What financial aid is available for international students?

College Admissions

Our Counselors Answered:

What financial aid is available for international students?
Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

What financial aid is available for international students?

Only what a state or private college chooses to offer, and it could be a lot from a private school. Nothing from Uncle Sam though.

Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

What financial aid is available for international students?

Only what a state or private college chooses to offer, but that could be a lot. Nothing from Uncle Sam though.

Kristina DooleyIndependent Educational ConsultantEstrela Consulting

What financial aid is available for international students?

Unfortunately there are very few schools that will offer need-based financial aid to international students. That being said, many schools do include international students when determining merit-based scholarships and aid. This means, though you may not be eligible for need-based financial assistance, you could still earn a scholarship based on your academic performance in high school or even a scholarship based on where you are from in the world! The best way to find out if a school offers need-based financial aid is to contact them directly. Many schools will provide international students with a list of resources for finding outside financial assistance, as well.

Benjamin Waldmann

What financial aid is available for international students?

International student’s are at the same disadvantage as out of state student’s in term’s of excessive tuition fee’s which many overseas student’s may struggle to afford. Many international student’s find financial aid in the form of athletic scholarships. This is a very common source of aid although amounts are limited and competition is extremely fierce. Different college’s offer a variety of financial opportunities,the best option is to contact the specific school directly and explain to admission’s that you are looking for funding opportunities. They will get back to you with a list of possible funding sources for international students. There are also many websites which offer scholarship searches to fit with your specific criteria. Obviously the earlier one look’s into such opportunities, the better chance of being considered. A good academic background is generally one of the pre-requisites and many scholarships will require an essay or personal statement to apply. Check out websites such as International Education Financial Aid www.iefa.org or www.fastweb.com.

Another option is to start to look for possible funding opportunities within one’s own country. Some government’s offer financial benefits to it’s citizen’s in specified area’s of study with an expectation that those students will use such expertise on return to that country. Also, the Fulbright program http://fulbright.state.gov/ offer’s award’s to study in the United States although competition is fierce and available in 50 countries worldwide.
Benjamin Waldmann

What financial aid is available for international students?

International student’s are at the same disadvantage as out of state student’s in term’s of excessive tuition fee’s which many oversea’s student’s may struggle to afford. Many international student’s find financial aid in the form of athletic scholarships. This is a very common source of aid although amounts are limited and competition is extremely fierce. Different college’s offer a variety of financial opportunities,the best option is to contact the specific school directly and explain to admission’s that you are looking for funding opportunities. They will get back to you with a list of possible funding sources for international students. There are also many websites which offer scholarship searches to fit with your specific criteria. Obviously the earlier one look’s into such opportunities, the better chance of being considered. A good academic background is generally one of the pre-requisites and many scholarships will require an essay or personal statement to apply. Check out websites such as International Education Financial Aid www.iefa.org or www.fastweb.com.

Another option is to start to look for possible funding opportunities within one’s own country. Some government’s offer financial benefits to it’s citizen’s in specified area’s of study with an expectation that those students will use such expertise on return to that country. Also, the Fulbright program http://fulbright.state.gov/ offer’s award’s to study in the United States although competition is fierce and available in 50 countries worldwide.
Claire Law

What financial aid is available for international students?

According to the Department of Homeland Security and by US Law, International students are required to present a “Statement of Finances” before a US University can issue an offer of admission and the Immigration form I-20. There are some colleges that offer merit scholarships to international students who are particularly gifted and talented. As an educational consultant I can help you identify these colleges but unless you are an athlete who can get recruited by an NCAA Division I team, much depends on your academic achievement. ??????,??????????????????

Inna BeilinaStudent

What financial aid is available for international students?

There are many institutions that provides full financial aid: – need-based; – merit-based (scholarships)

Some colleges are able to provide only a few thousands of dollars. But even that is better than nothing, right?) You should push the button “Financial Aid” and read all the information on colleges’ web sites, look through its FAQ’s and the contact financial aid office of those colleges you’re going to apply to if you can’t find the financial aid info you’re looking for by yourself.
Inna BeilinaStudent

What financial aid is available for international students?

There are many institutions that provides full financial aid: – need-based; – meri-based (scholarships)

Some colleges are able to provide only a few thousands of dollars. But even that is better than nothing, right?) You should push the button “Financial Aid” and read all the information on colleges’ web sites, look through its FAQ’s and contact financial aid office of those college you’re going to apply to if you can’t find thefinancial aid info you’re looking for by yourself.
Inna BeilinaStudent

What financial aid is available for international students?

There are many institutions that provide full financial aid: – need-based; – merit-based (scholarships)

Some colleges are able to provide only a few thousands of dollars. But even that is better than nothing, right?) You should push the button “Financial Aid” and read all the information on colleges’ web sites, look through its FAQ’s and the contact financial aid office of those colleges you’re going to apply to if you can’t find the financial aid info you’re looking for by yourself.
Sarah ContomichalosManagerEducational Advisory Services, LLC

What financial aid is available for international students?

