Financial Aid for International Students

Which liberal arts colleges are most generous to international students (attending an international HS) in terms of FA and covering the full cost of tuition?

→ Also, is Pomona College need-blind, and do they meet full cost for intl. students from non-US HS?

Not for international. The only LAC’s that are Need-Blind and meet full demonstrated need for international are Amherst and Bowdoin.

They meet full demonstrated need

1 Like

Pomona is need aware for international students IIRC.

Are you looking for full tuition only, or full cost of attendance including room, board, expenses and transportation?

I will add that attending an international school has absolutely no bearing on the awarding of need based aid. Need based aid is awarded based on your family financials, not your high school of attendance.

2 Likes

The ideal scenario would be full cost of attendance (including room, board, transportation, etc), but the goal is ultimate goal is full tuition.

Here is the relevant Pomona financial aid page for internationals. You have to search on each school’s website fo find what their policy is.

Posters can help you more if you tell us your budget (which I asked on the other thread). Can your parents contribute anything to your college education? Beyond what the school costs, you will have additional expenses such as travel, mandatory health insurance, and incidentals.

1 Like

I think my parents’ contribution will be quite minimal, and they are definitely not able to cover much in terms of tuition.

I suggest reading Pomona’s site. Also realize that meeting full demonstrated need means need as they define it.

ETA: oops, I cross posted with others :smiley:

Any chance your SAT/ACT score and GPA would get your a merit scholarship at some places. University of Alabama and University of New Mexico are two places I believe offer automatic merit aid to internationals based on stats.

Not sure what others offer significant guaranteed aid to international students.

What can your family actually contribute annually…because that could steer this narrative.

Please also look at affordable options in your home country.

3 Likes

Ok, that’s helpful info.

Just note that US colleges will charge tuition, as well as room and board. Just to stick with Pomona here are their costs:

Tuition: $58.8K
Room and board: $19.4K

So it sounds like you need a full ride, not just full tuition, correct?

You will also have additional expenses beyond room and board, including books and incidentals. How will you afford travel to and from the US? Many schools will also expect you to pay for mandatory health insurance which is typically $2K-$3K per year (some of the most generous schools will cover this cost).

Absolutely do research on US colleges, but do just as much research on finding a school/schools in your home country, or elsewhere, that offer highly likely admission and is/are affordable.

7 Likes