Sustainable Development Goals

Initiatives to Support Low-Income Students

LAU Financial Aid and Scholarships

At LAU, we are committed to providing equitable access to higher education by making sure that we have programmes and initiatives to assist students from the lowest household income groups in the country, including those in the bottom 20%. This approach reflects our belief that all eligible students, regardless of financial limitations, nationality, race, gender, religion, or ethnicity, deserve an excellent education.

To further this mission, we offer scholarships and financial aid packages that can cover up to 100% of tuition costs.

We encourage all students to apply early for financial aid and scholarships to maximize their access to available support.

In a Nutshell

$98 Million+ 

allocated for SCHOLARSHIPS and FINANCIAL AID packages for AY 23-24

90%+ 

of students benefit from one or more forms of FINANCIAL AID / SCHOLARSHIP

2,500+ 

students are on SCHOLARSHIPS

1,700+ 

students receive SAT/Entrance and Honor SCHOLARSHIPS covering between 10 & 50% OF TUITION

700+ 

students benefit from MEPI and USP SCHOLARSHIPS

400+ students

receive BACC SCHOLARSHIPS covering between 25 & 50% OF TUITION

175+ students 

benefit from ATHLETIC Scholarships

135 

students benefit from Merit Scholarships covering 100% OF TUITION

Alumni Solidarity and Support Dinner in London Gives Hope to LAU and Lebanon

The LAU community in London honored Basim and Karen Lorenz Ziadeh and Rima Maktabi, and supported students and patients.

By Raissa Batakji December 19, 2024

Time and again, LAU alumni have risen to the challenges facing Lebanon and their alma matter. The dynamic, professionally diverse members of the university’s London Alumni Chapter are no exception.

On November 26, they hosted a Solidarity and Support Dinner at One Great George Street in London to benefit the LAU Emergency Relief Fund and honor Basim and Karen Lorenz Ziadeh (BA ’72) and Rima Maktabi (BA ’00; MA ’03), distinguished alumnae and longtime LAU supporters.

Attendees included the Ambassador of Lebanon to the UK and Northern Ireland Rami Mortada, LAU Chairman of the Board of Trustees Philip Stoltzfus, LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah, LAU Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Lebanon and the Middle East Gabriel Abiad, LAU Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Abdallah Al Khal, as well as alumni and friends of the university. The dinner raised funds to support LAU through the main sponsor of the event, Credit Financier Invest (CFI), as well as a donation from Mrs. Latifa Saidi Kosta (BA ’73), the sale of tickets and a raffle draw.

Welcoming the audience, Co-Presidents of the London Alumni Chapter— Director of Alliances for Growth Markets at Salesforce Karim Boulos (BS ’06) and Professor of Oncology at Kingston University Shereen Nabhani (PharmD ’01) —shed light on the challenges that face Lebanon and the region, underlining the significance of this event in supporting students and patients in Lebanon. They also pointed out that LAU, “which has been providing outstanding education for 100 years,” remains steadfast in its commitment to Lebanon.

Ambassador Mortada described the evening as “an act of defiance and a glimpse of hope, optimism and solidarity in the face of one of the most brutal attacks against Lebanon.” He noted that the university has long been a center of excellence which, along with similar institutions, will “chart the way for the country, capitalizing on its graduates’ magnificent skills and talents.” The ambassador further wished Dr. Abdallah well on his appointment as the new LAU president, and expressed his confidence that under his guidance, the university will maintain its rich legacy.

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Drawing a connection to the evening’s honorees, the Ziadehs and Maktabi, Stoltzfus remarked how “the true merit of an individual is the weight of the impact they have on their community, the way they contribute to our common good and the lifelong applications of their beliefs and values.”

1-3-1-2.jpgSpeaking of the impact that institutions can have, he pointed out that what LAU faculty, healthcare providers, staff and students have done in this centennial year of LAU—which coincided with the toughest of circumstances in Lebanon—is nothing short of miraculous.

“LAU is a trusted institution because it acts in the right way for our community and for Lebanon, armed with the mission and values of our founders, which are renewed with every generation,” said Stoltzfus. “The belief in the infinite possibilities of a future we cannot imagine is what animates this mission.”

Reflecting on the power of education in transforming trajectories, Dr. Abdallah gave the example of his mother’s determination to educate him and his seven siblings, and how this led him to connect with a university that was founded on the promise to educate women at a time when that was illegal in many parts of the world.

