FAFSA for Americans Studying Abroad

What is FAFSA?

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it's the official form US students (and eligible non-citizens) fill out to apply for financial aid for college or university.

The form calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI) to determine how much aid you can get.

When you submit the FAFSA, you're applying for:

• Federal grants
• Federal student loans
• Work-study programs
• Some scholarships and state/institutional aid

Do you have to fill out FAFSA every year?

Yes.

You have to fill out the FAFSA for every year you want to receive financial aid because:

• Your financial situation might change
• Schools and federal/state programs use your most recent FAFSA to calculate your eligibility
• Some types of aid require yearly confirmation

Are you eligible for FAFSA?

💡Did you know? 49% of undergraduates don't know they're eligible for FAFSA, according to a recent survey.

Who is eligible for financial aid to study abroad?

FAFSA is open to:

• Domestic students (US citizens and eligible noncitizens)
• US citizens and eligible noncitizens who want to study abroad

Is it possible to receive aid to attend any international university?

No.

If you're studying for a full degree, you're only eligible to apply for aid if the university you're applying to participates in the federal student loan programs.

You can see our full list of FAFSA-eligible schools abroad.

Are there any FAFSA income limits?

FAFSA doesn't have a strict income cutoff, whether you're studying in the US or abroad.

That said, your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) (now called the Student Aid Index) determines how much need-based aid you can get.

What salary is too high for FAFSA?

There's no exact number, but families earning over $100,000–125,000/year generally may not qualify for federal need-based aid like Pell Grants.

💡 Even if your family earnings are "too high", we still recommend you fill out the FAFSA form, as you may qualify for other types of aid (for example, certain merit-based funding options require a FAFSA application).

Eligible vs deferment-only universities

There are hundreds of international universities and colleges that participate in US federal student aid programs.

• 'Eligible' schools that allow students to pay for tuition and fees with federal student loans.
• 'Deferment-only' schools that only allow students to defer payment on existing student loans.

👉 See our full list of FAFSA-eligible schools.

Does it matter if I'm only studying on an exchange or if I'm studying a full program?

American citizens are eligible for financial aid to assist with the costs, regardless of whether they have chosen to study abroad for only one semester or an entire program.

However, there are minor differences you may need to consider:

• If you're studying a full degree program abroad, you need to list the specific school you have been accepted to directly on your application, assuming that the school participates in the student loan program.
• If you're studying abroad through an American university, you'll usually list only that university on your application. The financial aid office at your home university will be able to answer more specific questions about how your financial aid can be used to cover the costs of studying abroad.

In both cases, the form you must fill out is the same for all students.

What funding is available to me?

As an undergraduate, you can receive funding through a Direct Subsidized Loan or a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Because international schools cannot participate in the US Department of Education's grant programs, students studying a full degree program at an international university are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.

If federal student aid cannot cover the full costs, you may also want to consider taking out a private loan.

After applying

I filled out my FAFSA. Now what?

Once you have completed your FAFSA, you'll need to consult your specific school on how to proceed.

Most often, schools receive money directly from the US Treasury to cover the cost of tuition.

If funds remain, your school may choose to deposit them in your student account or return the balance to you directly.

How long does FAFSA take to process?

​The processing time for your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) depends on the submission method:​

• Online submission: Typically processed within 1 to 3 days.
• Paper submission: Generally processed within 7 to 10 days.

Once your submission is processed, you'll receive a FAFSA Submission Summary, which outlines the information you provided and your Student Aid Index (SAI). This summary is crucial for determining your eligibility for federal student aid.

Is there anything I should know as a prospective graduate student?

As you may know from your undergraduate studies, not every university participates in a federal student loan program.

Furthermore, not every university allows you to defer your past student loans while you continue your studies. Check in advance to see if studying at a specific university will grant you eligibility to defer loans if you cannot make payments while studying.