Oakland University offers 30+ scholarships, of which 15+ are accessible to Indian applicants.
The mix runs from merit-based tuition awards for freshers to fully-funded graduate assistantships that waive tuition and add a monthly stipend.
- Standard graduate tuition: $1,078.25 per credit (INR 1.02 Lakhs), with zero mandatory fees on top.
- With Graduate Assistantship: full tuition waiver plus stipend of $16,000 to $22,000 (INR 15.12 to 20.79 Lakhs) yearly.
- With International Student Award plus assistantship: effective yearly cost falls under $6,000 (INR 5.67 Lakhs) for most Indian PG applicants.
- Next deadline: November 1, 2026 (Winter 2027 UG intake); May 1, 2027 (Fall 2027 graduate priority).
Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 USD = INR 94.5 as of September 2026. One Lakh equals 100,000. Oakland is the only Michigan public university that charges no additional mandatory fees, so the per-credit tuition is the true sticker price.
Table of Contents
- Oakland University Scholarships for UG Students
- Oakland University Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
- India-Specific Scholarships at Oakland University
- Oakland University PhD Scholarships
- External Government Scholarships for Oakland University Applicants
- Oakland University Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland University Scholarships for UG Students
Indian undergraduate applicants can stack the International Student Award with department merit scholarships to cut annual tuition by up to 40%.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility for Indian Applicants | Deadline (Fall 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Student Award | $4,000 to $8,000 (INR 3.78 to 7.56 Lakhs) per year | Admitted freshers; auto-considered; renewable for 4 years with 3.0 CGPA | July 1, 2027 (with admission) |
| Platinum Presidential Scholarship | Up to $12,000 (INR 11.34 Lakhs) per year | Class 12 aggregate 90%+; strong SAT or ACT score; competitive | February 1, 2027 (priority) |
| Gold Presidential Scholarship | Up to $8,000 (INR 7.56 Lakhs) per year | Class 12 aggregate 85%+; renewable up to 4 years | February 1, 2027 (priority) |
| Silver Presidential Scholarship | Up to $5,000 (INR 4.73 Lakhs) per year | Class 12 aggregate 80%+; auto-review with UG application | February 1, 2027 (priority) |
| Distinguished Scholar Award | Up to $3,000 (INR 2.84 Lakhs) per year | Merit-based; open to transfer and first-year international students | Rolling; tentative March 1, 2027 |
| Trustee Academic Success Scholarship | Up to $2,000 (INR 1.89 Lakhs) per year | Solid academic record; supplementary to primary merit awards | Rolling; tentative March 1, 2027 |
The International Student Award is the anchor award for Indian freshers. It requires no separate application and is decided when the admission letter is generated. Renewal needs a 3.0 CGPA every academic year, so the cumulative value can hit $32,000 (INR 30.24 Lakhs) across a four-year bachelor’s degree.
Reddit Insight: Indian UG applicants report the strongest merit-award decisions come from applying early in the Fall cycle; Winter intake awards trend $1,000 to $2,000 (INR 94,500 to 1.89 Lakhs) lower for identical profiles.
Explore More: Oakland University Admissions | Top USA Universities
Oakland University Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
PG funding at Oakland runs through department-level assistantships, not central financial aid. These are the highest-value awards for Indian students, worth over $30,000 (INR 28.35 Lakhs) once tuition waiver and stipend are combined.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility for Indian Applicants | Deadline (Fall 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Assistantship (GA) | Full tuition waiver + $16,000 to $20,000 (INR 15.12 to 18.9 Lakhs) stipend | Admitted PG students; strong academics; nominated by department chair | March 15, 2027 (tentative, priority) |
| Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) | Full waiver + $18,000 to $22,000 (INR 17.01 to 20.79 Lakhs) stipend | Faculty-funded research match; strong project fit; often STEM PG | Rolling; email faculty by February 2027 |
| Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) | Full waiver + $16,000 to $20,000 (INR 15.12 to 18.9 Lakhs) stipend | Strong English proficiency; TOEFL Speaking 26+ or IELTS 7.5 in Speaking | May 1, 2027 (with grad application) |
| School of Business Administration Merit Scholarship | $3,000 to $8,000 (INR 2.84 to 7.56 Lakhs) per year | Admitted MBA or MSA/MSF applicants; GMAT 600+ preferred | May 1, 2027 (Fall priority) |
| MBA Fellowship (AACSB) | Up to $10,000 (INR 9.45 Lakhs) per year | Two years of work experience; strong GMAT/GRE; nominated by admissions | March 1, 2027 (competitive) |
| School of Engineering and Computer Science Fellowship | $5,000 to $12,000 (INR 4.73 to 11.34 Lakhs) | MS CS, MS ECE, MS Embedded Systems; GRE Quant 165+ preferred | February 1, 2027 (fellowship priority) |
Assistantship offers arrive after the admission decision but before enrolment. Indian PG applicants should email the departmental graduate coordinator once accepted. The chair of the School of Engineering and Computer Science funds most GTA slots for MS Computer Science and MS Embedded Systems, the two most popular programs for Indians at Oakland.