1-3-1-3.jpgConnecting this with LAU at present, the president affirmed that the continuity of learning is paramount during a crisis, as it “not only provides hope but also real positivity for the future of Lebanon.”

Dr. Abdallah further underlined that universities strive for excellence through teaching, producing research and contributing to economic development. To that end, he presented some recent figures. Around 60 percent of tuition is covered for LAU students thanks to the robust financial aid offering, which further grew beyond the initial grants due to the crisis, and two LAU mobile clinics have catered to the health needs of more than 1,200 children, women and elderly among the displaced communities across Lebanon.

Pledging to stay true to LAU’s noble mission, Dr. Abdallah said: “Being here with you tonight gives me hope that we will emerge a better, stronger institution and that we will deliver on the promise that we have made to our students.”

Honoree and Al Arabia UK Bureau Chief, Maktabi shared her own connection to the university, thanking her mother for pushing her to pursue both a BA and a master’s degree at LAU, despite having a full-time job at the time. She stressed the value of education, noting how “countries can be rebuilt from the rubble, but making up for years of lost education is close to impossible.”

1-3-1-4.jpgMaktabi also appealed to attendees to support LAU and Lebanon, as “it is our mandate to keep education institutions in Lebanon on their feet during these trying times.”

Musical Theatre Artist and alumna Dona Atallah (BA ’22) was joined by pianist Sami Saade and violinist Leyth Almani for a performance at the event that was supported by the Peace and Prosperity Trust.

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An Act of Kindness Initiates a Full-Fledged Relief Operation

Five USAID scholars unite and launch a humanitarian aid project, translating their civic engagement skills and passion into real-world impact.

Back in September, as the war disrupted classes and confined students to their homes and dormitories, Elise Moussa, Mayssa Merie, Farah Ktaish, Farah Nassar and Tala Hareb—all USAID-Higher Education Scholarship Program (USP) scholars—chose to channel their feelings of helplessness into action.

Despite the escalation in their hometowns in the south, this group of like-minded altruistic LAU students came together to help alleviate the hardships of hundreds of displaced individuals in Beirut. Pooling their limited resources, they began distributing water bottles and cakes to families sheltering in the Manara area of Beirut.

Encouraged by the gratitude they received, they formalized their efforts and founded Youth for Lebanon, a humble initiative aimed at providing essential food, water and hygiene products to those in need.

“We organized ourselves into functional teams: tech, media, design, finance, outreach, management and logistics,” explained Moussa, a third-year marketing student at the Adnan Kassar School of Business and one of the five co-founders of the initiative responsible for its media communications.

To ensure transparency, the group created public spreadsheets to track every cent donated, detailing the types and quantities of items purchased and their recipients. “We maintain a well-organized system of collaboration, meeting three to four times a week—both online and in-person—to divide tasks, set priorities and monitor progress,” explained Nassar, a third-year marketing student responsible for the project’s logistics.

In just three months, the group exemplified the power of collective effort by raising over $2,000, enabling the distribution of more than 120 meal boxes, feeding approximately 1,200 individuals, and delivering over 100 hygiene kits.

“The drive to make a difference—even in the smallest way—became our guiding force,” said Merie, a third-year psychology student, who connects with families in need, understanding their specific requirements while coordinating with her team members to ensure they receive the necessary items.

Additionally, the group drew on their diverse educational backgrounds and the experience gained through the Community Service & Engagement (CSE) program at LAU, which equips students, including USAID scholarship recipients, with the tools, opportunities and guidance needed to excel academically and become active, compassionate and socially responsible leaders within their communities and beyond.

“Since our first year at LAU, the CSE program has encouraged us to engage in social responsibility and volunteering,” Kteish, a third-year banking and finance student who took care of the project’s finances, shared. She added that “having volunteered for over two years, co-founding Youth for Lebanon became much easier as I was already used to this type of work.” She also noted that the program had supported their efforts by featuring their initiative in its magazine, helping to raise awareness and broaden their outreach.

When it came to balancing the project’s growing demands and their academic responsibilities, the group decided to have joint study sessions, a shared space that allowed them to emotionally process the ongoing crisis while staying focused on their studies.

“We used to have study nights, half of which were spent studying and the other half discussing Youth for Lebanon,” said Hareb, a third-year computer science student who was responsible for setting up the project’s website. In addition to her tasks, she also shared duties with other members, including packing and delivering donation boxes.

Now, as the situation has shifted with people returning to their homes, the team has quickly embarked on a new mission: clearing up the spaces that had served as shelters.

