If you've been dreaming of studying in the USA but are unsure about how to manage the costs, this article is for you. The US is one of the most popular study destinations in the world, boasting around one million new international students every year. Nevertheless, covering the costs of your education at an American university can be tricky. Let’s see how to get financial aid for international students in the USA.
What financial aid can international students get in the US?
The funding opportunities for international students in the US are actually limited. No wonder most international students cover their own tuition fees and costs of study. So, before applying, you should consider how much money you need and whether you can cover those costs.
If studying in the US is your dream no matter what, the first thing you can do is look into cheaper universities in the US. You should also consider applying for a scholarship, as this is the most accessible option to get funding. Many universities offer their own scholarships, but private scholarships also exist. Other financial aid options include federal loans, private loans, or work-study programmes, while the option of applying for federal loans (FAFSA) is limited by strict conditions. Let’s dig a bit deeper into each type of financial aid available for international students in the States.
Scholarships. The best financial aid options for international students in the US
A scholarship is the main way to fund your studies in the US. There are private, institutional, and government-funded scholarships. While they are highly competitive, your chances of getting one are pretty good if you have impressive achievements and know how to make a good application. Make sure you read this guide on How to Write a Motivation Letter for a Scholarship before sending in your application.
Our portal provides:
- 2400 scholarships for Bachelor’s degrees in the US,
- over 1000 scholarships for Master’s degrees in the US,
- 700 scholarships for PhDs in the US.
So let’s break down the options now:
1. Institutional Aid
Many colleges and universities in the USA offer scholarships or grants to talented international students. The amount and type of aid varies by institution. Some schools offer sports scholarships, while others provide academic or artistic scholarships. Check directly on the university’s page and see if you meet the requirements to apply.
Here are a few examples:
Wellesley College in Massachusetts
Haverford College in Pennsylvania
Washington and Lee University in Virginia
Dartmouth College in New Hampshire
Wesleyan University in Connecticut
Stanford University in California
Duke University in North Carolina
2. Private Scholarships
Many private organisations offer scholarships specifically for international students. Some popular ones include:
- United World Colleges (UWC) Scholarships include a group of 18 universities across the world and over 10 000 students each year that benefit from this programme;
- Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarships is open to students from developing countries who want to study a Master’s in a development-related subject in one of their 27 partner universities from the US, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan.
- Fulbright Program for Foreign Students offers around 4000 scholarships every year to international students who want to study in the US. Depending on your country of origin, the eligibility criteria are different.
Start your research early, and don't forget to check the eligibility criteria.
3. Country-Specific Scholarships
Some countries offer scholarships for their students to study abroad. These are usually awarded to exceptional students or for specific programmes in areas where the country needs highly-educated specialists. You must check with your local government to see if such programmes exist.
Other types of financial aid
1. Work-Study Programs
Some universities offer work-study programmes where students can work part-time jobs on campus. This is an excellent opportunity to gain some money to help you cover the costs and build up work experience at the same time. Check on the university’s website to see if they have programmes like this, and also make sure your visa allows you to work.
2. Private Loans
Several private legal lenders in the US offer loans to international students. However, there are not many lenders like this, and they usually require a creditworthy co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident.
Federal loans. Are you eligible for one?
If you started researching how to get financial aid for international students in the USA, you definitely came across federal loans or FAFSA. FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is indeed the most common form of financial aid that domestic US students benefit from. This loan partially covers their tuition fees, which they must start paying back 6 months after graduation. It is more attractive than a private loan, because it has lower interest rates and the repayment plan can be linked to their income.
However, FAFSA is restricted to specific categories of students from other countries, such as:
- students with a green card (US permanent residents)
- former victims of human trafficking (T nonimmigrant status), immigrants who were abused by US citizens (battered immigrant-qualified aliens status), or their children.
To apply for this aid, you need a Social Security Number – something you only have if you are a US citizen – or an Allien Registration Number, which you get as a non-US citizen who lives permanently in the US. Without one of these numbers, you cannot fill in this application. That's why FAFSA is only granted on a few occasions to international students.
What do you take away from this?
It’s true that funding your studies in the USA as an international student is not easy, but there are numerous resources and opportunities available. If it’s your dream to study in the US, do your research well, prepare your scholarship applications carefully, and take a proactive approach, and you’ll have great chances to fulfil your dream.
Don’t give up because studying in the US can be a memorable and enriching experience!