Reddit Insight: Indian graduate students confirm that GTA offers for MS CS and MS ECE peak in April; students who wait until July for a Fall decision usually lose out to earlier applicants.
Explore More: Oakland University Programs | MS in USA Universities
India-Specific Scholarships at Oakland University
Oakland does not run a dedicated India-branded scholarship, but three institutional awards are structured so Indian nationals win most seats.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility for Indian Applicants | Deadline (2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Student Award | $4,000 to $8,000 (INR 3.78 to 7.56 Lakhs) per year | All Indian international admits; auto-considered on admission | Same as admission deadline |
| OU Global Excellence Grant | Up to $6,000 (INR 5.67 Lakhs) one-time | Indian students with 85%+ Class 12 or 8.5 CGPA UG; leadership record | Tentative April 15, 2027 |
| Grizzlies Global Ambassador Award | Up to $3,000 (INR 2.84 Lakhs) per semester | Enrolled Indian students; assist International Student Office; sophomore or later | Rolling; tentative July 1, 2027 |
| OU India Alumni Chapter Grant | $500 to $2,000 (INR 47,250 to 1.89 Lakhs) | Indian students with financial need; two-page statement of purpose | Tentative September 30, 2027 |
The Global Ambassador Award pays Indian sophomores for around 10 hours a week of on-campus work supporting new international admits. It stacks legally with the F-1 visa’s on-campus work rule of 20 hours per week. Combined with the International Student Award, an Indian student can offset $10,000 to $14,000 (INR 9.45 to 13.23 Lakhs) of annual tuition before assistantships.
For the visa side of this stack and the on-campus work limits, review the F-1 student visa guide. Rochester Michigan living costs sit below the US average, and cost of living for international students in USA covers the yearly rent, food, and transport picture in detail.
Oakland University PhD Scholarships
PhD funding at Oakland is fully-funded for admitted doctoral students. Every offer bundles four elements:
- Tuition waiver: Full remission of $1,078.25 per credit (INR 1.02 Lakhs per credit) for the doctoral program.
- Stipend: $22,000 to $26,000 (INR 20.79 to 24.57 Lakhs) per academic year for 20 hours of research or teaching weekly.
- Health insurance subsidy: Around $2,500 (INR 2.36 Lakhs) per year toward the mandatory F-1 health plan.
- Conference travel fund: Up to $1,500 (INR 1.42 Lakhs) per year for research presentation abroad.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility for Indian Applicants | Deadline (Fall 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Assistantship (full funding) | Waiver + $22,000 to $26,000 (INR 20.79 to 24.57 Lakhs) stipend | PhD admits; nominated by department; research fit essential | January 15, 2027 (priority) |
| Provost’s Graduate Student Research Award | Up to $3,000 (INR 2.84 Lakhs) one-time | Enrolled PhD students; original research proposal; faculty endorsement | Tentative February 15, 2027 |
| KCI Predoctoral Fellowship | Waiver + $28,000 (INR 26.46 Lakhs) stipend | Health sciences and cancer research PhD; only 2 to 3 seats yearly | December 1, 2026 |
| King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship | Up to $20,000 (INR 18.9 Lakhs) tuition support | PhD students committed to Michigan faculty careers; open to Indian residents | April 1, 2027 |
| Graduate Council Research Grant | Up to $1,000 (INR 94,500) one-time | Second-year or later PhD students; conference or fieldwork use | Rolling; twice-yearly review |
Indian PhD candidates in Applied Mathematical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, and Engineering are the most funded groups at Oakland. Because the KCI Fellowship carries the highest stipend, applicants target it as their first-choice route into the OU William Beaumont School of Medicine research pipeline.
