Financial aid guide
Scholarships: what’s real, what isn’t, and where to verify
We don’t sell dreams. In the US, aid is mostly institutional (merit / need) and depends on your application. Below we summarize types and link to official sites and our blog guides. For school-level figures, use the universities area.
No commission · cited data · international focus
What are scholarships / financial aid?
At US colleges, “scholarship” and “financial aid” usually mean support that reduces tuition and sometimes room & board. Sources can be the institution, the government (mostly US citizens / eligible noncitizens), or third parties. For international students, institutional merit or need-based review is most common; federal FAFSA is closed to most noncitizens — verify exceptions on official sources.
Types of aid (simple frame)
Merit: Based on grades, tests, portfolio, etc.; income disclosure not always required. Amounts vary by school.
Need: Family ability to pay is assessed; CSS Profile or school forms may be required. More common at selective privates.
Both: In our dataset, marks schools where both merit and need channels matter; requirements still vary by school.
Who might it fit?
Strong academic profile → merit or competitive scholarship potential (per school policy).
Limited ability to pay, strong file → need-based review (especially at private liberal arts–type schools).
International students → mostly institutional packages; “full ride” is rare and competitive — plan realistically.
How do you apply?
Flows differ by school. Typical steps are below; use our blog posts together with each university’s official financial aid page.
- 1
Complete your application via the admissions portal (e.g. Common App).
- 2
If required, submit extra financial forms (e.g. CSS Profile, school-specific forms).
- 3
If eligible, federal FAFSA — only for eligible statuses; details at studentaid.gov
- 4
Read your financial aid letter for your package; appeal or extra-document windows vary by school.
Guides worth reading
Short, process-first posts — full articles on the blog.
Verifiable sources
Trusted official & institutional sources
These are not third-party “guarantee” sites; most are direct government or established organizations. They open in a new tab.
FAFSA® (Federal Student Aid)
studentaid.gov
Federal application for US citizens and eligible noncitizens. Most international students are not FAFSA-eligible — confirm on your school’s site.
Visit site →CSS Profile™
College Board
College Board form used by many private colleges for need-based aid. Fees and waivers are on the official site.
Visit site →BigFuture — Scholarship search
College Board
College Board’s free scholarship search tool (filters and eligibility on their site).
Visit site →EducationUSA
U.S. Department of State
Official US State Department–affiliated advising network; reliable process overview and country offices.
Visit site →IIE (Institute of International Education)
IIE
Institutional information on international education and scholarship-style programs.
Visit site →Federal Student Aid — overview
studentaid.gov
Official description of federal aid types such as grants, loans, and work-study.
Visit site →