The truth is that financial aid for international students is very limited. A college’s website financial aid information usually indicates whether they are need blind or need aware for international students even if they are need blind for US students. The application process for financial aid can also be quite daunting to international families who are required to complete the CSS Profile for private colleges and a comparable document for public universities. I prefer to advise my international families to look at colleges which offer substantial merit aid to international students. In some cases, athletic scholarships are also an option. In either case, the student should be in the upper ranges of the average admitted student’s academic profile.

Steven CrispOwner Crisp College Advising

What financial aid is available for international students?

Unfortunately financial aid for international students is very limited. At most colleges international students are still eligible for merit based aid. However, you won’t qualify for federal aid at all and in most cases you won’t qualify for institutional need based aid either. Your best bet are the merit based scholarships and then the scholarships for international students.

Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School

Financial Aid for International Students

The amount of financial aid available to international students varies from one institution to another, so it is very important when researching colleges/universities to find out how each school deals with this issue. Scholarship and financial aid offerings are usually accessible on each institution’s website.

Some schools do have need-based aid for international students, but this aid is usually quite limited. There are other institutions which have quite generous financial aid offerings for international students and state that they will meet the full financial need of any student, domestic or international, who is accepted to the school. Keep in mind, though, that your idea of your family’s financial “need” could differ considerably from your financial need as calculated by the institution. Many schools offer merit-based aid which is available to international as well as domestic applicants, with decisions on the awarding of this aid being focused on the student’s prior academic and/or leadership success. A student with outstanding skills in a particular academic discipline, athletics, music, art, or some other specialized area might qualify for aid or scholarships awarded through the relevant department within an institution. A few institutions in the U.S. offer international students the same tuition as in-state applicants, an amount which is considerably less than tuition costs for out-of-state domestic applicants. Often students who receive this type of tuition assistance are asked to participate in various cultural sharing activities within the school and local community as a way of repayment. International students should also consider approaching governmental agencies in their respective countries to find out if financial assistance is available for students studying in another country. Another source of financial aid could be various civic organizations within the student’s country. Students who are citizens of the European Union would do well to look at institutions in the U.K., particularly Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, as well as universities in the Netherlands and Finland, in which there are many English-language programs. Tuition rates for EU citizens applying to many/most institutions in those countries will usually be equivalent to the rates for citizens of the country in which the school is located, and these rates are often extremely economical! Hope that helps!
Patricia KrahnkePresident/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

“Scholarships” in the Form Of Tuition Discounting

Short Answer:

Financial aid is not offered to international students through the U.S. federal government; however, many colleges and universities give “scholarships” in the form of tuition discounting to international students to encourage them to attend (NOTE: These scholarships may only be for the first year.) This means they simply reduce the cost of attendance by making your tuition lower than an American student who is asked to pay full tuition. Often this discounting will be called an “academic scholarship.” But, hey, it’s money, right? Detailed Answer: U.S. colleges are increasing their competition to get you to attend their college or university. They will say it’s because they welcome the diversity that you might bring. But the bottom line is that all almost all American colleges and universities are in financial crisis, and they believe you can pay for the education without much financial assistance from them. They know that many of their competitors are offering prospective international students substantial tuition discounts (which they are calling “scholarships.”) So if the institution you are interested in does not offer you a “scholarship,” you can either 1) agree to pay the full amount of tuition, 2) pressure them for money, or 3) you can tell them you will attend another college that is offering you a “scholarship.” Then see if the college you really want to go to will decide to offer you money. If you do receive a scholarship, make sure it is renewable over the four years of your undergraduate degree. Many, many colleges use scholarships (or tuition discounting) as bait to get students to attend the college the first year. They hope that the student will become emotionally and socially integrated to the point that they will do anything to pay the full amount to continue attending, even without a scholarship. This can place undo hardship on the international student’s family (it certainly makes it very difficult for American students.) To see which colleges (by state) in the U.S. offer scholarships to international students, visit http://www.internationalstudent.com/schools_awarding_aid/ [Keep in mind that the list of institutions mentioned on this page specifically are EXTREMELY difficult to get into, even for top students. But many, many other colleges and universities in the U.S. offer outstanding, prestigious degree programs.]
王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

