International Students Applying for Aid
Students who are NOT U.S. citizens nor U.S. permanent residents are NOT eligible to receive U.S. federal student educational loans, and therefore such students do not need to complete a FAFSA. (Note: exceptions to this policy are listed below after the asterisk*. ) However, there are loan options available for international students. There are several private (non-federal) educational loans allow application by such students if they obtain a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident co-signer. The co-signer must supply a U.S. social security number, have a satisfactory credit history, and demonstrate sufficient current income to repay credit obligations (including the educational loan). The student applicant also should provide a U.S. social security number if possible. With a creditworthy co-signer, a student can borrow up to the Cost of Attendance. Tulane determines the borrower's maximum loan eligibility based on the Cost of Attendance for the 2008-2009 academic year, less any other financial aid received. The interest rates are variable. For more details on these private commercial education loans please visit the Alternative loan section of our website. At this time we are aware of one private educational loan program that international students may be eligible to receive without having a cosigner. The Access Group Comprehensive Access Loan is available to international students who have at least a minimum credit bureau score and have three years of established U.S. credit history in their name, including at least four non-student loan trades, one of which has been open for 36 months. For more information on this loan program, please visit the Access Group's website: http://www.accessgroup.org , or phone them at 800.282.1550. Additional helpful information for international students may be found at the following web address: http://www.edupass.org/finaid/ .
* Eligible Noncitizen:
"You must be one of the following to receive federal student aid:
• U.S. citizen
• U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain’s Island)
• U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C (Permanent
Resident Card)
If you’re not in one of these categories, you must have an Arrival-Departure Record
(I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing one of the
following designations:
• “Refugee”
• “Asylum Granted”
• “Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending”
• “Conditional Entrant” (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
• Victims of human trafficking, T-visa (T-2, T-3, or T-4, etc.) holder
• “Parolee” (You must be paroled into the United States for at least one year
and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in
the United States for other than a temporary purpose and that you intend to
become a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.)
If you have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464),
you’re not eligible for federal student financial aid.
If you’re in the United States on certain visas, including an F1 or F2 student visa, or a J1
or J2 exchange visitor visa, you’re not eligible for federal student financial aid.
Also, people with G series visas (pertaining to international organizations) are not eligible
for federal student financial aid. For more information about other types of visas that
are not acceptable, check with your school’s financial aid office. Citizens and eligible
noncitizens may receive loans from the FFEL Program at participating foreign schools.
Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and
the Republic of Palau are eligible only for certain types of federal student aid. These
applicants should check with their schools’ financial aid office for more information."
Source: The Guide to Federal Student Aid , http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html
Undergraduate Students- Tulane Need Based Aid:
While international students do not qualify for student financial assistance from the United States Department of Education, such students may be considered for Tulane institutional need-based scholarship funds. Tulane requires that all need-based scholarship recipients, including international students, must maintain full-time enrollment (12 credit hours or more) each semester in a full-time division (Newcomb- Tulane College, School of Architecture, School of Science and Engineering, School of Liberal Arts, Freeman School of Business.) For 2008-2009, full-time division entering undergraduate international students may receive up to a maximum of $18,000 in Tulane Need-Based Scholarship annually depending on their family's level of financial need. Students receiving a merit or athletic scholarship in excess of the maximum are not eligible for Tulane Need-Based Scholarship. An international student's remaining financial need must be funded by the student's family or from other resources. International students may wish to consider borrowing private/alternative loans (as described above) to help finance their education. Students who reside in a country other than the United States or students whose family income is paid in the currency of another country must complete the College Board 2008-2009 International Student Financial Aid Application if they wish to be considered for Tulane need-based scholarship funds. Incoming students should mail the completed form directly to the Tulane University Office of Financial Aid by March 15, 2008. Returning students must submit the completed form by May 1, 2008. Students who reside in the United States or students whose family income is received in U. S. dollars should follow the application procedures described in Undergraduate Students Applying for Aid.
Graduate Students: Institutional aid, such as scholarships or fellowships aid is offered directly from the Graduate Schools. Interested applicants should contact the schools directly for more information.
Last Updated: April 28, 2008