Written by Colin McEvoy | March 17, 2026 | SHARE
Lehigh University has been recognized by the U.S. Department of State as a top-producing institution for the Gilman Scholarship, reflecting its strong support for students with financial need to pursue transformative study abroad experiences.
Lehigh University has been recognized by the US Department of State as among the top colleges and universities whose students have won the merit-based Gilman Scholarship.
The nationally competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides State Department funds for talented American undergraduate students with high financial need to study or intern abroad for academic credit. The scholarship is marking its 25th year, launching in 2001.
Since Lehigh’s Office of Fellowship Advising (OFA) began working with Gilman candidates in 2018, the Gilman Scholarship has been awarded to 125 Lehigh students for an overall award of $482,000, according to Bill Hunter, Director of Fellowship Advising and UN Programs at Lehigh.
“This recognition reflects the hard work of our students and the strong support network at Lehigh that helps them pursue global opportunities,” Hunter said. “The Gilman Scholarship opens doors for students with high financial need to study abroad and gain experiences that shape their academic paths and future careers.”
Lehigh is among the top 25 institutions in the “Medium Colleges and Universities” category for supporting Gilman scholars from 2001 to 2025, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
“We are grateful for your institution’s engagement with the Gilman program as we support American undergraduate students to develop essential career skills through study and intern abroad experiences,” said Heidi Manley, Chief of USA Study Abroad, which is part of ECA.
The OFA helps students prepare the strongest application possible for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships, Hunter said. The average dollar amount awarded to Gilman winners nationally last year was $3,000, with 40% of Lehigh’s candidates this year exceeding that amount.
Lehigh’s Gilman applicants have an overall success rate of 48% since 2018, compared to a national average win rate of approximately 30%, Hunter said.
Among last year’s winners was Anisha Dasgupta, whose scholarship allowed her to study abroad in Ireland.
“This opportunity not only allows me to explore new cultures and perspectives, but also empowers me to grow academically and personally,” Dasgupta said. “I am deeply grateful for this support as I work toward making a meaningful impact within my community and beyond.”
OFA and Lehigh’s Study Abroad office – both part of Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) – work with the university’s Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging to identify students who may be strong candidates for Gilman Scholarships.
They also collaborate with Lehigh’s Financial Aid office, which certifies the students as Pell grantees. All Gilman Scholarship applicants are American citizens and recipients of Pell Grants, which is money the government provides for students with exceptional financial need.
Lehigh was announced as a Gilman Program 25th Anniversary Top Producing Institution during The Forum on Education Abroad’s annual conference on March 12 in Nashville, Tennessee.
“On behalf of the U.S. Department of State’s Gilman Program and our implementing partner, the Institute of International Education, we thank you for your work to support American students,” said Theresa Gagnon, Gilman Program Officer at ECA. “Congratulations on this impressive achievement.”