The Caldwell University international student scholarship, officially called the International Student Academic Scholarship, is an automatic merit award for international students starting a bachelor’s degree at Caldwell University in New Jersey. Caldwell lists awards between $20,000 and $27,000 per year, based on your high school GPA, and you don’t need a separate scholarship application. Submit a complete application on time and you’re considered.
That makes it a rare kind of opportunity: no extra essay for the scholarship, no separate form, and no competition on a special deadline. But it also means the details of your admission file decide everything. This guide covers what you’d actually receive, who qualifies, how the dates work and where students tend to slip up.
Key Benefits: What the Caldwell University International Student Scholarship Covers
Caldwell’s international scholarship page lists the following academic awards, based on U.S. high school GPA equivalency:
| High school GPA | Scholarship per year |
| 3.75 and above | $27,000 |
| 3.50 to 3.74 | $24,000 |
| 3.25 to 3.49 | $23,000 |
| 3.00 to 3.24 | $21,000 |
| Under 3.00 | $20,000 |
EducationUSA’s listing describes the awards as $20,000 to $30,000 per year, renewable for up to four years. Caldwell’s own page is the more specific source, so plan with its table, and ask the Office of Admissions whether the $30,000 figure applies to anyone.
What the money does and doesn’t do
Be realistic about the costs. Caldwell’s 2026-2027 estimate for a full-time undergraduate is roughly $61,000 for resident students and $55,000 for commuter students per year. That includes tuition of $41,200, fees, health insurance, a one-time $300 orientation fee, and an estimated $15,520 (on-campus) or $10,000 (off-campus) for room and board.
Here is a rough illustration of what that could look like after the scholarship, using those estimates:
- Top tier ($27,000): roughly $34,000 on-campus or $28,500 off-campus
- Lowest tier ($20,000): roughly $41,000 on-campus or $35,500 off-campus
Those are my own rounded calculations from Caldwell’s published estimates. They exclude books, transport and personal expenses, and Caldwell itself recommends adding about 7% on top of its estimate. So the award is generous, but it’s not a full ride, and you’ll still need substantial family or other funding.
Other awards you might stack
Caldwell lists several additional scholarships and grants on the same page:
- St. Thomas Aquinas Scholarship: $1,000 to $3,000 per year for first-time freshmen with a minimum 3.25 high school average and an SAT of 1100 or ACT of 23 (official scores required). It’s awarded automatically on admission.
- CU Residential Grant: $2,000 per year while you live on campus, requiring a $450 enrollment deposit.
- Catholic High School Scholarship: $2,500 per year for up to four years (three for transfers) for graduates of Catholic high schools, awarded automatically.
- Talent Scholarships: $1,000 to $5,000 for art or music students, with a portfolio review or audition.
- Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship: up to $2,000 per year for eligible community college transfers.
- Athletic grants: awarded by the Athletics department.
The page doesn’t say how these combine with the academic scholarship, so ask Caldwell before you add them up in your budget.
Who the Caldwell University International Student Scholarship Is For: Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate Students
Undergraduate students: the target audience
EducationUSA lists the scholarship for bachelor’s degree applicants and says it’s open to all majors. Caldwell’s page is headed “Incoming Undergraduate Students.”
Transfer students
Caldwell’s academic scholarship table is based on high school GPA. The pages I reviewed don’t explain how it applies to transfer students, though some of the other awards (such as the Catholic High School and Phi Theta Kappa scholarships) mention transfers. If you’re transferring, email Admissions and ask which awards you’d be considered for.
Graduate and postgraduate students
This scholarship is not listed for graduate study. Caldwell offers master’s and doctoral programs, and its graduate admission requirements are separate. For funding, contact Graduate Admissions directly; Caldwell’s international pages list graduate@caldwell.edu and 973.618.3544. I couldn’t find a graduate equivalent of this automatic award, so ask rather than assume. Costs differ too: for example, Caldwell’s estimate lists an MBA or MS in Accounting at $13,689 for 18 credits, before fees and living costs.
Important: international students and need-based aid
Caldwell states that international students are not eligible for need-based financial aid. That makes merit awards even more important to your plan.
Caldwell University International Student Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
Here is what you need, based on Caldwell’s pages.
