Hey, I'm an international student looking into studying in the US for college. Costs are a bit high though, so I was wondering which colleges offer the most financial aid to us international folks?
Sure! There are a handful of colleges in the U.S. known to be particularly generous when it comes to providing financial aid to international students. The nature of the financial awards can range from need-based aid to merit-based scholarships, but the substantial aid can significantly offset the cost of tuition. Here are some examples:
1. Harvard University: Harvard is committed to meeting 100% of all admitted students’ demonstrated financial need, and this extends to international students as well. Basing their awards on a sliding scale, families who earn less than $65,000 aren't expected to contribute anything towards the cost of attendance.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Just like Harvard, MIT extends their need-blind admission policy and need-based aid philosophy to international students as well. Their financial aid awards do not include loans, with the goal of students graduating debt-free.
3. Yale University: International students are eligible for Yale's need-blind admissions policy and need-based financial aid awards, allowing a large number of students to graduate debt-free.
4. Princeton University: Also a need-blind university for international students, Princeton maintains a strong commitment towards fully meeting the financial need of admitted students.
5. University of Chicago: UChicago commits to meeting the demonstrated need of admitted students, and this financial aid extends to international students as well.
6. Vanderbilt University: Vanderbilt's financial aid policy is dedicated to eliminating student loans in the financial aid packages it offers, providing financial aid based on need. While not explicitly need-blind for international students, they offer very solid financial aid packages.
While these are just a few examples, many other U.S. universities also offer substantial awards to international students. Make sure you check out the net price calculator of each school you are interested in to see the projected costs and potential aid.
Good luck with your college search and applications!
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