Studying in the United States can be expensive for international students, but scholarships can dramatically reduce the cost.

One obstacle that discourages many students before they even apply is the English-language test requirement.

IELTS and TOEFL exams can be expensive, especially when you add registration fees, transportation, preparation materials and the possibility of retaking the examination.

But here is something many international students do not realize:

You do not always need IELTS or TOEFL to qualify for admission and scholarships at a U.S. university.

Some American universities:

Accept Duolingo instead
Accept PTE
Accept SAT or ACT English scores
Accept Cambridge or A-Level English
Accept previous English-medium education
Waive English testing for students from certain countries
Offer an internal English assessment
Provide conditional admission or an English-language pathway

This means there are genuine US scholarships for international students that can be pursued without submitting IELTS or TOEFL.

However, there is an important distinction.

“No IELTS” Does Not Always Mean “No English Requirement”

A scholarship may not require IELTS or TOEFL, while the university itself still requires evidence that you can study successfully in English.

For example, a university may accept:

IELTS 6.5

Duolingo 110

PTE 60

proof that your previous education was conducted in English.

So when searching for scholarships without IELTS, your real question should be:

Can I satisfy this university’s English-language requirement without IELTS or TOEFL?

For several U.S. universities, the answer is yes.

Here are some options worth considering.

1. University of Arizona — Global Wildcat Award

The University of Arizona offers international undergraduate applicants access to merit-based funding through its Global Wildcat Award.

International applicants to the main campus are automatically considered for the merit-based scholarship during the admission process.

What makes Arizona particularly interesting is its flexible English-language policy.

The university accepts numerous alternatives to IELTS and TOEFL, including:

Duolingo English Test
PTE Academic
Cambridge English
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
ACT English
EF SET
iTEP
LanguageCert
Oxford ELLT
Certain English-medium secondary education

It also accepts three years of schooling at a high school where the medium of instruction is English, subject to its requirements.

An Important Advantage for Nigerian Students

The University of Arizona’s current country-specific admission guidance states that undergraduate applicants educated under the Nigerian system do not need to provide additional proof of English proficiency.

The university recognizes qualifications such as WAEC/WASSCE and NECO under its Nigerian admission requirements.

That makes Arizona particularly attractive to students searching for:

USA scholarships for Nigerians
Scholarships without IELTS
US universities accepting WAEC
Scholarships for African students

Is the Global Wildcat Award fully funded?

No.

It is a merit tuition award rather than a guaranteed full scholarship covering every living expense.

Students should still calculate:

Remaining tuition
Housing
Meals
Health insurance
Books
Transportation
Personal expenses

before accepting an admission offer.

2. University of Oregon — ICSP Scholarship

The University of Oregon offers substantial scholarship opportunities to international students.

One of the most distinctive is the International Cultural Service Program Scholarship, commonly known as ICSP.

ICSP recipients receive a partial tuition-waiver scholarship, currently described by the university as covering approximately half of tuition.

In return, recipients perform approximately 66 to 80 hours of cultural service each year, such as giving presentations about their country and culture in local schools and community organizations.

The University of Oregon reports awarding more than $1 million annually in scholarships to international students.

Can you apply without IELTS or TOEFL?

Potentially, yes.

The University of Oregon accepts alternatives including:

Duolingo English Test
SAT
ACT

The university also provides exemptions for applicants from several English-speaking countries.

Its exemption list currently includes countries such as:

Nigeria
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
South Africa
United Kingdom
Canada, subject to province
Jamaica
Trinidad and Tobago
Ireland
Australia
New Zealand

Therefore, a Nigerian undergraduate applicant, for example, may not need to submit IELTS or TOEFL merely to demonstrate English proficiency under the university’s current rules.

ICSP eligibility

For the Fall 2026 cycle, applicants were required to:

Be admissible or admitted to the University of Oregon
Demonstrate financial need
Have a strong academic record
Demonstrate communication and presentation ability
Meet at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA requirement

The Fall 2026 scholarship deadline was February 13, 2026.

Future applicants should watch for the next scholarship cycle.

3. Clark University Scholarships

Clark University in Massachusetts is another American university worth investigating.

International undergraduate students are considered for multiple merit scholarships.

Clark currently lists international first-year students as potentially eligible for scholarships including:

International Traina Scholarship
International Achievement Scholarship
International Jonas Clark Scholarship
Presidential Scholarship
Global Scholars Scholarship

International applicants are automatically considered for several of these awards.

Clark Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is the biggest prize.

Clark states that it awards the scholarship to approximately five exceptional students each year.

It covers:

Full tuition
On-campus housing
Meals

for four undergraduate years.

Students are still responsible for certain additional expenses.

Do you need IELTS or TOEFL?

Not necessarily those particular tests.

Clark currently accepts several methods of demonstrating English proficiency, including:

TOEFL
IELTS
Duolingo
PTE
PEXT

Therefore, a student can potentially apply without ever taking IELTS or TOEFL by using another accepted test.

Clark also operates English-language support pathways where appropriate.

At graduate level, Clark’s waiver rules specifically exempt applicants from certain English-speaking countries or those who completed qualifying education in them. Its current waiver list includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Uganda and several other countries.

Always check the waiver applicable to your exact undergraduate or graduate programme.

4. University of Kansas International Scholarships

The University of Kansas provides particularly clear merit scholarships for international freshmen.

For 2026 admission, international freshman scholarships included:






Scholarship	GPA	Total Award	KU Excellence	3.95–4.00	$64,000	KU Distinction	3.85–3.94	$56,000	KU Achievement	3.70–3.84	$48,000	KU Performance	3.50–3.69	$40,000	KU Access	3.25–3.49	$32,000

These are renewable awards spread across the student’s undergraduate career, subject to renewal conditions.

