It’s really hard to get a full scholarship as an international US college student; the funds are limited, and the competition is steep really steep. But most of you know that.

So you’re an international student hoping to attend school in the U.S. While we like to dream of you as the unicorn “the one” who is accepted with $250,000+ in scholarships there’s a problem year after year: we don’t always see international students accepted to those U.S. schools with full financial support.

That makes the problem we face each year even greater: students do not invest time and efforts in crafting (and becoming equally, if not more excited to engage with) other incredible universities and programs. Options that are genuinely low-cost, with or without financial aid or scholarship.

If you need a full or near-full ride to attend college, the most important step you can take right now is to broaden your options and apply to at least three schools that…

• Can enter, including options in your home country whenever possible. 
• Would enjoy going to 
• Can actually afford undergraduate programs outside the United States.

Remember that you can find solutions for your higher education that are not only within your family’s budget but also a good fit for you socially and academically.

This guide will teach you how to be proactive and remain determined. Also, international students consider Take my online class for me services when they stuck in busy and hectic schedules.

So just how much does college really cost?

According to US News, the average tuition assistance and fees at private colleges stood at $35,087 in 2022-23, compared with $21,184 at public in-state colleges. Tuition always accounts for 40-60% of what you’ll pay to attend college: it does not factor in the tens of thousands of additional dollars that international students pay in indirect costs, including visa fees, room & board, books & supplies, insurance, personal expenses, and transportation.

To begin, do you know your “type” as a student? We understand that it can be confusing because each college and university in the United States has its own definition of who qualifies as an international student.

Pro-tip! Consult with each college/university directly about your citizenship. 

Are international students eligible for federal financial aid?

Typically, most international students are not eligible for federal student aid, such as Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Pell Grants. Check out the article by Federal Student Aid to see if you qualify for federal student aid.

I am an international student. If I am not eligible for federal financial aid, how do I get financial support to study in the U.S.?

You can receive institutional aid, which is provided directly by many colleges and universities. You can also try to apply to outside scholarships often provided by governments or foundations.

How likely is it that I will receive institutional aid?

The likelihood of receiving the financial aid you require from a US school is largely dependent on three factors:

• How much aid do you need?
• How strong is your application?
• How well-suited you are for the school, program, or scholarship

How much help do I need?

It can be surprisingly difficult to determine the answer. There’s also a distinction between “needing” money and “wanting” money. Your first two steps in this process are:

Task 1: Discuss openly with your parents and/or guardians how much they can contribute toward your college education, developing a total contribution including indirect costs. Additionally, there are up-front costs that are crucial to budget for, including notarizations, translations, vaccinations, mailing services, Embassy visits, standardized tests, and more. that are incredibly important to the budget.

Task 2: Determine your “Financial Need,” an amount that a college determines you are eligible for.

You will need to compute how much a college will think that you and/or your family can pay toward the cost of attending college. Often this is referred to as the Expected Family Contribution or EFC.

Most Net Price Calculators are targeted toward students applying as domestic students, but this EFC calculator is available for international students. Ask anyone who has been through the process. The process of sharing your financials with colleges is arduous, and often, there are many speed bumps along the way. Make contact in advance directly to the Financial Aid Office at your dream school if you have any questions.

If you’ve scrolled through college websites lately, you may have come across a few schools that claim to meet 100% of the demonstrated need for accepted international students. This would mean that they will use their own EFC calculator to figure out how much your family can pay and cover the difference so they can afford college.

How strong is my application?

Most U.S. colleges and universities have a holistic application process, which means they consider the various parts of your application in total, considering not only academic but also other factors.

Whereas colleges and universities in your home country may have one standardized admission test, US colleges and universities are far more complex in their application process.

This means there’s a lot that can be done to put you above other applicants: work hard to keep your grades up, take the toughest classes available at your school, practice well for the SAT or ACT when appropriate and for your English proficiency test if necessary, work on projects you are passionate about over an extended period of time, show interest in the schools applying to (more here and here), find a mentor you can trust, investigate your passions with research or an internship, seek out good summer experiences, get to know your teachers, start early and write essays that really speak to who you are, essays that you can be proud of. 

Plus, students can use external services like Take my online nursing class for me to improve their grades and make their profile strong.

Does the school, program, or scholarship suit me?

You want schools that are a good fit both in terms of the cost and academically and personally as well.

Every year, students apply to U.S. institutions offering full rides, playing a best-shots game at affordability, where the college or university is not actually a good match or fit for them.

The same is true of scholarships. Highly unlikely that you stand to win a scholarship if you aren’t a good fit for the award, that is, you don’t have outstanding community service if you are applying for a scholarship on an award based on community service. Admission officers at your school take notice if you’re not really interested in the school or the program you are applying to and are just applying as they offer the potential to give you a “full ride.”.

Hope this guide will be helpful to you when find the best financial aid and scholarship options in the US.