The Community Service & Engagement (CSE) at LAU aims to provide LAU students and student recipients of USAID scholarship grants with the tools, opportunities, and guidance needed to not only excel academically but also become active, compassionate, and socially responsible leaders within their communities and the world at large.

CSE serves as the driving force behind fostering a culture of community engagement throughout the LAU community. We provide innovative and immersive programming that encourages LAU students to explore the diverse landscapes of their nation while contributing to meaningful causes. This experiential learning is not just an addendum; it’s a vital facet of the LAU academic journey.

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How will CSE transform my experience?

Capacity Building

Soft Skills Series (SSS)

In collaboration with the Offices of the Dean of Students, CSE introduced the Soft Skills Series (SSS) workshops to all LAU students in 2017. These workshops serve as a platform for students to enhance their soft skills through engaging and informative sessions aimed at refining their abilities. Led by professional trainers and entrepreneurs, the workshops offer interactive forums for skill development. As of December 2022, the SSS program has conducted 50 workshops, benefiting 1,378 LAU students. Topics covered include Conscientious Leadership, Unlocking Innovation: Creative Thinking, How to Define Your Purpose in Life, Smart Phones, Smart Pictures, The Art of Happiness, and others.

LEE-Leadership Empowerment Education

Cultivates vital soft and digital skills essential for personal and professional growth among youth. This immersive, hands-on, and short-term learning initiative is tailored to equip students with targeted life skills aligned with their career aspirations and academic pursuits. As of December 2022, the LEE program, conducted by LAU students for high school students and facilitated by experts for LAU students, has conducted 89 workshops benefiting 1,849 high school and LAU students.

Volunteerism, Networking, and Civic Engagement

Corporate Visit Series (CVS)

The CVS program offers LAU students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in diverse work environments, foster civic responsibility, and engage with leading companies, firms, and factories across industries such as Food and Beverage (ex: Pepsi Co), Aviation (ex: Middle East Airlines (MEA), Educational (ex: Unilever), Culture (ex: Sursock Museum), and others. Providing a direct insight into future job cultures, it also facilitates volunteering and community service experiences. Despite facing interruptions in 2020 due to the pandemic and subsequent economic challenges, the CSE unit revitalized the program in 2023, organizing 102 impactful visits to companies spanning various sectors.

Volunteer Teachers Program

The Community Service & Engagement Unit at LAU is cooperating with NGO MMKN, under the Volunteer Teacher Program for the 12th year. The program engages an estimate of 150 LAU students in enhancing the educational journey of 1,600 grade 8 and grade 9 public school students. Their objective is to provide essential academic support in scientific subjects, delivered in both English and French, to ensure these students succeed in their classes.

The USAID Higher Education Scholarship Program

The CSE unit oversees all USAID Higher Education Scholarship programs, ensuring their effective management and implementation. Within this realm, the LAU HES team excels in administering both HES Phase I & Phase II awards, collectively valued at $58M, along with overseeing the financial aid component amounting to $13M under HES Phase I.

These awards are geared towards fostering academic excellence, promoting civic engagement, and facilitating employment opportunities for academically gifted yet underprivileged scholars from both public and private educational institutions in Lebanon. This is achieved through the HES USP (University Scholarship Program) for Lebanese nationality and is extended to refugees legally residing in Lebanon via the HES RSS (Refugee Scholarship Support) program. Moreover, provisions are made to accommodate scholars with disabilities, ensuring they receive the necessary support throughout their academic journey at LAU, thus fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities for all beneficiaries of the program.

Community Service Projects (CSP)

The CSP projects are an opportunity for scholars to give back to their communities and exemplify the spirit of voluntarism and participation.  The primary goal is to allow scholars to use their gained leadership and soft skills in actual practice through formulating a brief technical concept paper, in line with USAID’s guidance, to be actually implemented in the field. Scholars are encouraged to start thinking about prospective projects in their hometowns or cities shortly after they join LAU and acclimate to the academic atmosphere. The CSP hones the scholars’ skills in teambuilding, networking, communication with peers and with vetted local community-based organizations, budgeting, and actual execution, let alone conflict resolution to mitigate challenges, respecting diversity, and thinking about gender and culturally sensitive projects.  It is worth mentioning that 353 Community Service Projects, so far, have been successfully completed as part of the scholarship programs.

Need-Based Financial Aid

At LAU, we believe that all eligible students deserve an excellent education, regardless of financial limitations. LAU allocated a generous budget, possibly the highest in the region, for financial aid and scholarships for the upcoming academic year. LAU is committed to helping you fund your education regardless of your nationality, race, gender, religion or ethnicity.

