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Education in USA

Funding the education

Calculating and Assessing the expenses
Identifying sources of financial assistance
Ways to reduce Education cost
Financial Aid search

Calculating and Assessing the expenses [Top]

Normally, most of the students who come for undergraduate studies are funded by either private funds or scholarships. There is limited financial or scholarship aid available from U.S. institutions for undergrad students from other countries. For higher studies you can get scholarships and financial aids from various resources.

More than 60% of the foreign students in the U.S.A. pay for their education themselves. It's estimated that another 15% receive financial aid from their governments.

If you need financial aid in order to study in the U.S.A., you should first find out if you can obtain funding in India itself. Check with the government, your parents' employers, or clubs and religious organizations.

If you cannot obtain aid from these sources, then write to the schools that interest you. Ask for an application for financial aid. However, it is not likely that you will get a scholarship, especially if you are an undergraduate.

When you apply for a student visa, you will need to show evidence of support adequate to cover study and living expenses for at least one academic year. (An academic year usually lasts nine months.)

Suggested guidelines that you can follow while evaluating and calculating your expenses

Identifying sources of financial assistance [Top]

Family funds, Personal funds : Consult your parents and other family sponsors to find out how much money they can commit each year to your education. Assess your own savings (if any).

Government scholarships, school scholarships, loans: Conduct research at home to find possible funding from local government, corporate, or foundation sources. Although these sources are not found in all countries, you could reduce your educational cost with scholarships from local organizations.

Find out from school management whether or not they have any scholarships for funding your higher education in the US. Usually, even institutions don't fund the full education and mostly, for such kind of scholarships you have to be an outstanding student in academics/sports/or some field.

In limited instances, you may be able to negotiate a loan to fund part of your educational costs. Your educational adviser may have information on loan programs for which you may be eligible. You must usually have a U.S. citizen co-signer to act as a guarantor for any loans from U.S. loan programs, and in most cases you must already be enrolled in a U.S. university before you apply. Before taking a loan, make certain you know how you are going to repay it, and how a loan will affect your plans for graduate or other further study and for returning home.

Funding from the US school: Less than half of the institutions offering bachelor's degrees can provide financial assistance to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Keep in mind that financial aid for U.S. students is separate from financial aid for international students. Be sure to tell the admissions office your country of citizenship and request information on financial aid available to non-U.S. citizens If offered, financial aid is usually made up of a number of different types of assistance, including grants and scholarships and occasionally loans or part-time work programs.

You will discover that financial aid is very rare at state, or public, colleges and at colleges that offer professional courses such as engineering, business administration, and health professions. More financial aid may be available from the private liberal arts colleges, which offer the arts and science subjects.

International students often ask advisers about full scholarships, which cover all the costs of education except for airfare. To get a full scholarship, you must be one of the top students in India in your field.

Employment: Current immigration regulations permit international students to work only part-time � up to 20 hours per week � and only on campus during their first year of study. By working 10 to 15 hours a week, you could earn enough to pay for incidentals such as books, clothing, and personal expenses, but your campus job cannot pay your major expenses, such as tuition or room and board. This income also cannot be used as a source of income for any official financial statements. Campus jobs may include working at the university's cafeteria, bookstore, library, or health club, or within the university's administrative offices.

After the first year, you can also apply for employment as a resident assistant (RA) in a university dormitory or Teaching assistantship (TA) . RAs serve as the first point of contact for students needing assistance or who have queries regarding dorm life. In return, RAs receive free accommodation and sometimes a small salary and/or meal plan.

Under current regulations, after your first year of study, you may apply to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for permission to work off campus for up to 20 hours a week. You should note, however, that there is no guarantee that this request will be granted. If you are married and are in the United States on an F-1 student visa (see chapter 11), your spouse does not have permission to work. However, if you are in the United States on a J-1 student visa, your spouse is allowed to request a temporary work permit.

You should always check with your Indian or International student Association before considering any form of employment. More information is available in Predeparture Information.

Ways to reduce Education cost [Top]

When planning your finances, consider these ways to reduce your costs:

Balancing quality & Cost: Look for the colleges that offer you the highest quality education at the lowest cost. Also, see finding the right school.

Accelerated Programs: Completing a four-year bachelor's degree in three years saves thousands of dollars. Students can accelerate their programs by: earning transfer credit or advanced standing for college-level studies completed in the home country (for example through A-levels, International Baccalaureate, advanced placement exams, or courses taken at local accredited postsecondary institutions in your country, if accepted by the U.S. institution); taking courses at a nearby community college if tuition is lower and credits are transferable; attending classes during the summer if they are available;
taking one additional course each semester.

Tuition Waivers: Based on your first-year grades, some colleges award partial tuition waivers. A superior academic record could save you thousands of dollars.

Living Expenses: Becoming a resident assistant in a dormitory could save thousands of dollars in living costs. Working in the dining hall offers a modest salary plus "all you can eat" meals. Living off campus with a relative or friend saves money if suitable accommodation is available and public transport is efficient.

Two-year and Community Colleges: Many students save thousands of dollars in tuition by attending community colleges for their first two years and then transferring to four-year institutions to complete their degree.

Financial Aid Search [Top]

Listed are some of the websites which provide scholarship and financial aids for international students -

Scholarships for Indian Students

Financial aid for international student

Fulbright scholarship

International student loan

Scholarship search

American Indian Scholarships

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