1. Be an international undergraduate applicant
You should be applying for a bachelor’s program for F-1 student status.
2. Submit a complete application by the deadline
Caldwell says all students who submit a complete application by June 1 (fall) or December 1 (spring) are automatically considered. “Complete” means every supporting document, not just the form.
3. Meet the undergraduate admission requirements
- Final secondary school transcripts, evaluated by any NACES member agency
- Proof of English proficiency
- A personal essay
- One letter of recommendation
- SAT/ACT scores are optional, because Caldwell is test-optional
4. Show English proficiency
Caldwell accepts several options, with these minimums:
- TOEFL: 70 (or 4 on the newer scoring)
- IELTS: 6.0
- Duolingo: 105
- PTE Academic: 48
- Pearson English Express Test: 53
- ELS: Level 112 certificate of completion
- SAT or ACT scores can also be used to satisfy the requirement
Caldwell may waive the English requirement at the Admissions Office’s discretion for students whose native language is English, and it publishes a list of qualifying countries. If you’re from an English-speaking country, check that list and ask whether you still need a test.
5. Have your GPA evaluated
Your scholarship amount depends on your U.S. high school GPA equivalency. The pages I reviewed don’t say exactly how that figure is calculated, so ask Admissions whether they use the evaluation report or their own conversion.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process for the Caldwell University International Student Scholarship
Step 1: Get your transcripts evaluated early
Caldwell requires a NACES-member evaluation of your final secondary school transcripts, and the evaluation must state that you’ve achieved the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma. Evaluations take time, so start first.
Step 2: Choose and schedule your English test
Pick the test that suits you and make sure scores are sent to Caldwell.
Step 3: Prepare your essay and recommendation
Both are required. Give your recommender plenty of notice.
Step 4: Submit your application
You can apply through Caldwell’s own application or the Common Application. Send the required documents to Caldwell’s international admissions office by email as the enrollment roadmap instructs.
Apply here: Apply to Caldwell University
Step 5: Wait for your decision
Caldwell says to expect an acceptance email 2 to 3 weeks after it receives all required documents. Your scholarship is communicated as part of your admission outcome, though the pages don’t spell out the exact format, so read your offer carefully.
Step 6: Pay the enrollment deposit
The deposit is $250 for commuters or $450 for residents. It’s credited to your account and refundable only if your visa is denied. The deadline is June 1 for fall or December 1 for spring.
Step 7: Apply for your I-20 and visa
Submit your I-20 application with supporting financial documents. Caldwell can’t issue the official I-20 until your deposit arrives. After that come the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and your visa appointment.
Required Documents Checklist
For your application:
- Completed application (Caldwell or Common App)
- Final secondary school transcripts, evaluated by a NACES member agency
- Proof of English proficiency (or a waiver request if you qualify)
- Personal essay
- One letter of recommendation
- SAT/ACT scores (optional)
After admission:
- Enrollment deposit ($250 or $450)
- I-20 application with financial documents
- SEVIS fee receipt
- Passport valid for up to six months beyond your I-20 end date
- Original financial documents and 2×2 visa photo for your visa interview
- Health forms, placement test (math) and final transcript evaluation, as Caldwell requests
Caldwell’s lists change, so confirm each item on its official pages.
Important Deadlines and Timeline
Caldwell’s international deadlines are:
- Fall semester (August start): June 1
- Spring semester (January start): December 1
Caldwell says these represent the date by which a complete application with all supporting documents must be received, and that the deadlines are not flexible because of the time needed for the I-20 and F-1 visa.
For the scholarship, EducationUSA says the scholarship deadline is the same as the application deadline.
Practical timeline for Spring 2027
Because today is October 3, 2026, you have about two months before the December 1 deadline. A workable plan:
- Now: request your transcript evaluation and choose your English test date.
- Mid-October: line up your recommender and draft your essay.
- Early November: submit your complete application.
- Late November: follow up if you haven’t had a decision, remembering the 2-to-3-week review period.
- December 1: deposit deadline for spring, per Caldwell’s roadmap.
Notice that the application deadline and deposit deadline both fall on December 1 for spring. Since decisions can take two to three weeks, applying close to the deadline leaves you almost no time. Ask Caldwell how this works if you’re cutting it close.
