How does an international student pay for their education?

14 comments

1. International students are not eligible for US government student aid or loans.

   In my experience international students in the US usually fall into one of two categories. The ones with rich parents, and the ones who manage to get into one of the few universities (mostly very prestigious ones) that offer significant financial aid for international students.

   Tuition at the US colleges I attended was due before the start of each semester. No, you can’t wait to pay until the end of the semester – you would be kicked out or at a bare minimum, barred from re-enrolling for the next semester until you paid your entire balance in full. You *certainly* can’t wait until you graduate – you’re talking about a student loan there!

2. Generally either they have support from their home country, or are paying for everything upfront.

3. Paging our resident international student experience expert u/CupBeEmpty

4. I don’t think international students qualify for US government financial aid. There are grants and scholarships available though. Also a lot of intentional students are just from wealthy families who are paying full price.

5. You pay BEFORE each term. They cannot take out loans from the US government. Typically their parents have money and they just pay for it.

6. I’m still trying to figure out how american kids pay for their education

7. Rich parents usually. That’s why Universities like international students.. they pay the full bill and in cash.

   One of my best friends is a professor and he’s told me it’s not to uncommon for an entire village pay for one member come to receive an education.

8. Not mentioned is going to community college first. Still expensive but not as much as other options.

9. I can’t speak for other nationals, but I know that the Saudi students at my university have their tuition paid for by their govt.

10. They’re rich or have scholarships or their parents just busted their ass to pay for their education. I studied in the UK and fell into the latter

11. I dont believe the government gives out any loans. They are private.

12. My Saudi roommate got paid from his government to be here

13. And making her debut at the Scarlet Lace, give it up for Svetlanaaaaaaa

14. I went to school with a girl and her parents/grandparents scraped and saved to send her and in return, she had to pay for her younger sibling’s school after she was done. I lost touch with her after we graduated so I don’t know how that worked out.