NYU Scholarships for International Students: Alternatives, Eligibility, Amount, Deadlines and More

✦ Summary

NYU gives limited aid to international students: merit scholarships at many graduate schools (NYU Stern awards them with admission, with no separate application) and limited need-based aid for first-year undergraduates. International students cannot get federal aid such as FAFSA, federal loans or Federal Work-Study. Most fund the gap with private loans, Indian education loans, on-campus jobs (up to 20 hours a week on F-1) and outside scholarships.

Shivani Mani

7 min read • Oct 13, 2026

New York University is one of the most expensive universities in the USA, and funding is the first question most Indian applicants ask. This guide explains the scholarships and aid NYU actually offers international students, what is not available to you, and the alternatives that work.

How much should NYU financial aid for international students cover?

Let’s start with the cost. Unless you know the total cost, there is no point looking into funding. Costs vary by school and course, so use these examples as a guide and confirm the exact figures on NYU’s official pages.

Program	Cost Snapshot	Source
NYU Wagner (public service graduate programs), 2026-27	Tuition of $2,591 per credit, or $31,092 for 12 credits in a semester	NYU Wagner
NYU undergraduate (New York campus), 2025-26	Reported tuition of about $60,438 and a total cost of attendance of roughly $87,000 including housing, food and fees	Third-party summaries; confirm on NYU’s financial aid page

These costs will vary depending on the school you are attending and your course. Use the tuition and fee calculator on the NYU Bursar’s website for your exact program.

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Here are the types of aid available at NYU for international students:

NYU scholarships and grants (limited, mostly merit-based)
Private loans (often with a US co-signer) and education loans from India
Student employment and graduate assistantships
Outside scholarships and government support from your home country

NYU Scholarships for International Students

NYU does not run one scholarship for all international students. Aid depends on your school and level of study, and it is competitive. Here is how it works.

Graduate students (Stern, Wagner, Tandon and other schools)

Each graduate school decides its own awards. At NYU Stern, scholarships are merit-based and do not need a separate application, so your admission application is also your scholarship application. International students can also use private loans (with a US co-signer, up to the full cost of attendance) and outside sources such as private grants and government support from their home country.

At NYU Wagner, most students fund their studies through private or federal student loans, work-study or student employment, plus external merit or need-based scholarships. Other schools, such as Tandon, offer merit scholarships and assistantships that vary by program, so check your program page and submit your application before its priority deadline.

Undergraduate students

NYU offers limited institutional aid to international first-year undergraduates: need-based grants for those who submit the CSS Profile, and merit scholarships at some schools (for example, the Tandon undergraduate merit scholarship). Aid is highly competitive and is decided when you are admitted, so apply by the stated deadline. Confirm current rules on NYU’s financial aid website.

Scholarships for NYU students studying away (Global Academic Centers)

These awards are for students who are already at NYU and study at one of its Global Academic Centers. They are not general scholarships for new international applicants.

NYU Study-Away Award	Amount	For
Global Pathways Scholarship	Up to $4,000 per semester (need-based)	Study-away undergraduates who will receive an NYU degree in New York and apply for financial aid; evaluated automatically
Global Programs Merit Scholarships	Up to $1,500 per semester	Students who applied for study away by the regular deadline; summer, winter and exchange programs are not eligible
Study Away Need-Based Grants	Varies with demonstrated need	Students eligible for NYU aid who show need based on the cost of the study-away site

Source: NYU Global Programs. Regular deadlines for study away have been 15 February and 15 September; confirm the current dates with NYU. Other departmental awards (for example in Chemistry) and Wasserman Center internship grants exist for current NYU students, so check amounts and eligibility with your school.

Also Read: Financial Aid and Scholarships at Columbia University for International Students

Federal Aid: Not Available to International Students

Federal loans, unlike scholarships, must be repaid with interest, and they are not open to international students. As NYU Wagner states, international students are not eligible for federal financial aid. That means you cannot use:

FAFSA and Federal Direct Loans (subsidized, unsubsidized and PLUS)
Federal Nursing and Health Professions student loans
Federal Work-Study
Federal fellowships such as FLAS, which are restricted to US citizens and permanent residents

Because of this, ignore any NYU loan limits or federal loan tables you see online: they apply to US citizens and eligible non-citizens only.