understanding the admissions policy first

What is important about admissions’ policy for Chinese students? College admissions for Chinese students is always a mystery to them. Most of them learn the college admissions policy from Chinese agencies. And a lot of those informations are incorrect and somehow misleading. Yes it is true that the students can always go to the school website and check on the related information themselves. However, what percentage of the Chinese students actually used the college’s website to locate all the critical info about admissions is unknown. Another way for Chinese students for learn admissions policy is during the college fair or tour session in china. They show up at the tours or events, collect a lot of brochures and then try to understand them on their own. How effective is this so-called self study on Chinese students is also unknown. What is clear and what we do know is that the fact that over 90% of students from china hire Chinese agencies for college admission including open admissions and esl programs. They paid a great deal of money for the services that they receive zero education about. Such transaction involve a signed contract, payment, and a piece of paper called acceptancy letter. That will a lot of misunderstanding for the Chinese students when it comes to the admissions policy. Many of them will never have the opportunity to hear directly from the admission office or a admissions rep whether they participate in college fair in china. And if they do, they will hear at least three to four different req related to the admissions policy for the same school. For ex, they can go to the website to check, then they can hear three different policies from three different Chinese agencies. And the reason of hearing different policies from different agencies is that different agencies would explain their special relationship or recruitment contract with a particular US college. Therefore, the students may subject to different admission policies due to which agencies they choose to work with. Some of the agencies may be able to produce a letter from the us colleges demonstrated their relationships and sometimes guarantee admissions. In such marketing conditions, it is common that the majority of Chinese students did not really know the standard admissions policies from US college. Now who is responsible for the confusion? Did the college really have a different policy based on different recruitment strategies? And do they change from year to year? That’s the question Ivy counselors network would like to ask. It is no secret that the domestic us policy is very different from international students admissions policy. The designated us admission policy from the admissions office to read international students applications. In the mean time, the rep is responsible for being on college tours and recruitment policies overseas. However, none of those activities involve educating the students directly about admissions policy and req and what the students must do to succeed. A lot of college admissions rep are busy in china talking to Chinese agencies. What they don’t know is the fact that those agencies are manufacturing their suitable marketing materials and purposely misleading the students without the knowledge from us colleges. Ivy counselors network publish US colleges admissions policy online as part of the college profile. Those policies are many for domestic students. Chinese students will have the opportunity to gain prospective about different admission policies and compare them with what they already learned from the Chinese agencies. In the mean time, Chinese students will have a great selection of the matched schools for admission consideration. Ivy counselors network is committed to provide the most accurate admissions policy for Chinese students. We encourage the Chinese students taking over the control to be knowledgeable and educated and empowered student. It is important for the Chinese students to know ESL programs are not part of admissions policy. It is listed as “special services”. For those Chinese students that qualify for highly selective colleges, they must understand that admissions policy for highly selective colleges are only being used for selectivity purposes. Not necessarily used for qualification purposes. In other words everything single one of those students apply to a particular highly selective school are most likely qualified students. But only 10% of those students can gain acceptance letters. And maybe 80% receive acceptance letters will actually enroll as freshman. It is in the best interest of the Chinese students to have first hand knowledge about admissions policy and gain perspectives about individual colleges. As part of their school selection processes, Chinese students should focus on themselves by understanding more about what they’re looking for, what’s important to them, and what they must do to get there. It is time for Chinese students to become educated consumers and have the privilege to decide what is best for them.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

understanding the admissions policy first

What is important about admissions’ policy for Chinese students? College admissions for Chinese students is always a mystery to them. Most of them learn the college admissions policy from Chinese agencies. And a lot of those informations are incorrect and somehow misleading. Yes it is true that the students can always go to the school website and check on the related information themselves. However, what percentage of the Chinese students actually used the college’s website to locate all the critical info about admissions is unknown. Another way for Chinese students for learn admissions policy is during the college fair or tour session in china. They show up at the tours or events, collect a lot of brochures and then try to understand them on their own. How effective is this so-called self study on Chinese students is also unknown. What is clear and what we do know is that the fact that over 90% of students from china hire Chinese agencies for college admission including open admissions and esl programs. They paid a great deal of money for the services that they receive zero education about. Such transaction involve a signed contract, payment, and a piece of paper called acceptancy letter. That will a lot of misunderstanding for the Chinese students when it comes to the admissions policy. Many of them will never have the opportunity to hear directly from the admission office or a admissions rep whether they participate in college fair in china. And if they do, they will hear at least three to four different req related to the admissions policy for the same school. For ex, they can go to the website to check, then they can hear three different policies from three different Chinese agencies. And the reason of hearing different policies from different agencies is that different agencies would explain their special relationship or recruitment contract with a particular US college. Therefore, the students may subject to different admission policies due to which agencies they choose to work with. Some of the agencies may be able to produce a letter from the us colleges demonstrated their relationships and sometimes guarantee admissions. In such marketing conditions, it is common that the majority of Chinese students did not really know the standard admissions policies from US college. Now who is responsible for the confusion? Did the college really have a different policy based on different recruitment strategies? And do they change from year to year? That’s the question Ivy counselors network would like to ask. It is no secret that the domestic us policy is very different from international students admissions policy. The designated us admission policy from the admissions office to read international students applications. In the mean time, the rep is responsible for being on college tours and recruitment policies overseas. However, none of those activities involve educating the students directly about admissions policy and req and what the students must do to succeed. A lot of college admissions rep are busy in china talking to Chinese agencies. What they don’t know is the fact that those agencies are manufacturing their suitable marketing materials and purposely misleading the students without the knowledge from us colleges. Ivy counselors network publish US colleges admissions policy online as part of the college profile. Those policies are many for domestic students. Chinese students will have the opportunity to gain prospective about different admission policies and compare them with what they already learned from the Chinese agencies. In the mean time, Chinese students will have a great selection of the matched schools for admission consideration. Ivy counselors network is committed to provide the most accurate admissions policy for Chinese students. We encourage the Chinese students taking over the control to be knowledgeable and educated and empowered student. It is important for the Chinese students to know ESL programs are not part of admissions policy. It is listed as “special services”. For those Chinese students that qualify for highly selective colleges, they must understand that admissions policy for highly selective colleges are only being used for selectivity purposes. Not necessarily used for qualification purposes. In other words everything single one of those students apply to a particular highly selective school are most likely qualified students. But only 10% of those students can gain acceptance letters. And maybe 80% receive acceptance letters will actually enroll as freshman. It is in the best interest of the Chinese students to have first hand knowledge about admissions policy and gain perspectives about individual colleges. As part of their school selection processes, Chinese students should focus on themselves by understanding more about what they’re looking for, what’s important to them, and what they must do to get there. It is time for Chinese students to become educated consumers and have the privilege to decide what is best for them.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