The scholarship assessment is based primarily on GPA rather than IELTS or TOEFL scores.

Can you attend KU without IELTS or TOEFL?

Yes, depending on your circumstances.

KU accepts alternatives such as:

PTE Academic
SAT
ACT
AP English
A-Level English
Duolingo in certain circumstances
KU’s own Applied English Center assessment

It also grants English-proficiency exemptions for qualifying students educated in English-speaking regions.

Its exemption policy includes qualifying students graduating from English-speaking African countries.

Even students without full English proficiency can potentially be admitted and placed into appropriate English-language coursework rather than automatically being denied university admission.

5. University of Alabama Scholarships

The University of Alabama is well known for offering merit scholarships.

International students can be considered for merit awards, although requirements vary by scholarship.

Importantly, IELTS and TOEFL are not the university’s only ways to satisfy English requirements.

The University of Alabama currently accepts alternatives including:

Duolingo
PTE
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
ACT English
IB English
A-Level/AS-Level English
Certain English-proficiency waivers

Students who satisfy academic admission requirements but need further English preparation can also explore conditional admission through the University’s English Language Institute.

For scholarship purposes, students should distinguish between:

English proficiency examinations

and

SAT/ACT examinations used for merit-scholarship consideration.

For example, UA states that standardized SAT or ACT scores are optional for admission but are required for its automatic merit scholarship consideration, while competitive scholarship consideration can operate differently.

Scholarships Without IELTS vs Scholarships Without Any English Test

These are not the same thing.

A university may say:

IELTS is not required

but still ask for:

Duolingo
PTE
Cambridge English
SAT English
ACT English

That is a scholarship pathway without IELTS or TOEFL, but it is not necessarily a scholarship without any proof of English.

Another university may waive English testing entirely because:

You studied in English
You are from an English-speaking country
Your school follows an approved curriculum
You have qualifying university-level English courses

These are genuine English-test waivers.

Which Option Is Best for African Students?

Students from English-speaking African countries should always check the university’s country-specific requirements before paying for IELTS.

Universities such as the University of Arizona and University of Oregon currently provide especially favourable English-proficiency treatment for applicants from countries including Nigeria.

You could save hundreds of dollars simply by checking this first.

Documents You May Need

Scholarship requirements differ, but international students commonly need:

Passport
Secondary-school transcripts
WAEC, NECO or equivalent examination results where applicable
University transcripts for graduate applicants
Recommendation letters
Personal statement
Scholarship essay
Resume or CV
Proof of extracurricular activities
Evidence of leadership
Financial certification documents
English-language evidence where required

For F-1 student visa processing, universities will also generally require evidence that remaining educational and living expenses can be funded after scholarships are considered.

Are These Scholarships Fully Funded?

Not all of them.

This is extremely important.

Some awards cover:

Full tuition + room + meals

while others provide only:

$5,000, $10,000 or $16,000 per year

toward tuition.

The United States can be expensive.

For example, the University of Oregon estimates total international undergraduate expenses for the 2026–27 academic year at approximately $64,013 before scholarship reductions.

Always calculate:

Total cost of attendance – scholarship amount = your expected remaining cost

before deciding whether an offer is affordable.

How to Improve Your Scholarship Chances

Strong applicants usually do more than meet the minimum admission requirements.

Focus on:

Academic Results

Excellent grades remain one of the strongest scholarship factors.

Leadership

Show evidence of leading:

School organizations
Community projects
Volunteer initiatives
Businesses
Professional projects

Impact

Explain what changed because of your involvement.

Strong Personal Essays

Avoid generic statements such as:

“I have always dreamed of studying in America.”

Explain:

What you have already accomplished
What problem you want to solve
Why the programme matters
What you will contribute

Apply Early

Some merit awards have earlier deadlines than normal university admission.

Waiting until the general admission deadline can mean missing scholarship consideration completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a USA scholarship without IELTS?

Yes.

Some universities accept alternatives such as Duolingo, PTE, SAT/ACT or English-medium schooling, while others waive English testing for qualifying students.

Can Nigerian students study in the USA without IELTS?

Yes, at certain universities.

For example, the University of Arizona currently indicates that applicants under its Nigerian undergraduate admission requirements do not need additional proof of English proficiency.

The University of Oregon also includes Nigeria among countries exempt from its undergraduate English proficiency examination requirement.

Is Duolingo accepted in U.S. universities?

Many universities accept it, although acceptance varies by institution and programme.

Are scholarships without IELTS fully funded?

Sometimes, but not automatically.

An English-language waiver and scholarship funding are separate decisions.

Can WAEC replace IELTS?

At some universities and under some country-specific policies, previous English-medium qualifications may satisfy English requirements. Do not assume WAEC automatically replaces IELTS everywhere.

Can I apply before taking an English test?

Some universities allow conditional admission or alternative English pathways. Check the exact institution.

Final Thoughts

International students should not automatically spend money on IELTS or TOEFL before researching their target universities.

There are legitimate US scholarships for international students where applicants can satisfy English-language requirements using:

Previous English-medium education
Country exemptions
Duolingo
PTE
SAT
ACT
Cambridge qualifications
University English pathways

Universities worth researching include:

University of Arizona
University of Oregon
Clark University
University of Kansas
University of Alabama

The most important rule is simple:

Check the scholarship requirements and admission requirements separately.

A scholarship may not require IELTS, while the university may still require another form of English proof.

Disclaimer: Scholarship amounts, admission standards, English-language waivers and deadlines can change. This article provides general educational information and does not guarantee admission, a scholarship or a U.S. student visa. Always verify requirements through the university’s official admissions and scholarship pages.

US Scholarships That Don’t Require IELTS or TOEFL in 2026