Scholarships are offered by Clark and many other organizations.
Your eligibility for scholarships depends on your academic accomplishments, in addition to other factors.
Clark merit scholarships
If you are an international student applying to your first year of undergraduate study at Clark University, you could be eligible for merit scholarships offered by the University.
When you send in your admissions application, you will be considered automatically for several merit scholarships. Our Presidential Scholarship requires a separate application; however, the rest of our merit scholarships do not.
Your eligibility for scholarships depends on your academic achievement (those indicated on your application for admission), not on your family need. However, international students who may qualify for scholarships are still expected to demonstrate the ability to cover a significant percentage of the cost of their education. This includes students who wish to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship. On average, international students at Clark pay $40,000 per year.
If you are awarded a merit scholarship, you will be notified when you receive your admissions decision.
Below are the merit scholarships offered to entering first-year international students at Clark University. The scholarship amounts and descriptions below will be in effect for students starting in Fall 2023.
Richard Traina Scholarship
Awarded to incoming students who have shown a tireless commitment to leadership, scholarship, and community. One of Clark’s top-level scholarships and honors, the Traina Scholarship is named after the late Richard P. Traina, the former University President who saw a better world was possible through listening, learning, and connecting.
Eligible students will receive a $112,000 four-year award ($28,000 per year) regardless of their family’s financial need.
Robert Goddard Scholarship
Awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated strong academic potential to achieve in and out of the classroom on projects of meaning. Named after Robert H. Goddard—Clark graduate and faculty member and the founder of modern rocketry—whose bold approach to learning envisioned and anticipated a world that did not yet exist.
Eligible students will receive a $104,000 four-year award ($26,000 per year) regardless of their family’s financial need.
Jonas Clark Scholarship
Awarded to incoming students who have shown potential to challenge convention and change the world. Named after our founder, Jonas Clark, who aspired to champion an educational model that would create freethinking and bold students and citizens of the world.
Eligible students will receive a $84,000 four-year award ($21,000 per year) regardless of their family’s financial need.
Scarlet Award Scholarship
Awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated remarkable devotion to their academics or community endeavors. Named for Clark’s school color, Scarlet — a bold color traditionally associated with courage and passion.
Eligible students will receive a $64,000 four-year award ($16,000 per year) regardless of their family’s financial need.
1887 Scholarship
Awarded to incoming students who show promise in creativity, research and the life of the mind. Named for the year Jonas Clark founded Clark University as one of the first all-graduate institutions in the United States, with special interest in research in the field of psychology.
Eligible students will receive a $52,000 four-year award ($13,000 per year) regardless of their family’s financial need.
Presidential Scholarships
- Awarded to approximately five students each year, the Presidential Scholarship is a prestigious award for students whose academic record and leadership potential places them at the very top of Clark’s applicant pool.
- Full tuition, on-campus room and board for all four years, regardless of a family’s financial need.
- Requires two additional scholarship essays due Feb. 1 for all applicants. Regular Decision applicants have until Feb. 1. EA/ED applicants who submit scholarship applications after Dec. 1 but before Feb. 1 will receive notification of their scholarship status in March.
How to apply
If you are interested in the Presidential Scholarship, simply check that option when you fill out the Common Application or Coalition Application with Scoir (available Aug. 1).
You’ll then receive detailed information — including the topics of the two short essays — on how to apply for the scholarship. The final deadline for submitting the essays is Feb. 1, for Early Action, Early Decision and Regular Decision candidates.
Students will be notified in March if they have been selected for an interview.
The Admissions Committee chooses finalists based on the strength of their applications for admission and other criteria identified by the committee. Last year, the committee reviewed more than 450 scholarship applications from the U.S. and around the world before inviting 15 finalists for interviews; of those 15, five were awarded the scholarship and became members of the incoming class. Typically, one or two international students receive this award each year.
Private scholarships
As an international student, you may be eligible for additional scholarships offered by local, statewide and national organizations.
Below are possible sources and ideas for finding private scholarships.
If you do receive a private scholarship, you must inform the Clark University Office of Financial Assistance in writing. Private scholarships are considered part of your aid package.