understanding the admissions policy for financial aid

What is important about admissions’ policy for Chinese students? College admissions for Chinese students is always a mystery to them. Most of them learn the college admissions policy from Chinese agencies. And a lot of those informations are incorrect and somehow misleading. Yes it is true that the students can always go to the school website and check on the related information themselves. However, what percentage of the Chinese students actually used the college’s website to locate all the critical info about admissions is unknown. Another way for Chinese students for learn admissions policy is during the college fair or tour session in china. They show up at the tours or events, collect a lot of brochures and then try to understand them on their own. How effective is this so-called self study on Chinese students is also unknown. What is clear and what we do know is that the fact that over 90% of students from china hire Chinese agencies for college admission including open admissions and esl programs. They paid a great deal of money for the services that they receive zero education about. Such transaction involve a signed contract, payment, and a piece of paper called acceptancy letter. That will a lot of misunderstanding for the Chinese students when it comes to the admissions policy. Many of them will never have the opportunity to hear directly from the admission office or a admissions rep whether they participate in college fair in china. And if they do, they will hear at least three to four different req related to the admissions policy for the same school. For ex, they can go to the website to check, then they can hear three different policies from three different Chinese agencies. And the reason of hearing different policies from different agencies is that different agencies would explain their special relationship or recruitment contract with a particular US college. Therefore, the students may subject to different admission policies due to which agencies they choose to work with. Some of the agencies may be able to produce a letter from the us colleges demonstrated their relationships and sometimes guarantee admissions. In such marketing conditions, it is common that the majority of Chinese students did not really know the standard admissions policies from US college. Now who is responsible for the confusion? Did the college really have a different policy based on different recruitment strategies? And do they change from year to year? That’s the question Ivy counselors network would like to ask. It is no secret that the domestic us policy is very different from international students admissions policy. The designated us admission policy from the admissions office to read international students applications. In the mean time, the rep is responsible for being on college tours and recruitment policies overseas. However, none of those activities involve educating the students directly about admissions policy and req and what the students must do to succeed. A lot of college admissions rep are busy in china talking to Chinese agencies. What they don’t know is the fact that those agencies are manufacturing their suitable marketing materials and purposely misleading the students without the knowledge from us colleges. Ivy counselors network publish US colleges admissions policy online as part of the college profile. Those policies are many for domestic students. Chinese students will have the opportunity to gain prospective about different admission policies and compare them with what they already learned from the Chinese agencies. In the mean time, Chinese students will have a great selection of the matched schools for admission consideration. Ivy counselors network is committed to provide the most accurate admissions policy for Chinese students. We encourage the Chinese students taking over the control to be knowledgeable and educated and empowered student. It is important for the Chinese students to know ESL programs are not part of admissions policy. It is listed as “special services”. For those Chinese students that qualify for highly selective colleges, they must understand that admissions policy for highly selective colleges are only being used for selectivity purposes. Not necessarily used for qualification purposes. In other words everything single one of those students apply to a particular highly selective school are most likely qualified students. But only 10% of those students can gain acceptance letters. And maybe 80% receive acceptance letters will actually enroll as freshman. It is in the best interest of the Chinese students to have first hand knowledge about admissions policy and gain perspectives about individual colleges. As part of their school selection processes, Chinese students should focus on themselves by understanding more about what they’re looking for, what’s important to them, and what they must do to get there. It is time for Chinese students to become educated consumers and have the privilege to decide what is best for them.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

