Financial aid for international students in US colleges and universities don’t come along as easily as for the locals, who can rely on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The aid is big help — in the 2020-21 award year, the maximum award was US$6,345.
Does FAFSA offer such aid to non-US citizens and residents? Yes and no.
First, FAFSA is a standard form used to determine if an applicant is eligible. American college students use it, too. There are several types of aid: grants, work-study, and loans included.
It’s important to note that international students do not qualify for federal aid — but you can use FAFSA to apply for college aid. Of course, this depends on your institution’s offerings, so you should check with the financial aid office before filling out the form. Each state has its own deadline, and admissions for the 2021-22 year have closed. However, colleges often have their own deadline, too.
Former US First Lady Michelle Obama stands with students as they hold up the FAFSA during a 2014 workshop. International students may use this form too. Source: Saul Loeb/AFP
With that being said, applying for FAFSA has yet to become a norm for international students. In 2019, the “Nudging at Scale: Experimental Evidence From FAFSA Completion Campaigns” study found that international students are put off by the complex submission process. We’ll tell you how to make it easier.