myUface Blog

We’ve arrived now at the one place from which most international students expect to receive financial aid:  U.S. universities.  And while it is true that many U.S. universities do provide some kind of financial aid to international students, I want to quickly point out two things:

1. Before arriving at this subject, we have covered no less than seven other potential sources of financial aid.
2. Most U.S. universities  provide little-to-no aid for international students.

THEREFORE, DO NOT SIMPLY EXPECT A U.S. UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH FINANCIAL AID. Explore other options as well.

Having said that as a warning – Yes, U.S. universities may be a source of financial aid.  They will tend to provide that aid in the following forms:

1. Tuition waivers – many U.S. universities will reduce or even waive tuition for international students.   You’ll still have to pay for room and board, books, travel, etc., but still, having your tuition reduced represents a major form of assistance.
2. Scholarships / Fellowships – many universities have funds set aside that they can give to international students in order to help them cover the costs of an education at their institution.
3. Teaching Assistant positions - at the graduate level, international students with good English skills are often offered Teaching Assistant positions.  Essentially, the students help university faculty teach undergraduate courses in exchange for tuition reductions, stipends to help with room and board, or both.
4. Work Study – most universities will give international students the chance to work on-campus for up to 20 hours a week as a way of helping pay the costs of their college education.  Now, when I say they will “give you the chance,” I mean exactly that – you’ll be eligible to work on-campus, but you’ll still need to compete for what on-campus jobs exist.

Ideally, you can cobble together a fair amount of assistance from a few of these types of aid.  It is very rare for a university to pay for the entirety of an international student’s education.

How do you find out about financial aid opportunities at a university?  Very, very easily:

1. Check the website
2. Ask the admissions office

Later in this series, we’ll have a post about how to ask questions like these in an appropriate and respectful manner.  For now, all you need to know is that each university is going to be the best source of information by far about its financial aid, so make sure to ask!

Posts in this Series

1. Your Education is an Investment - 08 Jul
2. Researching Scholarship Opportunities - 07 Jul
3. How to Ask Questions About Financial Aid - 28 Jun
4. Ninth Option for Financial Aid: Loans - 27 Jun
5. The Difference Between Scholarships and Fellowships - 26 Jun
6. Eigth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Universities (This post)
7. Seventh Option for Financial Aid: Ethnic Communities in the United States - 24 Jun
8. Sixth Option for Financial Aid: Private Organizations in the U.S. - 23 Jun
9. Fifth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Government Programs - 22 Jun
10. Fourth Option for Financial Aid: Scholarships from International Organizations - 20 Jun
11. How to Ask for Support - 18 Jun
12. Looking for Support in Your Country: Why it Makes Sense - 17 Jun
13. Third Option for Financial Aid: Individuals in Your Country - 16 Jun
14. Second Option for Financial Aid: Private Businesses or Foundations in Your Country - 15 Jun
15. First Option for Financial Aid: Government Programs in Your Country - 14 Jun
16. The Third Step in Financial Aid: Find What's Available - 11 Jun
17. The Second Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Assets - 10 Jun
18. The First Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Needs - 09 Jun
19. Finding Financial Aid for your U.S. Education - 08 Jun