Fafsa Eligibility: International Students' Guide

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a financial aid form for accessing grants, federal student loans, and work-study funds. While FAFSA is available to US citizens and eligible non-citizens, international students are generally not eligible to fill out the FAFSA as it requires a Social Security Number (SSN). However, in rare cases, some schools may require international students to submit a printed FAFSA form to process their loan applications. Additionally, international students may qualify for other forms of financial aid, such as merit or need-based aid, scholarships, or private international student loans.

International students' eligibility for FAFSA

International students who are not US citizens or permanent residents are not eligible to apply for FAFSA. However, they may still qualify for financial aid in other ways, such as through institutional scholarships, grants, and education loans for international students. Some private lenders, such as MPOWER Financing, offer student loans for international students that do not require co-signers. Additionally, international colleges and universities may rely on FAFSA to award scholarships, and international students can apply for these by filling out the FAFSA form, printing it, and mailing it to the Federal Student Aid Office.

To be eligible for federal student aid, an individual must meet the US government's requirements, which include being a US citizen or permanent resident with a valid Social Security Number (SSN). In rare cases, a school may require international students to fill out the FAFSA form to receive institutional aid. However, since a Social Security Number is required to fill out the online FAFSA, the form would have to be submitted on paper.

It is important to note that each US college has its own requirements for how international students can prove their ability to pay expenses. Additionally, funding for international students is often more limited, and most schools allocate their resources for US citizens. International students typically use personal and other financial resources, mainly from outside the US, to cover tuition and expenses.

FAFSA application process for international students

International students can apply for the FAFSA, but only in rare cases. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a form used by US citizens and permanent residents to apply for financial aid from federal and state governments. International students are generally not eligible for US government aid, but some schools may require them to fill out the FAFSA to determine their eligibility for institutional aid.

To be eligible for FAFSA as a non-citizen, you must be a US national or a US permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151 (Permanent Resident Card, Resident Alien Card, or Alien Registration Receipt Card), also known as a "green card". You may also be eligible if you have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the US.

The FAFSA is typically used to access grants, federal student loans, and work-study funds. International students can use the FAFSA to apply for certain types of merit or need-based aid, although funding is often more limited for these students. Some colleges and states also award federal aid to latecomers, so it is better to fill out the FAFSA in all circumstances.

The FAFSA application process for international students is as follows:

• Research the available financial student loans and Federal Work-Study Jobs.
• Complete the FAFSA form online or on paper. Note that a Social Security Number (SSN) is required to fill out the online form.
• After submitting the form, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Recheck the information in this report by logging into the FAFSA online portal and selecting "View SAR" from the "My FAFSA" page.
• The SAR will include the types of scholarships, grants, and the amount offered by the school/college/university. It will also include your expected costs for the year.
• If you are accepted by multiple colleges, compare the aid offers from each school to determine which one best meets your needs.

Other financial aid options for international students

International students are not eligible for US government-backed loans, such as Stafford Loans or Plus Loans. However, there are still several financial aid options available for international students who wish to study in the US.

Firstly, international students can apply for private international student loans from US lenders. These loans usually require a creditworthy co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident. Alternatively, some lenders may offer no co-signer loans. It is important to carefully consider how much money you need to cover the costs of studying and living in the US, as you should only borrow what you truly need.

Secondly, scholarships are the main way to fund studies in the US for international students. There are private, institutional, and government-funded scholarships available. While these are often highly competitive, your chances of securing funding are good if you have impressive achievements and a strong application. Many colleges and universities in the US offer scholarships or grants to talented international students, so it is worth checking with your chosen institution to see what opportunities they offer. Additionally, your home country may be a source of funding, either from organisations, companies, or your government. For example, Saudi Arabia has a programme that provides full scholarships to over 10,000 Saudi students studying in the US.

Thirdly, some US colleges and universities offer limited financial aid for international students through their financial aid offices. This aid is usually reserved for graduate study in the form of assistantships and fellowships, but there may also be opportunities for undergraduate students. Both private and public institutions may waive application fees in some situations, so be sure to consult with your university to take advantage of any supplements or waivers they offer.

Lastly, there are several international organisations, such as the Fulbright Commission, that grant aid to students all over the world. Many of these organisations require applicants to be in their home country at the time of application, so it is important to plan ahead.

Scholarships for international students

As an international student, you won't be eligible for federal funding or state aid intended specifically for US nationals. However, US universities are increasingly prioritizing internationalization, and the number of international scholarships to study in the US has grown.

Schools are one of the best resources to find scholarships for international undergraduate students. Experts recommend contacting a school's financial aid office and using scholarship search tools like InternationalStudent.com to find out about scholarships awarded by colleges and universities in the US.

Some public and private universities offer financial incentives for students to attend their institution. Most of the institutional aid available to international students is reserved for graduate study in the form of assistantships and fellowships. Because it is uncommon for US institutions to offer aid to undergraduate international students, such scholarships are often quite competitive.

• The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is perhaps the most popular government-funded scholarship for international graduate students, young professionals, and artists to study in the US for one year or more.
• The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program is a non-degree scholarship program for international, experienced professionals wishing to undertake 10 months of academic study in the US.
• The #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship is open to international students studying any subject at a participating college or university in the US.
• The Civil Society Leadership Awards offer fully-funded scholarships for graduate students from eligible countries to study in the US or another host country.
• The East-West Center Scholarships and Fellowships are offered to international students from the Asia-Pacific region to study in the US within selected institutions.
• The Japan-United States Friendship Commission offers a grant program to Japanese students wishing to study in the US.
• The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program offers scholarships to 11 exceptional Asian students to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, covering the full cost of tuition and student fees.
• The Bat and Ball Game Women’s Sports Scholarship offers $1,000 to a woman currently studying a sports-related degree at any US university.
• The MIT-Zaragoza Women in Logistics and SCM Scholarship is open to female students of any age, ethnicity, or nationality, to study at the Zaragoza Logistics Center at MIT.
• The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme offers scholarships for postgraduate international students from countries in Africa.

Loans for international students

As an international student, you may qualify for certain types of merit- or need-based financial aid. However, international students do not qualify for federal or state aid and usually rely on personal or other financial resources to cover tuition and expenses.

To apply for financial aid, you may be required to fill out the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) or the CSS Profile, which is used by private colleges. Some universities may also have their own forms. In rare cases, a school may require international students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, since a Social Security number is required to fill out the online FAFSA, the form would have to be submitted on paper to attempt to receive institutional aid.

If you are an eligible non-citizen, you could have access to federal financial aid like grants, scholarships, and federal loans. Even if you are not eligible for federal student aid, you may still want to file the FAFSA, as you might be eligible for aid from the colleges or universities that you are applying to.

There are also private student loans available for international students, such as those offered by:

• Ascent: Requires a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a minimum gross annual income of $30,000.
• Citizens: Offers undergraduate, graduate, and parent loans. International graduate students can apply if they have a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with good credit.
• Prodigy Finance: Offers graduate loans to international students at more than 1,500 schools worldwide. Loan decisions are based on applicants' future earning potential, and no co-signer or collateral is required.
• MPower Financing: Offers private student loans for U.S. and international students with no co-signer or collateral required.

Frequently asked questions