@jarnkrok, I think there are a lot of misconceptions about need-based aid for internationals. First, whether a school is need-blind or need-aware is not the most important issue. Many, many need-aware schools offer generous need-based aid to internationals, even though they consider the applicants’ need for financial when they review their applications. Conversely, admissions committees at need-blind schools are not completely “blind.” There are multiple background clues in an application to indicate an applicant’s economic status and aid funds are budgeted, just as they are at need-aware schools.
The important statement to look for is “guarantees to meet full demonstrated need” which means that if you are admitted you will get enough aid to cover the total cost of attendance minus the amount that the financial aid office thinks your family should be able to pay, based on financial information you provide.
For internationals, calculating estimated family contribution is imprecise and inconsistent. Income and cost of living levels, especially n developing countries, vary widely and currency fluctuations and tax laws can obscure economic status. But my observation has been if you are a low or middle income family, and you are admitted to a “full-need” school your chance of getting sufficient need-based aid is good.
These are some colleges that guarantee to meet full need. This list is not comprehensive; it doesn’t cover all full-need schools, but it gives a picture of the range of choices.
Amherst, Brown, Chicago, Colby, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Grinnell, Hamilton, Harvard, JHU, MIT, Macalester, Middlebury, Penn, Pitzer, Pomona, Princeton, Richmond, Rhodes, Stanford, Swarthmore, Vanderbilt, Vassar, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Williams