understanding the admissions policy for financial aid

What is important about admissions’ policy for Chinese students? College admissions for Chinese students is always a mystery to them. Most of them learn the college admissions policy from Chinese agencies. And a lot of those informations are incorrect and somehow misleading. Yes it is true that the students can always go to the school website and check on the related information themselves. However, what percentage of the Chinese students actually used the college’s website to locate all the critical info about admissions is unknown. Another way for Chinese students for learn admissions policy is during the college fair or tour session in china. They show up at the tours or events, collect a lot of brochures and then try to understand them on their own. How effective is this so-called self study on Chinese students is also unknown. What is clear and what we do know is that the fact that over 90% of students from china hire Chinese agencies for college admission including open admissions and esl programs. They paid a great deal of money for the services that they receive zero education about. Such transaction involve a signed contract, payment, and a piece of paper called acceptancy letter. That will a lot of misunderstanding for the Chinese students when it comes to the admissions policy. Many of them will never have the opportunity to hear directly from the admission office or a admissions rep whether they participate in college fair in china. And if they do, they will hear at least three to four different req related to the admissions policy for the same school. For ex, they can go to the website to check, then they can hear three different policies from three different Chinese agencies. And the reason of hearing different policies from different agencies is that different agencies would explain their special relationship or recruitment contract with a particular US college. Therefore, the students may subject to different admission policies due to which agencies they choose to work with. Some of the agencies may be able to produce a letter from the us colleges demonstrated their relationships and sometimes guarantee admissions. In such marketing conditions, it is common that the majority of Chinese students did not really know the standard admissions policies from US college. Now who is responsible for the confusion? Did the college really have a different policy based on different recruitment strategies? And do they change from year to year? That’s the question Ivy counselors network would like to ask. It is no secret that the domestic us policy is very different from international students admissions policy. The designated us admission policy from the admissions office to read international students applications. In the mean time, the rep is responsible for being on college tours and recruitment policies overseas. However, none of those activities involve educating the students directly about admissions policy and req and what the students must do to succeed. A lot of college admissions rep are busy in china talking to Chinese agencies. What they don’t know is the fact that those agencies are manufacturing their suitable marketing materials and purposely misleading the students without the knowledge from us colleges. Ivy counselors network publish US colleges admissions policy online as part of the college profile. Those policies are many for domestic students. Chinese students will have the opportunity to gain prospective about different admission policies and compare them with what they already learned from the Chinese agencies. In the mean time, Chinese students will have a great selection of the matched schools for admission consideration. Ivy counselors network is committed to provide the most accurate admissions policy for Chinese students. We encourage the Chinese students taking over the control to be knowledgeable and educated and empowered student. It is important for the Chinese students to know ESL programs are not part of admissions policy. It is listed as “special services”. For those Chinese students that qualify for highly selective colleges, they must understand that admissions policy for highly selective colleges are only being used for selectivity purposes. Not necessarily used for qualification purposes. In other words everything single one of those students apply to a particular highly selective school are most likely qualified students. But only 10% of those students can gain acceptance letters. And maybe 80% receive acceptance letters will actually enroll as freshman. It is in the best interest of the Chinese students to have first hand knowledge about admissions policy and gain perspectives about individual colleges. As part of their school selection processes, Chinese students should focus on themselves by understanding more about what they’re looking for, what’s important to them, and what they must do to get there. It is time for Chinese students to become educated consumers and have the privilege to decide what is best for them.

Ellen [email protected]OwnerEllen Richards Admissions Consulting

What financial aid is available for international students?

The financial aid system for colleges and universities in the United States is not set up [use thesaurus] for the benefit of international students. Financial aid is focused mainly on domestic students who need it. This brings up many different issues. First, on one hand it seems fair that the financial aid that is available goes to citizens of this country since they do live here and it seems that should be a benefit of being a citizen of the United States. On the other hand, it brings up some issues because there are undocumented students living in the United States today and they do not have the financial resources to pursue a college education. Thus, those very students who are first generation are not citizens and therefore cannot use the power of an education to raise their status from the one in which they have lived throughout their lives up to this point. Thus, many immigrants who are undocumented struggle to find a way to pursue an education when most of the time they have little to no resources to do so. This is a hot topic for some educators and can result in what some may deem a tragedy for the students who have worked very diligently to be accepted at a great college or just be college bound at all and not have the opportunity to pursue that. That being said, fact does remain that financial aid is reserved for American citizens and most citizens would think that that would qualify that decision as a fair one. One other aspect of the lack of educational funding for international students is that colleges today, particularly the University of California system use the fact that international students cannot gain financial aid as a means to increase their funding. That is, every international student represents the full price of admission, which at these days can be upwards of $50,000 per student. Whereas a domestic student most likely will qualify for some sort of financial aid. So the financial aid available to international students is extremely limited but at the same time it is a shame that there are billions and billions of dollars of scholarship money available to domestic students and so few take advantage of the opportunity to pursue those scholarships because they require additional work such as essays or completing paperwork or asking for recommendations. However, students who are motivated enough to make the most of the resources could actually save their families a lot of money – money that international students and undocumented students would [most likely take advantage of/die for that money] so in other words, domestic students forgo the opportunity to pursue a lot of money in scholarships whereas ironically, the international students and the undocumented students do not have even the right to pursue that funding.

