How generous (FA) Swarthmore is to International students?

<p>I used several EFC calculators on the internet (idk whether they are accurate enough) and all the figures are below $5,000. Will Swarthmore give me full FA (I am an international student) if I am good enough? Is it very difficult? Thanks.</p>

<p>If you are good enough, then Swat will give you the aid you need. Just remember, “good enough” for Swat means you have to be God-like.</p>

<p>Keep your hopes up. Best of luck!</p>

<p>According to Swarthmore’s common data set, last year 56 foreign students received need-based financial aid, with the average aid amount of $42,729.</p>

<p>Swarthmore does not necessarily provide financial aid to all international students who have need, and does not guarantee to meet full need of international students. Given the budget impact of the decline in the college’s endowment, I would expect that Swarthmore will continue to offer financial aid to some, but not all, international students who have financial need.</p>

<p>Here’s what Swarthmore’s website says about financial aid for international students:</p>

<p>Does Swarthmore College offer financial aid to students who are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. permanent residents?</p>

<pre><code>Yes. Although the College’s funds for foreign national students are limited to about $2 million, we are able to offer financial aid to 20 prospective students each year.
</code></pre>

<p>On what basis is financial aid awarded?</p>

<pre><code>Your academic credentials and personal accomplishments will influence the College’s admission decisions but our financial aid decision is offered to students on the basis of their demonstrated financial needs only. Our review of your family’s financial statements will guide our decision. Family income, assets, tax liabilities, family size, etc. and standard living expenses will influence our decision.
</code></pre>

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Are there any international CCers who received full FA? Could you post your stats so that I can see what “God-like” is like?</p>

<p>It will be harder for you to get accepted as international student needing a lot of FA, because Swarthmore is not need-blind for internationals (this means, needing FA will work against you in admissions).
However, I believe that if they do accept you at the end, they will give you the aid you need to make it possible for you to attend.</p>

<p>happysunnyshine – Swarthmore doesn’t give merit aid except in a tiny number of cases which almost certainly don’t apply to you. This means that, if you are accepted, your stats don’t impact your aid package at all.</p>

<p>If all the aid calculators are saying $5,000 … you might get a bit over that based on the details of your financial situation, but I wouldn’t expect an enormous amount more.</p>

<p>The standard EFC calculators are designed for U.S. students and their families. I’m not at all sure that they will provide accurate estimates of EFCs for international students.</p>