International Students

Considerations for International Students

• • International students should have 15-30 colleges on their list. ~20 colleges is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind. However, the more schools an international student can apply to, the better the odds of being accepted at an affordable option.

    • Anecdotally, several CollegePoint coaches have had international students apply to upwards of 30 colleges in the past and only gain acceptance to 1 or 2 affordable options.

    • The schools with the highest acceptances rates that tend to meet a high percentage of need do tend to be small liberal arts colleges. Even if they are not your favorite, they are the most likely to be affordable.

  • Make sure to consider state policy when working with the student to build their list. There are some states that consider international students as in-state residents. (You will have to look this up because we do not have a resource that is inclusive to all states at this time. Some colleges we’ve seen follow this policy are the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina.) If the student is considered an in-state resident & eligible for financial aid in their home state, they should put multiple public colleges on their list. These are likely to be their most affordable option if they get in.

  • While it is important to have likely and match schools, 3 likely schools and 6 matches, reach schools are the most likely to offer good aid so it is smart to apply to many reach schools.

  • Some schools that consider themselves test-optional schools are not test-optional for international students, so make sure you look into this when considering a school

  • For those who are eligible, it is strongly recommended that you consider women’s colleges -- they tend to have higher acceptance rates and give generously to international students. Many women’s colleges are part of a college consortium or located in places with high student populations.

  • Additionally, make sure to submit all applications before the priority aid deadline -- this will qualify the student for merit scholarships (if applicable) and the most financial aid possible. Additionally, make sure to regularly check in with the financial aid offices, so that all forms are in the correct format and submitted on time.

Useful Resources

• • Spreadsheet detailing aid & average cost for international students (CAC resource)

  • Map of schools with filters regarding international status (CAC resource)

    • These resources were made by a College Advising Corps coach, so I cannot vouch for full accuracy or where the data is coming from, but these resources are incredibly useful for for finding good options for international students based on: percentage of aid international students receive, percentage of international students at the institution, and average net cost for international students.

School Suggestions

Small liberal arts colleges with higher acceptance rates tend to be some of the best options for international students looking for “match” schools, but there are definitely other other options out there. However, most of the schools spotlighted are small liberal arts colleges. Additionally, please note that these are not necessarily the very best schools for international students, but most of these options are schools that provide solid support of low- to moderate-income international students without being overly selective colleges.