Ellen [email protected]OwnerEllen Richards Admissions Consulting

What financial aid is available for international students?

The financial aid system for colleges and universities in the United States is not set up [use thesaurus] for the benefit of international students. Financial aid is focused mainly on domestic students who need it. This brings up many different issues. First, on one hand it seems fair that the financial aid that is available goes to citizens of this country since they do live here and it seems that should be a benefit of being a citizen of the United States. On the other hand, it brings up some issues because there are undocumented students living in the United States today and they do not have the financial resources to pursue a college education. Thus, those very students who are first generation are not citizens and therefore cannot use the power of an education to raise their status from the one in which they have lived throughout their lives up to this point. Thus, many immigrants who are undocumented struggle to find a way to pursue an education when most of the time they have little to no resources to do so. This is a hot topic for some educators and can result in what some may deem a tragedy for the students who have worked very diligently to be accepted at a great college or just be college bound at all and not have the opportunity to pursue that. That being said, fact does remain that financial aid is reserved for American citizens and most citizens would think that that would qualify that decision as a fair one. One other aspect of the lack of educational funding for international students is that colleges today, particularly the University of California system use the fact that international students cannot gain financial aid as a means to increase their funding. That is, every international student represents the full price of admission, which at these days can be upwards of $50,000 per student. Whereas a domestic student most likely will qualify for some sort of financial aid. So the financial aid available to international students is extremely limited but at the same time it is a shame that there are billions and billions of dollars of scholarship money available to domestic students and so few take advantage of the opportunity to pursue those scholarships because they require additional work such as essays or completing paperwork or asking for recommendations. However, students who are motivated enough to make the most of the resources could actually save their families a lot of money – money that international students and undocumented students would [most likely take advantage of/die for that money] so in other words, domestic students forgo the opportunity to pursue a lot of money in scholarships whereas ironically, the international students and the undocumented students do not have even the right to pursue that funding.

Ellen [email protected]OwnerEllen Richards Admissions Consulting

What financial aid is available for international students?

The financial aid system for colleges and universities in the United States is not set up [use thesaurus] for the benefit of international students. Financial aid is focused mainly on domestic students who need it. This brings up many different issues. First, on one hand it seems fair that the financial aid that is available goes to citizens of this country since they do live here and it seems that should be a benefit of being a citizen of the United States. On the other hand, it brings up some issues because there are undocumented students living in the United States today and they do not have the financial resources to pursue a college education. Thus, those very students who are first generation are not citizens and therefore cannot use the power of an education to raise their status from the one in which they have lived throughout their lives up to this point. Thus, many immigrants who are undocumented struggle to find a way to pursue an education when most of the time they have little to no resources to do so. This is a hot topic for some educators and can result in what some may deem a tragedy for the students who have worked very diligently to be accepted at a great college or just be college bound at all and not have the opportunity to pursue that. That being said, fact does remain that financial aid is reserved for American citizens and most citizens would think that that would qualify that decision as a fair one. One other aspect of the lack of educational funding for international students is that colleges today, particularly the University of California system use the fact that international students cannot gain financial aid as a means to increase their funding. That is, every international student represents the full price of admission, which at these days can be upwards of $50,000 per student. Whereas a domestic student most likely will qualify for some sort of financial aid. So the financial aid available to international students is extremely limited but at the same time it is a shame that there are billions and billions of dollars of scholarship money available to domestic students and so few take advantage of the opportunity to pursue those scholarships because they require additional work such as essays or completing paperwork or asking for recommendations. However, students who are motivated enough to make the most of the resources could actually save their families a lot of money – money that international students and undocumented students would [most likely take advantage of/die for that money] so in other words, domestic students forgo the opportunity to pursue a lot of money in scholarships whereas ironically, the international students and the undocumented students do not have even the right to pursue that funding.

Dr. Bruce NeimeyerCEO/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

What financial aid is available for international students?

Some schools do offer financial “assistance” for international students. It really depends on the school. In most instances, the financial assistance for international students comes in the form of scholarship dollars and it is therefore based on academic merit rather than financial need.

There are some colleges that do offer financial assistance based on financial need but still not that many. In these instances, the schools will typically have their own financial aid evaluation form for international students to complete. To find out which form is required, it is important to contact either the international admissions office or the office of international student services depending on the school. Some financial institutions may also offer student loan options but these are between the financial institution and the student and the schools are not involved in the process. However, you chosen college’s financial aid office might be able to point you toward a lender that they know can assist you with this option. It is rare but you never know. Finally, the scholarship office at many schools may know of outside scholarship opportunities that you might be able to apply for that could offset some of your educational expenses. Reach out to them for any ideas or experiences they have had that might help you in obtaining some funding.
Patricia KrahnkePresident/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

What financial aid is available for international students?

