Designed for first-time, degree-seeking F-1 undergraduate and graduate students admitted directly into a university program on the Flagstaff Mountain campus, this scholarship provides up to $11,000 per year toward NAU tuition and fees. No separate application is required, and the award is renewable for the duration of your degree if you maintain full-time enrollment and a 3.0 GPA or higher. Award amounts vary.

Eligibility requirements

• First-time, full-time F-1 international students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at NAU’s Flagstaff campus.
• Admitted and enrolled in classes for the upcoming semester.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of admission.
• Submission of required financial documentation for I-20 issuance.

Students not eligible to apply include:

• Students sponsored by a government or other organization.
• Students already receiving assistantships, full athletic scholarships, or other tuition waivers.
• Dual-degree students.
• Program in Intensive English (PIE) students, including those in the Bridge Program.
• PROBEP (Programa de Beneficios de Pago) recipients.

Application

• No separate application is required—students who meet the criteria are automatically considered upon submitting a complete international admission application.
• Awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fund disbursement

• Disbursed as an out-of-state tuition waiver only.
• Covers up to the award amount, not exceeding out-of-state tuition charges for the semester.
• Cannot be applied to mandatory or special class fees, housing, meal plans, or other non-tuition expenses.

Renewal criteria

• Renewable each academic year with a minimum 3.0 GPA and continued full-time enrollment.
• Must meet all mandatory attendance requirements.

The First-Semester Success Award (FSSA) is a one-time, $3,000 tuition-reduction award designed to support newly admitted international students at NAU. This award is available exclusively to students beginning their studies in spring 2026 and applies to their first semester only.

Eligibility requirements

• First-time, full-time F-1 international students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at NAU’s Flagstaff campus.
• Admitted and enrolled in classes for Spring 2026.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of admission.
• Submission of required financial documentation for I-20 issuance.
• Can be combined with the International Excellence Award.
• Not renewable or deferrable, and cannot be combined with sponsorships, assistantships, partial athletic scholarships, or tuition waivers.

Students not eligible to apply include:

• Students sponsored by a government or other organization.
• Students already receiving assistantships, full athletic scholarships, or other tuition waivers.
• Dual-degree students.
• Program in Intensive English (PIE) students, including those in the Bridge Program.
• PROBEP (Programa de Beneficios de Pago) recipients.

Application

• No separate application is required for this exclusive spring 2026 award.
• Students who meet the eligibility criteria are automatically considered upon submitting a complete international admission application.
• Awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fund disbursement

• Disbursed as a one-time, non-renewable scholarship to first-semester NAU international students for spring 2026.
• Cannot be applied to mandatory or special class fees, housing, meal plans, or other non-tuition expenses.

Several colleges and departments at Northern Arizona University offer scholarships to qualified students pursuing a particular field of study. Explore scholarship opportunities based on your academic program. Contact your academic department directly for additional information.

Graduate students at NAU may be eligible for graduate assistantships (GAs), which provide valuable academic experience along with financial support. GA positions include a tuition waiver that covers all or part of a student’s tuition.

To learn more about eligibility, requirements, and the types of assistantships available, visit the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies website. You can explore current openings at the bottom of that page or by contacting the department directly.

• Institute of International Education (IIE) Scholarship Database
• International Education Financial Aid
• International Scholarship Search
• International Student
• International Student Loan
• P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund

• Korea Student Aid Foundation (KOSAF)
• International Scholarships for Developing Country Students
• EducationUSA
• Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund for Latin American and Caribbean International Students