Financial aid options for Indian students in the US?

I'm from India and looking into studying in the US for college. What financial aid opportunities should I explore, and are there specific scholarships available for Indian students?

As an international student, your financial aid options may differ from those for domestic students, but there are still numerous resources available to you.

To start, it's important to understand that the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is not available for international students. Rather, most financial aid for international students comes directly from the colleges themselves in the form of need-based or merit aid.

1. Need-based aid: Some universities offer need-based aid to international students. For example, schools such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Princeton are known for providing generous need-based aid packages for international students.

2. Merit-based scholarships: This type of aid is awarded based on a student's academic, artistic, or athletic achievements. Merit scholarships are very competitive, but they can significantly reduce the cost of attendance.

3. Country-specific scholarships: There are scholarships specifically meant for Indian students. A notable one is the Tata Scholarship at Cornell University. It aims to support a number of Indian students to attend Cornell. Some private organizations and nonprofits also offer scholarships to students from specific countries.

4. Private scholarships: These are given by private organizations and donors, and are another option to look into. Application processes vary, and they can be highly competitive, but these scholarships can be an excellent way to help finance your education. Appily is one platform where you could start your search.

Remember to check with the financial aid offices of the universities you're interested in for the most accurate and current information.