Can international students study for free in the USA?

I'm from abroad and wondering if there are any opportunities for international students to study for free in the USA. Are there specific scholarships or programs that cover tuition costs fully? I'd love to hear about any options!

While it's a common misunderstanding that studying in the U.S. isn't financially feasible for international students, there are indeed several ways you can potentially study for free or at a reduced cost.

Many universities offer need-based financial aid to international students. For example, Harvard, Yale, and MIT have need-blind admissions policy for all applicants, including international ones, meaning that your ability to pay will not impact the admission decision. If you're admitted, these universities will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. To give an idea, at Harvard, families that earn less than $85,000/year, for instance, have their children study for free.

Another avenue to explore would be scholarships catered specifically to international students. Fulbright Foreign Student Program, for instance, provides scholarships for graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to conduct research and study in the United States. These types of scholarships often cover full tuition costs, as well as living expenses.

On a different note, performances in international competitions could potentially earn you a significant scholarship. If you're a top-notch athlete or have significant achievements in academic competitions, it's worth looking into whether this could increase your scholarship chances.

Lastly, keep in mind that while you may be able to get your tuition covered, living costs can also add up, so you'll want to see if those can be covered as well, through avenues like on-campus employment.

Remember though, each university will have its own policies in place, so you'll want to look into the specifics for each school where you're considering applying. Applications for financial aid and scholarships usually require additional forms, so plan to start the application process early.

Overall, while securing funding as an international student in the U.S. can be challenging, it is not impossible if you're willing to put in the time and effort to explore different opportunities.