Fordham Presidential Scholarship

About the Scholarship

This is the largest award Fordham publishes on its international scholarship list. It pays full tuition for each of four years and also covers the average cost of a double room if you live on campus, which makes it the closest thing Fordham offers to a funded place for an overseas student.

The bar is height of class rank. Fordham describes recipients as students who generally sit in the top 1 to 2 percent of their school year, judged on the strength of the curriculum they took, scores if they chose to send any, and the personality that comes through the application.

There is nothing extra to submit. Every complete application for admission is read for merit scholarships, and the award appears in the admission letter. Keep a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time enrolment and it renews for up to eight semesters.

Meal plans and fees are yours to fund, and half the value of any outside scholarship you win will be deducted, so plan a budget that still covers food, fees, insurance and flights.

What It Covers

Tuition
Housing

Full tuition each year for courses taken as a traditional undergraduate, plus the average cost of a double room (or the actual charge, whichever is less) for students living on campus. Meal plans and university fees stay with the student, and the award tops up gift aid from all other sources.

Eligibility

Entering traditional first-year students who generally rank in the top 1 to 2 percent of their high school class. Selection rests on academic achievement, test scores if submitted, and personal characteristics. Renewal needs full-time status, satisfactory academic progress, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and compliance with university policies and the Code of Conduct. The award runs for up to eight autumn and spring semesters. Outside scholarships reduce the award by only half their value, so the other half can go towards other costs.

Eligible Countries

All countries

How to Apply

Your application for admission is the scholarship application. All complete admission applications are considered automatically, no extra forms or essays are needed, and the award is named inside the online admission letter. Fordham is test optional, so scores are optional for scholarship consideration. The Presidential Scholarship is one of the five most competitive awards on the list and goes to Fordham's strongest admitted applicants.

Application Routes and Dates

Admission application, Early Decision I and Early Action

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Recurring deadline: Nov 1 (check provider for current cycle)

Timing source · Checked 2026-09-11

Admission application, Early Decision II and Regular Decision

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Recurring deadline: Jan 3 (check provider for current cycle)

Timing source · Checked 2026-09-11