Short Answer:

Financial aid is not offered to international students through the U.S. federal government; however, many colleges and universities give “scholarships” in the form of tuition discounting to international students to encourage them to attend (NOTE: These scholarships may only be for the first year.) This means they simply reduce the cost of attendance by making your tuition lower than an American student who is asked to pay full tuition. Often this discounting will be called an “academic scholarship.” But, hey, it’s money, right? Detailed Answer: If the college does not offer you a scholarship, and you really want to attend that institution, ask them if they can offer you some money to attend. (NOTE: Most colleges generate their scholarship award via the admissions office, which means any notice of scholarships will come via your letter of acceptance or in the spring as a separate notice. U.S. colleges are increasing their competition to get you to attend their college or university. They will say it’s because they welcome the diversity that you might bring, and certainly that’s a wonderful contribution you can make to our colleges. But the bottom line is that all almost all American colleges and universities are in financial crisis, and they believe you can pay for the education without much financial assistance from them. They know that many of their competitors are offering prospective international students substantial tuition discounts (which they are calling “scholarships.”) So if the institution you are interested in does not offer you a “scholarship,” you can either 1) agree to pay the full amount of tuition, 2) pressure them for money, or 3) you can tell them you will attend another college that is offering you a “scholarship.” Then see if the college you really want to go to will decide to offer you money. If you do receive a scholarship, make sure it is renewable over the four years of your undergraduate degree. Many, many colleges use scholarships (or tuition discounting) as bait to get students to attend the college the first year. They hope that the student will become emotionally and socially integrated to the point that they will do anything to pay the full amount to continue attending, even without a scholarship. This can place undo hardship on the international student’s family (it certainly makes it very difficult for American students.) To see which colleges (by state) in the U.S. offer scholarships to international students, visit http://www.internationalstudent.com/schools_awarding_aid/ [Keep in mind that the list of institutions mentioned on this page specifically are EXTREMELY difficult to get into, even for top students. But many, many other colleges and universities in the U.S. offer outstanding, prestigious degree programs.]
Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School

Financial Aid for International Students

The amount of financial aid available to international students varies from one institution to another, so it is very important when researching colleges/universities to find out how each school deals with this issue. Scholarship and financial aid offerings are usually accessible on each institution’s website.

Some schools do have need-based aid for international students, but this aid is usually quite limited. There are other institutions which have quite generous financial aid offerings for international students and state that they will meet the full financial need of any student, domestic or international, who is accepted to the school. Keep in mind, though, that your idea of your family’s financial “need” could differ considerably from your financial need as calculated by the institution. Many schools offer merit-based aid which is available to international as well as domestic applicants, with decisions on the awarding of this aid being focused on the student’s prior academic and/or leadership success. A student with outstanding skills in a particular academic discipline, athletics, music, art, or some other specialized area might qualify for aid or scholarships awarded through the relevant department within an institution. A few institutions in the U.S. offer international students the same tuition as in-state applicants, an amount which is considerably less than tuition costs for out-of-state domestic applicants. Often students who receive this type of tuition assistance are asked to participate in various cultural sharing activities within the school and local community as a way of repayment. International students should also consider approaching governmental agencies in their respective countries to find out if financial assistance is available for students studying in another country. Another source of financial aid could be various civic organizations within the student’s country. Students who are citizens of the European Union would do well to look at institutions in the U.K., particularly Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, as well as universities in the Netherlands and Finland, in which there are many English-language programs. Tuition rates for EU citizens applying to many/most institutions in those countries will usually be equivalent to the rates for citizens of the country in which the school is located, and these rates are often extremely economical! Hope that helps!
Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School

Financial Aid for International Students

The amount of financial aid available to international students varies from one institution to another, so it is very important when researching colleges/universities to find out how each school deals with this issue. Scholarship and financial aid offerings are usually accessible on each institution’s website.

Some schools do have need-based aid for international students, but this aid is usually quite limited. There are other institutions which have quite generous financial aid offerings for international students and state that they will meet the full financial need of any student, domestic or international, who is accepted to the school. Keep in mind, though, that your idea of your family’s financial “need” could differ considerably from your financial need as calculated by the institution. Many schools offer merit-based aid which is available to international as well as domestic applicants, with decisions on the awarding of this aid being focused on the student’s prior academic and/or leadership success. A student with outstanding skills in a particular academic discipline, athletics, music, art, or some other specialized area might qualify for aid or scholarships awarded through the relevant department within an institution. A few institutions in the U.S. offer international students the same tuition as in-state applicants, an amount which is considerably less than tuition costs for out-of-state domestic applicants. Often students who receive this type of tuition assistance are asked to participate in various cultural sharing activities within the school and local community as a way of repayment. International students should also consider approaching governmental agencies in their respective countries to find out if financial assistance is available for students studying in another country. Another source of financial aid could be various civic organizations within the student’s country. Students who are citizens of the European Union would do well to look at institutions in the U.K., particularly Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, as well as universities in the Netherlands and Finland, in which there are many English-language programs. Tuition rates for EU citizens applying to many/most institutions in those countries will usually be equivalent to the rates for citizens of the country in which the school is located, and these rates are often extremely economical! Hope that helps!
John Sy

What financial aid is available for international students?

