International students who choose to study at colleges in the United States still encounter significant expenses. Tuition fees, housing costs, meal plans, books, travel, and visa charges all contribute to a heavy financial load. These students cannot access federal financial aid programs available to domestic students. They often depend on support from their institutions to handle these costs.
Private Colleges Provide Major Financial Support
Many private colleges and universities offer large financial aid packages to attract students from overseas. According to data from US News, the average financial aid award for international students reached $25,109 across 823 schools for the 2024-2025 academic year. This figure comes from the publication's annual survey of undergraduate institutions.
Top Schools Triple the National Average
The top 20 institutions identified by US News gave much higher amounts. Their average award soared to $84,434, more than three times the national average. Wesleyan University in Connecticut topped the list. It provided an average of $90,106 to 108 international students.
US News emphasized that generous institutional grants play a critical role in international enrollment strategies. Most colleges on this list are located along the East Coast. Massachusetts hosted five institutions, while New York had three. Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island each featured two schools. Only three colleges came from California: Stanford University, Pomona College, and the California Institute of Technology.
Rankings and Resources Influence Aid
US News noted that 16 of the 20 institutions ranked within the top 20 of their categories. These categories include National Universities and National Liberal Arts Colleges. Financial resources per student account for eight percent of the Best Colleges ranking methodology.
While aid itself is not a direct ranking factor, well-resourced institutions often have better capacity to support international students financially. All 20 institutions are private. Their tuition and fees range from $65,960 to $74,550.
Colleges with Highest Average Aid
The table below summarizes colleges offering the highest average institutional and grant aid for international undergraduates:
- Wesleyan University (Connecticut) - $90,106
- Williams College (Massachusetts) - $88,446
- Duke University (North Carolina) - $88,274
- Wellesley College (Massachusetts) - $88,095
- Haverford College (Pennsylvania) - $87,516
- Pomona College (California) - $86,921
- Vassar College (New York) - $86,258
- Stanford University (California) - $84,900
- Cornell University (New York) - $84,351
- Dartmouth College (New Hampshire) - $84,167
- Yale University (Connecticut) - $83,878
- Smith College (Massachusetts) - $83,285
- California Institute of Technology (California) - $82,706
- Amherst College (Massachusetts) - $82,631
- Providence College (Rhode Island) - $82,404
- Brown University (Rhode Island) - $82,269
- Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania) - $81,228
- Colby College (Maine) - $80,868
- Colgate University (New York) - $80,288
- Tufts University (Massachusetts) - $80,079
US News compiled this list.
Public Universities Show Different Patterns
Public institutions display different trends in financial aid for international students. The University of Vermont awarded the highest average aid among public schools. It provided $39,655 to 119 international students.
Auburn University offered a lower average of $11,134. However, it supported 5,807 students, the highest number recorded. US News described this contrast as reflecting scale rather than generosity. The publication quoted figures to highlight this point.
International students continue to navigate high costs when studying in the US. Private colleges lead in providing substantial financial aid. Top institutions offer awards that far exceed national averages. This support plays a key role in attracting students from abroad.
