International applicants are eligible to apply for competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships. To be considered, applicants simply have to check the box on the application that states, “I would like to be considered for academic merit-based fellowships, scholarships, or assistantships.” Each individual department then determines the type and amount of award given to qualified candidates.
The United States government offers financial aid programs only to students who are either U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Eligible non-citizens are those who are: (1) U.S. permanent residents who have an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551); (2) conditional permanent residents (I-551C); or (3) non-U.S. citizens with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service showing any of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Indefinite Parole and/or Humanitarian Parole, or Cuban-Haitian Entrant.
Although international students are not eligible for U.S. financial aid programs, there are many options available to help meet educational expenses. These include monthly payment plans, private loans, and educational foundations. A list of resources is available here.