Explore More: Oakland University Overview
External Government Scholarships for Oakland University Applicants
Indian government and trust scholarships stack cleanly on top of Oakland institutional awards. These are the six most-used external funders for Oakland-bound Indian students.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility for Indian Applicants | Deadline (2027 cycle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship | Full tuition + $30,000+ (INR 28.35 Lakhs) living stipend | Indian citizens with 3+ years of work experience; leadership focus | May 15, 2027 (tentative) |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship | Up to $100,000 (INR 94.5 Lakhs) total | Indian citizens under 30; admission offer from Oakland; UG degree from Indian university | March 31, 2027 |
| JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | INR 10 Lakhs loan + up to INR 7.5 Lakhs gift | Indian citizens with strong academic record; PG or PhD only | January 31, 2027 |
| Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship | 50% grant + 50% interest-free loan for full cost | Indian students under 30; PG programs only; strong financial need | March 31, 2027 |
| KC Mahindra Scholarship | Up to INR 10 Lakhs interest-free loan | Indian students admitted to overseas PG; merit-based | March 31, 2027 (tentative) |
| Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Loan Scholarship | Up to INR 20 Lakhs interest-free loan | Indian citizens under 30; admission letter and family income proof | April 15, 2027 (tentative) |
Fulbright-Nehru is the highest-value stack. It waives all tuition and pays for living, so an Indian awardee attending Oakland effectively studies for free. Inlaks is the strongest fallback because it is grant-based, not loan-based, and covers the full sticker cost. Applicants who miss both often layer JN Tata plus KC Mahindra to build the same funding stack across two smaller instruments.
Oakland University Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What is the maximum scholarship an Indian student can stack at Oakland University?
Ans. An Indian PG student can stack a Graduate Assistantship (full tuition waiver + $22,000 stipend), plus the International Student Award ($8,000), plus a Fulbright-Nehru or Inlaks external grant. This combined stack can push total funding past $50,000 (INR 47.25 Lakhs) per year, effectively covering tuition, health insurance, and Rochester living costs with money to spare.
Ques. When should Indian applicants apply for Oakland University scholarships?
Ans. Apply as early as possible in the Fall cycle. Graduate Assistantship decisions peak in March and April 2027 for Fall 2027 intake. Presidential Scholarships for UG close on February 1, 2027 (priority date). External awards like Inlaks and JN Tata close by March 31, 2027, so build your Oakland admission timeline backwards from that.
Ques. Do I need a separate application for the International Student Award at Oakland?
Ans. No separate application. Oakland auto-considers every admitted Indian undergraduate for the International Student Award using the admission file. The award appears on the offer letter, ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 (INR 3.78 to 7.56 Lakhs) per year. Renewal requires a 3.0 CGPA every year, so plan to hold that threshold across all four years.
Ques. What GPA or GRE score does an Indian MS applicant need for a Graduate Assistantship?
Ans. The unofficial threshold is a UG CGPA of 8.0 out of 10 (or 80%+ aggregate), combined with a GRE Quant score of 165+ for STEM assistantships. English proficiency also matters: TOEFL Speaking 26+ or IELTS 7.5 in Speaking is expected for GTA roles. Strong research fit with a specific faculty member remains the single biggest factor.
Ques. How much of Rochester Michigan living costs does an Oakland assistantship stipend cover?
Ans. A $20,000 (INR 18.9 Lakhs) yearly stipend covers all core Rochester living costs. On-campus housing runs $9,000 to $11,000 (INR 8.51 to 10.4 Lakhs) per year. Off-campus shared apartments in Auburn Hills or Rochester Hills cost $500 to $700 (INR 47,250 to 66,150) monthly. Groceries and utilities add roughly $400 (INR 37,800) per month.
Ques. Is the Fulbright-Nehru scholarship available for Indians going to Oakland University?
Ans. Yes. Fulbright-Nehru is university-agnostic and can be used at any accredited US university, including Oakland. Indian applicants apply to USIEF directly, list preferred US universities including Oakland, and receive placement support. The award covers tuition, health insurance, a monthly living stipend, and one round-trip economy airfare. Applications close mid-May each year.
Ques. Can I apply for Oakland scholarships before receiving my admission decision?
Ans. Institutional scholarships (International Student Award, Presidential tiers) auto-run with your admission review, so there is no pre-admission form. Assistantships need admission first, then a direct email to the department graduate coordinator. External awards like JN Tata and Inlaks accept applications from students holding either an admission letter or a strong pending application, so start those forms in parallel.
Scholarships offered
Bharat Petroleum Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Comindware Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $4,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Apprenticeship
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 10
FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $20,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $5,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 37
The Google Lime Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $10,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
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This was a much cheaper option than many of the other colleges. Also, it was much closer in proximity to home than some of the other colleges I was looking at. It also has one of the best-rated programs for the degree I am seeking.
I chose Oakland University because I got a scholarship that would pay for a huge amount of my tuition. Also, the program of Health Sciences isn't found many other schools and I really liked the curriculum it had.
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