Unfortunately, not much. As international students (I’m an international counselor from the Philippines and a former intl student myself), we do not qualify for any government aid so all the aid we qualify for is institutional aid and private aid.

Depending on the resources of the college and its institutional priorities, a college actively recruiting more intt students may be more generous with aid than one which is not. One thing to be cautious about though when applying for admission to “need aware” schools (which is the vast majority of the schools)…if you need scholarship money to attend the school, your chance of admission may go down.
Dr. Carol LangloisFounder/CEOHigher Education Specialists

What financial aid is available for international students?

To qualify for financial aid as an international student, requires the student to submit documentation about the family’s financial situation. This is somewhat similar to the FAFSA form a US citizens have to fill out in order to receive federal loans to qualify for financial aid. On most college websites, these required forms can be found within the Admissions section of the website and under a subsection typically called “International Students.” International students must always fill out the International Student Certificate of Finances. Additionally, most colleges will also ask for an official bank statement. That information, most often, must be translated into English. Without those documents, an international students application for admission will not be reviewed. International students must be very cautious of the deadlines required by Universities to submit these forms. Typically the deadline for International students is a bit earlier only because processing these forms as well as the I-20 takes more time than processing a domestic application. I suggested that International student start collecting this paperwork roughly 3 months prior to the University’s deadline. If accepted, the US government then grants a student visa, which allows them to enter and live in the United States legally. The money that is available to international students will vary among college. Typically, I’ve seen available funding come to International students predominantly from smaller, private colleges. These schools may be looking to gain more international exposure and by offering grants and scholarships to International students is a great way for them to get the word out about their college or university within the European and Asian markets. To find out what is available, International students need to do their homework and learn about their specific eligibility, college expectations, sometimes grade-point requirements, restrictions on the funding as well as any tax responsibilities required of the student or their family. In this day and age, a lot of this can be accomplished through simple Google searches, on-college guidebooks as well as wikipedia.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

What financial aid is available for international students?

there are many financial aid for international students. although the majority of Chinese international students are full paid students and they never ask for financial aid on their application forms, I do believe some of the students should apply financial aid especially in sciences and engineering majors. again, pick the rigth school for you is the key. many colleges are happy to help the students that they really wanted.

Mark GathercoleUniversity AdvisorIndependent University Advising

What financial aid is available for international students?

Need-based aid is available at a number of schools, but at all but 5-10 of them, the need for financial aid may affect a student’s chances of admission. Merit-based aid is available to international students at most universities in the U.S., and does not affect a student’s chances of admission. Merit scholarships are given for a number of reasons by admissions offices, and international students have as good a chance of receiving it as anyone. The schools which are the most likely to award merit aid to an international student are those where the student falls in the top half of the applicant pool, and schools where there are not many other international students.

Darla Andrews

What financial aid is available for international students?

As a student, you are responsible for the cost of tuition and fees, as well as room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. International students may qualify for some scholarships and tuition assistance, but may not be eligible for most financial aid.

Laura O’Brien GatzionisFounderEducational Advisory Services

What financial aid is available for international students?

Basically, U.S. federal and state funding is not available for undergraduate studies to a foreign national. Depending on the school, institutional need-based or merit scholarships may be available but these limited resources are often highly competitive. Other sources of funding might be found in your home country. There are free scholarship databases available on-line. Be careful to protect yourself from scholarship scams.

Helen Cella

What financial aid is available for international students?

Merit money

Annie ReznikCounselor/CEOCollege Guidance Coach

Very Limited Need-Based Aid for International Students

International students who will be enrolling on an F1 or J1 visa will not be eligible for federal financial aid programs. Most private or institutional aid is also limited to US citizens and permanent residents. Students who live abroad but will not seek a visa for study will be eligible for aid and should apply.

Annie ReznikCounselor/CEOCollege Guidance Coach

Very Limited Need-Based Aid for International Students

International students who will be enrolling on an F1 or J1 visa will not be eligible for federal financial aid programs. Most private or institutional aid is also limited to US citizens and permanent residents. Students who live abroad but will not seek a visa for study will be eligible for aid and should apply.

David AllenManaging DirectorGlobal College Counselors Ltd

Lots

There’s lots of it around if you are prepared to look and ask. Some colleges have more available but almost all will have merit aid which is available to all students and some specific international scholarships.

Helen H. ChoiOwnerAdmissions Mavens

What financial aid is available for international students?

There is very little financial aid available for international students who want to pursue their undergraduate degrees in the U.S. While that should not stop you from applying for aid, you should be aware that chances are very slim that you will receive grants or scholarships. For more information on aid for international students, please check out this site: http://www.edupass.org/finaid/.

It is a part of FinAid — which is one of the most reputable authorities on financial aid for college students in the U.S.