We encourage you to apply for financial aid as early as possible.

Financial Aid is a package composed of the following elements:

LAU Grants

LAU provides the following grants:

LAU Grants: Awarded to students showing an element of need in accordance with specific need categories.

Hardship Grants: Awarded to students with extreme need. The grant may cover up to 100% of the students’ tuition.

Triplets Grant: This is an additional percentage that may be given to triplets demonstrating financial need and enrolled simultaneously at LAU.

Program Grants: Awarded to students majoring in programs requiring special promotional support in line with university enrollment goals.

Special Grants: These grants are awarded to selected students according to special agreements approved and signed by the LAU President and external donors or organizations. Applications, if required, are to be filled in the initial stage only.

Donors’ Grants

These grants are created through the generous donations of LAU benefactors.

 

Educational Loans 

LAU is the only educational institution in Lebanon to offer educational loans as an additional financial support for its students.

The educational loan helps plan the financing of up to 10% of tuition fees. It carries zero interest while the student is registered at LAU, and a minimal interest rate (usually half the market rate) after he/she graduates, with a grace period of 9 years.

The loan does not replace financial aid; it is in addition to the financial aid package that students receive.

US Federal Aid

US Federal Aid: are fixed-rate student loans from the US Department of Education for undergraduate and graduate students attending university at least half-time. Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS loans can be granted to students from the United States of America who choose to study at LAU. View the details of the US Federal Aid.

Financial Aid Granted to students AY 2023-2024

The following figures are drawn from the LAU Fact Book for the Academic Year 2024–2025, which provides verified institutional data and statistical information about the university. The presented data specifically relate to financial aid and reflect LAU’s official reporting for that academic year.

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USAID Higher Education Scholarship Program

USAID provided merit-based scholarships to financially needy and academically eligible public school graduates from across Lebanon, including the most disadvantaged corners of the country. These scholarships enable students, often from marginalized families that would otherwise have no possible means to attend these schools, to study at the highest-quality Lebanese universities.  These universities offer an American-style education that promotes critical thinking, leadership skills and community service.

Our impacts in this sector include:

A higher education scholarship program that provides full, four-year scholarships to more than 600 Lebanese public-school graduates. 

Grants awarded through the National Academies of Science to five Lebanese scientists from prominent Lebanese universities to complete specialized research on water and air pollution, wildfires and landslides. The grants promote direct cooperation with American scientists and access to cutting-edge research as part of the Washington-based Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER).

Our Programs

University Scholarship Program
(USP)
For Lebanese Nationals


Refugee/Displaced Scholarship Support (RSS)
For Non-Lebanese Nationals

 

MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Program

The Tomorrow’s Leaders Program (TL) is an initiative of the United States Department of State U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) that supports capable and highly motivated young scholars from underserved backgrounds in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by providing a fully funded undergraduate level academic matriculation, civic education, and leadership development. The full-coverage scholarship aims at investing in Arab youth’s unexplored capacity and strengthening their leadership skills to become drivers of change and catalyze social progress in their home community.

The TL program has been implemented and overseen by LAU since its launch in 2008.

Programs for Future Students

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TL Undergraduate Program (TLU)

Scholarships for high school students

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 TL Graduate Program (TLG)

Scholarships for master’s programs

Programs for Current Students

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TL College to Work Pipeline (TLP)
Helps TL students find meaningful employment in the region upon graduation

 


Wissam Moukahal Wants Lebanese Youth to Succeed

Having assisted 34 LAU students since 2018, the Z. Moukahal Charitable Foundation established by Wissam Moukahal (BS ’95) continues to support the recipients of its “Rafeek Program Scholarship” even beyond graduation over the long haul through advice, opportunities, and career help.

In a meeting with 21   of the scholars September 27 in Beirut, he explained that the foundation’s mission was to help the Lebanese youth continue their education during these difficult times.

“My relationship with you started with a financial scholarship, but I do not want it to end there,” he said.

Over the years, Moukahal has created a bond with these future leaders, remaining in constant contact with the students and counseling them about their careers and plans beyond graduation. He has also helped some of the scholars secure jobs in prestigious regional and multinational companies.

The LAU alumnus, himself, had had to rely on LAU financial aid and family assistance to complete his degree when his father went bankrupt. Since then, Moukahal has acknowledged the value of quality education as a universal right. That is why in the face of economic challenges, Moukahal increased the budget to assist as many students as possible.

