International Students
International Student Financial Assistance
International students are a vital part of the St. Olaf community. Here at St. Olaf, the Financial Aid Office is committed to helping all students as much as possible in reaching their academic goals. St. Olaf offers no full scholarships and, at the most, assistance is limited to half of the tuition for international students. St. Olaf does offer a limited number of scholarships to those students who show financial need and exemplary achievement in their academic studies as well as participation outside of the classroom. For any questions regarding international student financial assistance or international admissions, please email the Admissions Office at admissions@stolaf.edu.
To apply for financial aid, contact the Admissions Office for an International Student Financial Aid Application. You will also need to fill out an International Student Certification of Finance Form which will be sent to applicants by the St. Olaf Admissions Office. The International Student Certification of Finance Form is required for issuance of a student VISA.
If you are an American living overseas or have dual citizenship with the United States, please refer to the "domestic" student financial aid website.
Planning Your Expenditures
There are many costs to keep in mind while contemplating studying abroad. This page includes a few of the major costs of studying abroad, and suggestions on what you should do to prepare for financing your education. The amounts listed are for illustration and actual cost for subsequent years will be higher.
Tuition: $34,300
Room and Board: $7,900
Total: $42,200
Health Insurance, Books and Misc.: $2,500 (est.)
Total: $44,700
Travel.
You should also keep in mind the costs of travel to your home and back, travel within the United States, phone bills, and summer activities.
Health insurance.
Health Insurance should be a priority while living in the United States and quality medical coverage is a must. If you are in need of health insurance, we suggest that you look at the International Insurance web-site to gain more information.
Sources of Aid
Your Government:
Often the best source of aid for international students is their country of origin. Check with your local government agencies to see if they possess educational funding budgets. These programs often require you to return to your home country and work in some faculty there. Contact the cultural section of your embassy or your ministry of education for more information (there are many awards which require you to be nominated by your government).
International Organizations:
There may be a few private scholarships for international students. Many of these scholarships require that you apply from within your home country and you may not be eligible if you are already living in the United States.
The U.S. Government:
International students are not eligible for U.S. government loan plans, grants, or work-study programs. However in a few cases (depending on your country of origin) the U.S. government may offer some financial assistance. You should check with the U.S. State department to see if there are any programs at this time.
Links to additional International Student Information
- http://www.edupass.org/finaid
- EduPASS Student Guide to Studying in America.
- http://www.iie.org
- IIE: Comprehensive Guide on Information for International Student Options.
- http://www.finaid.org
- Finaid: Financial Aid for International Students.
- http://www.iefa.org
- The International Education Financial Aid Web Site: Scholarships and Grants for Study in the United States and Abroad.