Fall 2027 timeline
The deadline is June 1, 2027. I’d aim for a complete application months earlier, since evaluations, English tests, visa appointments and I-20 processing all take time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming the deadline is flexible. Caldwell says it isn’t.
Sending an incomplete file. A missing evaluation or test score can stop the process.
Waiting for the NACES evaluation. It’s a required step and can be a bottleneck.
Expecting need-based aid. International students aren’t eligible.
Planning around the $30,000 figure. Use Caldwell’s table until you’ve confirmed otherwise.
Forgetting the full cost. Even with the top award, you’ll pay tens of thousands of dollars a year.
Leaving the I-20 and visa until late. Caldwell warns that appointment wait times can be lengthy.
Not checking the English waiver rules. You might save a test fee, or you might skip a requirement you actually need.
Insider Tips to Improve Your Chances
These are practical observations, not official promises.
- Get your best transcript evaluation. Your GPA equivalency decides your tier. Ask Admissions how it’s calculated, and make sure your evaluation includes the information they need.
- Remember what the tiers really mean. The gap between the top and bottom tiers is $7,000 per year. Getting admitted on time matters most.
- Submit SAT/ACT scores if they’re strong. Testing is optional, but the St. Thomas Aquinas Scholarship requires a 3.25 average plus an SAT of 1100 or ACT of 23, and adds $1,000 to $3,000 per year.
- Check the Catholic High School Scholarship. If you attended a Catholic secondary school, ask whether your school qualifies; the pages don’t say whether schools outside the U.S. count.
- Compare on-campus and off-campus costs. The Residential Grant is $2,000, but Caldwell’s estimates put on-campus room and board about $5,500 above off-campus, so the grant doesn’t erase the difference.
- Apply well before the deadline. Caldwell says the review takes 2 to 3 weeks after documents arrive.
- Email early with specific questions. Admissions is reachable by email and phone, and a precise question gets a better answer.
- Build a backup funding plan. Our guides to the UNL international academic scholarships, Boise State University international scholarships, MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship and Chevening Scholarships cover other routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate scholarship application?
No. Caldwell says students who submit a complete application by the deadline are automatically considered.
How much is the scholarship?
Caldwell lists $20,000 to $27,000 per year by GPA. EducationUSA describes $20,000 to $30,000, so confirm the top figure.
Is it renewable?
EducationUSA says renewable for up to four years. Caldwell’s page didn’t list the renewal conditions, so ask what GPA or credit load you’ll need.
Is it a full scholarship?
No. Caldwell estimates annual costs at roughly $55,000 to $61,000.
Does it cover all majors?
EducationUSA says all majors.
Can graduate students apply?
It’s listed for bachelor’s students. Contact Graduate Admissions about graduate funding.
Is the SAT or ACT required?
No. Caldwell is test-optional, though scores can help with certain scholarships and with English proficiency.
What English score do I need?
For example, TOEFL 70, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105, with other tests also accepted.
Can I get need-based aid?
No. Caldwell states international students aren’t eligible.
What if I miss the deadline?
Caldwell says deadlines are not flexible. Ask about the next term.
Will I find out about the scholarship before paying the deposit?
Your scholarship is communicated with your admission outcome, but confirm the details in writing before paying.
Can I combine scholarships?
The pages don’t say, so ask.
Conclusion: Your Next Steps
The Caldwell University international student scholarship works in your favor if you’re organized. There’s no extra application to master, which means your effort goes into a complete, on-time file with strong grades and clean documents.
Here’s what to do this week:
- Confirm that your intended program is a bachelor’s degree at Caldwell.
- Order your NACES transcript evaluation.
- Book your English test, or ask about a waiver.
- Line up your recommender and start your essay.
- Aim to submit your full application well before December 1 for spring entry.
- Write down your total budget, including living costs, and compare it with the scholarship.
A $20,000 to $27,000 annual scholarship can be the difference between a plan that works on paper and one that actually works for your family. Start early, ask questions and keep everything in writing.
A note from the author: scholarship amounts, deadlines and policies change often, and Caldwell’s pages and third-party listings don’t always agree. This article reflects what the official pages said at the time of writing. Please verify everything with Caldwell University’s Office of Admissions before you apply.