As he places a huge emphasis on empowering women through his foundation, one of his conditions is that at least 50 percent of the scholarship recipients be female.

Underscoring his love for LAU, the alumnus insisted that students keep their university in mind. His speech inspired the students, whom he praised and reminded of their responsibility as future leaders of the country.

“Being here with you today, I feel hope. In fact, you are the hope,” he said. “My generation failed, but we are here to support you and we want to help you succeed,” he added.

Noting the precipitous events afflicting Lebanon since the October 17 revolution, he urged the students to help rebuild their country. Whether from Lebanon or abroad, everyone, he said, should give back to their homeland.

“From the UAE, I’ve been an active advocate for Lebanon – I’m as involved as each one of you in what is happening,” he said.

Moukahal concluded his speech by advising his students to build up and work on the individual. Choosing to leave or stay was not the issue, but what mattered was how to channel and apply their success. The listeners could have no better example than the speaker himself.

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Artists Rise for the LAU Emergency Financial Aid Fund

Alumni, faculty artists and friends of LAU donate to LAU ArtsRising online auction organized in aid of students whose education is at risk.

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The auction will be further enriched by the works of 10 friends of LAU such as this piece by Raouf Rifai, entitled “Darwich Ice Cream.”

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The auction will feature works by eight faculty members such as this piece by retired associate professor Chaouki Chamoun.

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Captivating works by 18 alumni will be auctioned. Pictured above is “Arabesque” by Liane Mathes Rabbath. Five of the participating alumni also teach at LAU.

In support of the LAU Emergency Financial Aid Fund, the university will be holding its first online art auction, LAU ArtsRising, from Thursday, February 18 to Monday, March 1, 2021. Organized in collaboration with ArtScoops, the event will feature a wide range of multimedia art by notable LAU alumni and faculty artists as well as friends of the university.

All proceeds will go toward funding current and prospective students who risk losing out on their education because of the financial hardship posed by the economic crisis in the country.  

From thought-provoking portraits and abstracts to sculptures, each of the pieces curated embraces Henri Matisse’s mantra that “creativity takes courage.” A driving force for our showcased artists, this spirit of endurance is matched by that of our students who persevere in the face of untold challenges, compounded by the pandemic and the devastating blast in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020.

“We are fully aware of the great weight that our students and their families shoulder under these difficult conditions,” said LAU President Michel E. Mawad, “and we will do everything in our power to share that burden. The LAU ArtsRising online art auction is one of many creative solutions we have implemented to help safeguard our students’ future and continue delivering quality education.” 

The twelve-day auction will comprise artwork generously donated by renowned Lebanese painter and former Associate Professor of Fine Arts at LAU Chaouki Chamoun, Department of Art & Design Chair Hannibal Srouji, alumna Mona Hatoum (’72), alumna Rana Raouda (’83) and our distinguished partner in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design, Elie Saab, to name a few. 

For the artists who had once benefited from financial assistance, this was an opportunity to pay it forward.

“Contributing to student financial aid is a pleasure to the soul,” said Chamoun, who is gifting his painting Land and Mountain of Peace, “especially when it comes from someone whose education, and ultimately his success, was mostly provided for by scholarships, love and the support of others.”

A world-famous multimedia and installation artist, Hatoum has generously offered two pieces from her series T42 and T42 (Gold), in which she has subverted the basic form of a white china teacup by doubling it. The result suggests something highly intimate, which, like The Kiss by Romanian Modernist sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, depicts two forms so close that they merge.

Donating the pieces to her alma mater, Hatoum hopes the generated funds will offer critical support to students and help keep education accessible to more than the privileged few. “When I was a struggling student in the early ‘70s at Beirut University College (BUC), now LAU, I was fortunate to receive financial aid from the university, which allowed me to complete my studies,” she said. “I am happy to now be in a position to donate artworks through the newly formed Mona Hatoum Foundation.”

The proceeds from the auction will be immediately deployed so that academically strong but financially vulnerable students are given every opportunity to realize their aspirations and become the outstanding professionals, thinkers, and leaders the country so desperately needs.

View Catalog

Go to the Auction

Give to learn Give to Live Gala

The Give to learn Give to Live Gala was truly a remarkable night of philanthropy. You can still make a contribution in support of student financial aid and cancer care at Lebanese American University via the Annual Gala link in our bio (at the bottom of Sponsorship and ticket information section). Thank you for your commitment to LAU and to Lebanon.

 

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