Private Loans and Education Loans from India

With no federal aid, loans become the main way most international students bridge the gap. Private (non-federal) loans come from banks and education loan providers. Interest rates, terms and eligibility vary, and some private loans do not offer full deferment options.

US private loans: NYU Stern notes that students with a US co-signer may borrow up to the full cost of attendance.
Indian education loans: India offers a moratorium period, so you do not have to repay during your course, and many lenders fund top US universities. See our guide to education loans for studying in the USA.
No-co-signer and collateral-free options: some lenders offer loans without a US co-signer or without collateral, subject to eligibility and the lender’s list of approved universities. Read about non-collateral education loans.

Check GradRight to compare public and private sector banks, NBFCs and international lenders who finance education abroad. Submit your profile once, get customised offers from 18+ lenders, and select the one that suits you best. Offers typically come within 2 days, and much of the paperwork is online. Compare Education Loan Offers on GradRight

For your US visa, certain forms of aid count as proof of funds: for example, NYU Stern lists pre-approved private student loans, a Stern scholarship letter, a government support letter and a corporate support letter.

Student Employment

On-campus jobs on an F-1 visa

International students on an F-1 visa can generally work on campus up to 20 hours a week during the academic term, and full time during breaks (confirm with NYU’s international student office). Federal Work-Study is not available to you. The Wasserman Center for Career Development lists on-campus positions, and many jobs require an interview. Jobs are available across departments but are not guaranteed.

Also Read: Part-Time Jobs in the USA for Indian Students: Visa Regulations, Salary and Opportunities

Graduate Assistantships

At some institutions, graduate students can apply for assistantships or teaching fellowships in which tuition is waived and you also receive a stipend. These are more common for PhD students than for master’s students. Expected work includes teaching, research, and other departmental tasks. To learn more, speak with your department directly, because assistantships can affect your eligibility for other aid. If your award letter does not mention your assistantship, contact both the Office of Financial Aid and your department.

GradRight Scholarships for Students Who Take a Loan

When you apply for an education loan through GradRight, you are auto-enrolled in GradRight’s scholarship pool of $1M+, with partial loan scholarships that reduce your total loan amount and repayment burden. You do not need to go through a parallel process. Experts review your academics, admits, finances and goals to match you with relevant scholarship opportunities. Check GradRight scholarships for the current details, and use the Scholarship Finder to explore outside awards.

Now that you know the options, apply for as many scholarships as you qualify for. Visit NYU’s official pages for your school for the latest eligibility criteria and deadlines.

Need to fund your NYU admit? Compare education loan offers from 18+ lenders on GradRight. Check Your Loan Offers on GradRight

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does NYU give scholarships to international students?

Yes, but they are limited and competitive. Several graduate schools award merit scholarships at admission (NYU Stern, for example, needs no separate application), and NYU offers limited need-based aid and some merit scholarships to first-year international undergraduates. Check your own school’s financial aid page.

Can international students get federal aid or loans at NYU?

No. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, including FAFSA, federal loans and Federal Work-Study. You can use private loans, education loans from your home country, jobs, assistantships and outside scholarships instead.

How can an Indian student pay for NYU?

Most combine an NYU merit scholarship (if awarded), an education loan from India or a private loan, on-campus work and outside scholarships such as government or foundation awards. Compare loan offers early, because your sanction letter also serves as proof of funds for the I-20 and visa.

How many hours can I work at NYU on an F-1 visa?

F-1 students can generally work on campus up to 20 hours a week during the academic term and full time during official breaks. Off-campus work needs separate authorization. Confirm the rules with NYU’s international student office.

Are there fully funded NYU scholarships for international master’s students?

Full funding for master’s students is rare. Fully funded awards are more common for PhD students, who usually receive tuition waivers and stipends. Check your program’s financial aid page for the latest options.

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