Learn about funding for your education

How much does college cost?

College education is one of the biggest investments your family will ever make. As an international student, you'll face expenses beyond just classes—living abroad isn't exactly cheap! Here's what you'll need to budget for:

All of these combine to form your Total Cost of Attendance, which can range from $40,000 USD to $100,000 USD per year. When planning finances, make sure you're counting everything!

These figures might seem intimidating, but here's the good news—the U.S. is one of the few countries that offer generous funding for international students. Some scholarships even cover everything from tuition to meals and visa fees. Competition is fierce, sure, but remember—you could potentially attend any Ivy League university completely free!

In-state vs. Out-of-state tuition

Public universities in the USA charge different tuition fees for in-state students (students who reside in that state) and out-of-state students (students who don't reside in that state). Needless to say, international students pay out-of-state tuition fees, which are way more expensive. Why? Well, by not residing in that state, you aren't paying the taxes that help fund these public universities. Simple as that!

Be careful when looking at these costs - they can give you quite a shock! For example, at UCLA the cost of attendance is:

• $42,059 for California residents
• $76,259 for non-residents (yep, that's you!)

Merit-based scholarships

Merit-based scholarships reward outstanding achievements, whether academic, leadership, or artistic. They're highly competitive, usually awarded to only a few of students each year. Sometimes you're automatically considered, but often you'll need to apply separately. The best part? Top scholarships can cover everything—yes, even 100% of your costs!

Not every scholarship is open to international students, so always double-check eligibility. Also, remember that scholarships can vary widely—from $1,000 to $80,000 or more. Make sure it's enough when compared to your total cost and budget. Don't celebrate just because you see the word "scholarship."

🗣️ veronica says...

Veronica Lee

Admissions Expert

Some universities offering full merit scholarships seem easy to get into at first glance. For example, Centre College has an acceptance rate of 63%, but it's without a scholarship. With the scholarship factored in? That rate could drop to as low as less than 1%.

Popular full merit-based scholarships in the USA

Need-based financial aid

Need-based scholarships, more commonly referred to as financial aid, aren't about your grades or skills—it's based entirely on your family's ability to pay. Some universities promise to meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need, but remember, that's only if you're actually admitted first. Universities offering this kind of full aid tend to be extremely competitive with very low acceptance rates.

To figure out your financial need, you'll need to understand three key terms:

• Total Cost of Attendance (COA): Your entire college budget—from tuition and housing to meals and health insurance.
• Expected Family Contribution (EFC): What colleges think your family can pay, calculated via the CSS Profile and your financial documents.
• Demonstrated Financial Need: The difference between COA and EFC—the amount you need the university to cover.

Here's how it works:

Example Calculation

• Total Cost of Attendance at Pomona College: $89,414/year
• Your family's income and assets allow them to pay: $45,000/year
• Your Demonstrated Financial Need: $89,414 - $45,000 = $44,414/year
• Since Pomona College meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, you could potentially receive $44,414/year in financial aid from them.

Need-aware vs need-blind

Need-blind universities evaluate your application without considering your financial situation. They focus purely on academics, extracurriculars, and overall merit. Here's a list of need-blind universities that meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students:

In contrast, need-aware universities do factor in your financial needs, which could impact your admission chances—especially if you're an international student needing substantial aid. However, you can still get accepted and receive full aid at need-aware schools! Stanford, for example, is need-aware, but there are plenty of inspiring stories of students getting full financial aid.

🗣️ veronica says...

Veronica Lee

Admissions Expert

Remember: Financial aid is based on your family's finances, not your achievements. Getting less aid doesn't mean you're less qualified—it means your family can contribute more.

50 universities with full financial aid for international students

External & Government Scholarships

External (outside the university) scholarships are very rare and in most cases, not enough to cover significant costs. You might find essay competitions or small grants offering $1,000 to $2,000—but if your total cost is $360,000 over four years, that's barely a drop in the bucket. Still, some governments offer full scholarships such as Bolashak in Kazakhstan). These scholarships often have strict rules, such as coming back to your country after graduation, so read the fine print carefully.

🗣️ veronica says...

Veronica Lee

Admissions Expert

Your best chance for substantial scholarships? In 99% of cases, they come directly from the universities themselves.

Always carefully review conditions attached to government scholarships—breaking these can lead to serious consequences!