Loading
International experiences, funded
You don't have to be wealthy to study or travel abroad in high school or college. The Gilman Scholarship alone funds over 3,000 students per year — and it specifically targets Pell Grant recipients. This guide covers the programs worth applying to and what makes them winnable.
Arizona students have access to several well-funded study abroad scholarship programs, most of which are undersubscribed because students assume they can't afford to apply. The B. Thomas Gilman International Scholarship funds first-generation, Pell-eligible students to study abroad. The Critical Language Scholarship is a fully funded State Department program for language immersion (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and more). Rotary International's Youth Exchange program funds high school juniors and seniors for a full academic year abroad. None of these require a wealthy background.
Free tools for this situation
Things worth knowing
The Gilman Scholarship is specifically for Pell Grant recipients — if you qualify for Pell, you are the target applicant
Gilman selects 3,000+ students per year and specifically seeks students who would not otherwise study abroad due to financial constraints. First-generation college students win this award at higher rates than the general pool. Applications open twice a year; the spring deadline is usually mid-January.
The Critical Language Scholarship is fully funded and highly selective — but the selectivity is by language, not background
CLS is a U.S. State Department program. Competitiveness varies dramatically by language: Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, and Russian are more competitive than, say, Azerbaijani or Swahili. Applying to a less-competitive language with genuine interest can dramatically improve your odds.
Rotary Youth Exchange places high schoolers for a full academic year — apply through your local Rotary district
Rotary exchange is a year-long experience, fully funded by the host Rotary club. Applications go through your local district (not a national portal). Arizona has multiple active districts. The timeline is long — most placements for the following school year are decided 12–18 months ahead.
Get scholarships matched to your profile
Tell the matcher your grade, interests, and situation — it ranks all 360+ opportunities by how well they fit you.
Related guides for Arizona students
See all matching opportunities
The full browse catalog — pre-filtered for scholarships, sorted by relevance to your search.