International students seeking financial assistance in the U.S. may have many questions. It is important to understand the types of financial aid available, the expenses an award covers, the eligibility requirements, and the documents each college requires.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions from international students looking for financial aid.
FAQs About Financial Aid in the U.S.
1. What Type of Financial Aid Am I Eligible to Apply?
Merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid are two common forms of institutional assistance available to international students. Merit scholarships are based on criteria established by the college or scholarship provider, which may include academic achievement, standardized test scores, leadership, talents, or extracurricular involvement. Need-based financial aid is based primarily on a family’s financial circumstances. Let’s discuss these categories in more detail:
Merit Scholarships
Many colleges offer merit-based scholarships to international students. The selection criteria and award amounts vary by institution. Some scholarships are awarded primarily for academic achievement, while others also consider leadership, service, talents, or a student’s potential contribution to the campus community.
Merit scholarship coverage varies considerably. Some awards provide a partial tuition discount, some cover full tuition, and a smaller number cover additional educational and living expenses. For example, Washington and Lee University’s Johnson Scholarship covers tuition and fees, housing and food, and provides $10,000 for a summer experience.
Merit scholarships can be highly competitive, particularly when they cover full tuition or the full cost of attendance. There is no universal GPA, test-score threshold, or minimum family contribution that guarantees an award. Students should compare each scholarship’s current eligibility criteria, covered expenses, renewal requirements, and application deadline. They should also budget for any costs the scholarship does not cover, such as housing, food, books, transportation, health insurance, and personal expenses.
Some universities also offer automatic merit scholarships based on published academic criteria. For example, the University of Alabama currently awards its Presidential Elite Scholarship to eligible international freshmen with a 4.0 or higher GPA and either a 36 ACT score or a 1600 SAT score. The award includes the value of tuition for up to four years and additional benefits specified by the university. Scholarship criteria and benefits are reviewed regularly, so applicants should confirm the requirements for their intended enrollment year.
Need-based Financial Aid
Need-based financial aid is awarded according to a family’s demonstrated financial need. Each college calculates need using its own methodology and the financial information submitted by the student and the student’s family. Depending on the institution, applicants may be asked to complete the CSS Profile, the International Student Financial Aid Application, an institutional financial aid form, or supporting income and asset documents.
If a college states that it meets the full demonstrated financial need of admitted international students, it will calculate the family’s expected contribution and provide an aid offer intended to cover the remaining eligible cost of attendance. The cost of attendance may include tuition, fees, housing, food, books, supplies, transportation, and certain personal expenses. The exact calculation, covered expenses, and combination of grants, employment, or loans vary by institution.
2. Is it Difficult to Get Accepted if I Require a Substantial Need-based Aid?
At a need-aware college, an international applicant’s ability to pay may be considered as one factor in the admission decision. Therefore, requesting substantial financial aid can make admission more competitive at some institutions. At a need-blind college, the applicant’s financial circumstances are not considered during the admission review.
Colleges generally describe their policies as need-blind or need-aware. Applicants should confirm the current policy directly with each institution because policies may differ for domestic students, international students, transfer students, and returning students.
Need-Blind Policy
Need-blind means that an applicant’s need for financial aid is not considered in the admission decision. Ten U.S. institutions state that they are need-blind and meet the full demonstrated need of first-year international undergraduate applicants: Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, Amherst College, Dartmouth College, Bowdoin College, Brown University, the University of Notre Dame, and Washington and Lee University.
Students should still review each institution’s current eligibility rules and filing deadlines. For example, some policies apply only to first-year applicants, and financial aid may be unavailable if an international student does not request it during the initial application process.
Need-Aware Policy
Need-aware means that an applicant’s financial circumstances may be considered during the admission process. At these colleges, requesting a large amount of institutional aid may make admission more competitive. However, financial need is only one possible factor, and an applicant’s outcome cannot be predicted solely from the amount of aid requested. Policies and available funding vary widely, so students should check each college’s official international admissions and financial aid pages.
3. What Documents Do I Need to Submit to Be Eligible for Financial Aid?
Financial aid application requirements vary by college. Many institutions use the CSS Profile, which is administered by the College Board. Some colleges accept the International Student Financial Aid Application instead of the CSS Profile, while others require their own forms. Applicants may also need to provide tax returns, income statements, bank statements, or other documents verifying the information in their application.
A college may separately require an International Student Certification of Finances or other proof of funding, even when a student is not applying for need-based aid. This documentation may be used to confirm that the student has sufficient financial resources before the institution issues Form I-20. It is not a universal financial aid form, and students should follow the requirements of each college.
Most international students in F-1 status are not eligible for U.S. federal student aid and therefore do not complete the FAFSA for federal aid. However, lawful permanent residents and certain other eligible noncitizens may qualify for federal student aid and should review the current FAFSA eligibility rules rather than assuming that all non-U.S. citizens are ineligible.
4. Do I Have to Repay the Financial Aid Award?
Whether financial aid must be repaid depends on the type of assistance received. Scholarships and grants generally do not need to be repaid, provided the student continues to meet the award’s conditions. Loans must be repaid, usually with interest. Student employment allows students to earn wages through an approved job rather than receiving the entire amount as an upfront grant.
Grants — These generally do not need to be repaid, although repayment may be required in limited circumstances, such as withdrawing from a program after receiving certain forms of aid. Institutional grant policies vary by college.
Loans — These must be repaid according to the loan agreement, usually with interest. International students’ access to institutional and private education loans varies. Some loans do not require a cosigner, while others may require a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner. Students should review the interest rate, fees, repayment terms, and cosigner requirements before accepting a loan.
Student Work — Some financial aid offers include student employment or an expected contribution from campus earnings. Students are generally paid as they work rather than receiving the full employment amount at the beginning of the semester. F-1 students are ordinarily limited to 20 hours of on-campus employment per week while school is in session, subject to federal immigration rules and institutional policies.
5. What Schools Award International Students the Most Aid?
No single category of college always provides international students with the most aid. Some highly selective institutions offer substantial need-based aid and meet the full demonstrated need of admitted international students. Other institutions may offer automatic or competitive merit scholarships but provide little or no need-based aid to international applicants.
Students seeking need-based aid should identify colleges that explicitly provide institutional aid to international students and determine whether those colleges meet full demonstrated need. Students seeking merit aid should compare automatic and competitive scholarships, award amounts, covered expenses, renewal requirements, deadlines, and whether a separate scholarship application is required.
There are different ways to secure financial aid in the U.S. Understanding whether you need merit-based assistance, need-based aid, or a combination of both can make the application process more manageable.
We hope this article helps answer your financial aid questions. Explore more options by reviewing our Guide to Studying in the USA and Available Programs for International Students!
