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International Student

Study in the United States is a serious undertaking. To decide if it is the best option for you, consider carefully how it will fit into your long-term educational and professional plans.


Define your Goals

Studying in the United States is not an end unto itself. Students pursue higher education, in their home country or abroad, because the experience will help them achieve their professional and personal goals. Those goals may include professional advancement, a higher-paying job, or a greater appreciation and knowledge of the world.


Culture Shock

Living in the United States while pursuing your educational goals is much different from visiting the country for a few weeks or months as a tourist. Consider how living in a new country and a new culture might affect you, and the readjustments you may need to make upon your return home. It's also wise to think about how the move will impact you as well as your family.


Financial Aid Eligibilty

Most foreign citizens are not eligible for federal student aid. There are, however, some instances in which non-citizens may be eligible for financial aid from the U.S. federal government.


Money Matters

When considering the cost of U.S. education, include the costs of tuition, living expenses, books, and other items. Tuition varies widely from school to school, but it is usually always the largest single cost an international student faces. A community college may have a yearly tuition of $2,000; a highly selective private university may have a yearly tuition of $28,000. Sources of financial aid available to international students at the undergraduate level are limited and highly competitive.

Click here and scroll down to "Immigration, Visa and Financial Aid Issues" to access a list of American schools that provide aid to international students. Please note that this list is not guaranteed to be comprehensive and does not imply endorsement of these schools by the list's creator or by the U.S. Department of Education.


Getting Started

Attending school in the United States can require a variety of examinations, language requirements and visas. Click here for more information on requirements you need to meet before embarking on education in the U.S.


Americans Abroad

For U.S. citizens who are currently living outside the United States but who are interested in attending school in the U.S., the financial aid application process is the same as for resident citizens.

Last updated/reviewed June 20, 2008

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