President’s Award for International Student Excellence – Eligibility, Benefits & How to Apply

🌟 About the Scholarship

Opens
Closes15 Dec, 2026

Iowa State University offers the President’s Award for International Student Excellence as the highest tier of its International Student Excellence Award program. The President’s Award provides substantial financial support by reducing undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees. It significantly lowers the overall cost of studying at Iowa State University for international students. Moreover, the award is renewable for up to eight semesters for first-year students, provided they maintain full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. Typically, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of around 3.0 to continue receiving the scholarship. Consequently, the award helps students focus on academics, campus engagement, and personal development without excessive financial stress.

🎓 Scholarship Snapshot

Here’s everything you need at a glance: the documents to prepare, what the award covers, and key dates so you don’t miss a beat. From transcripts and essays to tuition and living support, this gives you a clear picture of the President’s Award for International Student Excellence before you apply.

Eligible Countries

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Seirra Leone, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Korea, South Sudan, South-Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Study Fields

All fields

GPA / Grade

GPA 3.0

Languages

DuoLingo English Test 105, IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 71

Tests

ACT 25, SAT 1200

Study Levels

Bachelor's, BS, Undergraduate

Total Scholarships

Transcripts

Yes

Degrees

Yes

Essay

Yes

Passport ID

Recommendation Letters

Result Date

Program Start

Tuition Fee

Covered

Living Allowance

Travel Allowance

Research Grant

Health Insurance

Visa Assistance

📞 Contact Information

Call if you want a quick answer, send an email for detailed questions, or follow the university’s social channels to keep an eye on updates and reminders. Use whatever fits your style and timezone.

Scholarship Summary

Award Amount$56,000
Deadline15 Dec, 2026
LevelBachelor's, BS, Undergraduate
InstitutionIowa State University
CountryUnited States
ModeOnline
TypePartially funded

Apply Now

Iowa State University offers the President’s Award for International Student Excellence as the highest tier of its International Student Excellence Award program. The university automatically grants this competitive merit-based scholarship to outstanding international first-year applicants. It evaluates students mainly through high school academic performance and standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT. As a result, the university identifies top-performing students during the admission process without requiring a separate scholarship application. This approach allows Iowa State to attract highly talented students from across the world.

Background and Purpose

Iowa State University created the President’s Award to recognize exceptional academic achievement among international students. The university aims to support global learners who demonstrate strong academic potential and leadership qualities. Therefore, it integrates the scholarship process into the admission review system. This strategy ensures that deserving students receive financial recognition immediately upon admission. In addition, the award reflects the university’s broader mission to build a diverse, high-achieving, and globally connected student community.

President’s Award for International Student Excellence Benefits

The President’s Award provides substantial financial support by reducing undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees. It significantly lowers the overall cost of studying at Iowa State University for international students. Moreover, the award is renewable for up to eight semesters for first-year students, provided they maintain full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. Typically, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of around 3.0 to continue receiving the scholarship. Consequently, the award helps students focus on academics, campus engagement, and personal development without excessive financial stress.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, students must be international first-year applicants admitted to Iowa State University. The university primarily considers high school GPA and standardized test scores, such as SAT or ACT, during the selection process. Additionally, students must be assessed at international tuition rates to be eligible. However, recipients cannot combine this award with the International Merit Scholarship. Therefore, the university ensures that each student receives only one major merit-based award based on their academic profile.

President’s Award for International Student Excellence Application Process

The application process for the President’s Award is fully automatic. Students do not need to submit a separate scholarship application. Instead, Iowa State University reviews eligible applicants during the admission process. Therefore, students must ensure they submit strong academic records and test scores when applying for admission. Once the university evaluates applications, it selects top candidates for the award and informs them along with admission decisions, or shortly after.

Opportunities for Scholars

The President’s Award allows students to study at a globally recognized institution such as Iowa State University with reduced financial pressure. Scholars gain access to high-quality academic programs, research opportunities, and a diverse international campus environment. In addition, students can participate in internships, leadership activities, student organizations, and career development programs. Iowa State is especially known for excellence in engineering, agriculture, business, science, and technology. Overall, the scholarship helps high-achieving students build strong academic foundations and prepare for successful global careers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for these scholarships?

It is open to incoming international first-year students who have been admitted to Iowa State University and meet required GPA and standardized test score combinations.

Do students need to apply separately for this scholarship?

No, it is automatically awarded to eligible admitted students without a separate scholarship application.

Can this scholarship be combined with other awards?

No, it cannot be combined with the International Merit Scholarship or other International Excellence Awards.