Financial Aid For International Students At The University Of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota offers a limited number of financial aid options for international students. Undergraduate international students are not eligible for financial aid from the University, the state of Minnesota, or the U.S. federal government. However, the University does offer a small number of need-based scholarships for international students through International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Additionally, incoming international freshman and transfer students studying on F-1 visas and admitted for fall semesters are considered for Global Excellence Scholarships, which are awarded based on academic merit.

Global Excellence Scholarships

The University of Minnesota does not offer financial aid to international undergraduate students. However, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities does provide a high-quality education at a reasonable cost compared to peer institutions. The University of Minnesota also offers the Global Excellence Scholarship (GES) to international students.

The Global Excellence Scholarship is open to international students on F1 visa status who are admitted to the fall semester of their chosen undergraduate program. There is no separate scholarship application required; students are considered based on an overall assessment of their application. Awards are competitive and based on academic merit. Students selected for the GES awards are among the best in their class and show a record of very strong academic preparation.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, international freshmen can receive scholarships of $15,000 or $10,000 per year for up to four years. Transfer students may receive $10,000 per year for up to three years when entering the University in the fall semester.

Students must maintain their F-1 immigration status to remain eligible for these awards.

Undergraduate Research Scholarships

The University of Minnesota does not offer financial aid to international undergraduate students. However, there are a limited number of scholarships available for international students. Here is some detailed information about the Undergraduate Research Scholarships for international students:

Global Excellence Scholarship

The University of Minnesota offers the Global Excellence Scholarship to international freshman and transfer students on an F1 visa who are admitted for the fall semester. There is no separate scholarship application required, and students are automatically considered based on an overall assessment of their admission application. The scholarship is highly competitive and is awarded based on academic merit. For the 2024-2025 academic year, international freshmen can receive scholarships of $15,000 or $10,000 per year for up to four years. Transfer students may receive $10,000 per year for up to three years when entering in the fall semester. To remain eligible, students must maintain their F-1 immigration status.

ISSS Need-Based Scholarships

A small number of additional need-based scholarships for international students are available through the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Students can find more information about the specific scholarship criteria and how to submit an application on the ISSS website.

Need-based scholarships

The University of Minnesota does offer a limited number of need-based scholarships for international students. These are available through the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). The criteria for these scholarships and the application process are available on the ISSS website.

The University of Minnesota assumes that international students will take full responsibility for financing their education and does not offer a full tuition waiver or scholarship to international students. International students studying on an F-1 visa in the U.S. do not qualify for U.S. federal or Minnesota state financial aid programs.

However, the University of Minnesota offers a limited number of Global Excellence Scholarships for incoming international freshman and transfer students studying on F-1 visas and admitted for fall semesters. These competitive scholarships cover either the full difference between Minnesota resident and non-resident tuition or half of the difference between Minnesota resident and non-resident tuition. No separate scholarship application is required for the Global Excellence Scholarships. All admitted international students are considered for these awards based on an overall assessment of the admission application. New international freshmen admitted to the University will also be considered for the Undergraduate Research Scholarship. Undergraduate research at the University spans all academic disciplines and interests. The Undergraduate Research Scholarship allows students to pursue special research projects outside their regular courses.

Work-study

International students studying on an F-1 visa in the U.S. do not qualify for U.S. or Minnesota state financial aid programs. The University of Minnesota does not offer a full tuition waiver or scholarship and assumes that international students will take full responsibility for financing their education. However, F-1 students may apply for on-campus student jobs at the University of Minnesota. Funds earned in these positions may help pay for a small portion of living expenses.

The University of Minnesota offers work-study as part of its financial aid package. Work-study is a form of financial aid where students work part-time, typically on campus, to earn money to help pay for their education. The University Job Center posts thousands of part-time jobs, both on campus and off, every year.

To be eligible for work-study, students must:

• Be a Minnesota resident (including eligible Minnesota Dream Act students with work authorization)
• Be enrolled for at least six credit hours per term in a program leading to a degree, certificate, or diploma
• Priority is given to students enrolled for the equivalent of 12 or more credits

The work-study award is set by the financial aid office, taking into account the student's financial need and the amount of money available for the program. On average, students earn about $1,903 per year in State Work-Study jobs.

Private loans

The University of Minnesota does not offer financial aid to international undergraduate students. The University assumes that international students will take full responsibility for financing their education. However, international students can apply for private loans to help fund their studies.

It is recommended that students apply for private loans at least 6 to 8 weeks before the start of the semester. The application process for private loans can take a significant amount of time due to federal regulations requiring lenders to provide multiple loan disclosures, a Self Certification Form, and a fixed rescind period.

Loan approval for private loans is based on a student's overall credit profile. A co-signer is recommended and may be required. Private loans are designed specifically for students and offer competitive variable or fixed rates.

Before choosing a private loan, it is important to compare different lenders and determine the loan attributes that are most important to you. Some questions to consider asking lenders include:

• What, if any, fees are associated with my loan, and how will this affect the loan amount?
• When are customer service representatives available to answer questions about my loans?
• Will I be able to access my loan information online?
• How quickly will my loan funds arrive, and will they be sent via EFT or paper check?

Frequently asked questions