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The numbers of international scholars applying for the US are at large but the sources of financial aid are not enough. There is a small financial aid available from US sources for international students. This is the reason many international students rely on themselves or their parents or kin for education expenditure. Mentioned below are some of the best options you can find to fund your education in US.

Aid from your home country

Your own country is the one of the apt sources for financial aid for education in US. You can contact your nearest educational advising center that may contain the information about the local sources of support. Your country Government may also be a good financial help but it requires you to return at home once you are finished with your education. For this, you need to contact the cultural section of your embassy or the ministry of education to gain more information. You may also try some private organizations (businesses, foundations and religious groups) in your country that may offer financial aid for your education.

Aid from International organizations

For financial aid the more stress is given to look with in your country but if you are already in the US then it becomes impossible to seek help from your country. There are some international organizations that provide funding to the graduates for studying in the US universities. They are- the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS), AMIDEAST, the International Maritime Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, the League of Red Cross Societies, the Soros Foundation, the World health Organization (WHO) and the World Council of Churches. Its competitive to get these awards, every year approximately 4,700 graduate scholars are awarded Fullbright scholarships.

The applicants are required to appear for TOEFL, GRE or GMAT exams. Fullbright students are required to be on J-1 visas during the period of their sponsorship. To obtain information on applying the Fullbright Program in your country, you can contact US embassy or consulate. Education USA, operated by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State keeps information on studying in the US and the Fullbright program.

Aid from the US Government

There are some US Government student assistance programs including the Pell Grant, Stafford and PLUS loans and work study programs but they are not meant for international students. Though there might be some aid available from the US government for the specific countries’ students. The best way to find out whether there is any financial help by the US government for students of your country is to get in touch with your embassy, the US Department of State and EducationUSA.

Aid from US educational institutions

The financial aid for international graduate students is higher than international under-graduates. There are direct exchange programs of some US schools with their counterparts in foreign countries and some of these exchange programs also include financial aid for the international student. Students who wish to enroll in a graduate or postdoctoral program in the US can contact the colleges that match with their capabilities. However, there is no financial help available for English as a Second language courses, therefore, you must qualify TOEFL with at-least 550 scores so that you are qualified for aid. Students who have already enrolled in a US college should visit the International Student Advisor, Financial Aid Office and Career Planning and Placement Office for information about financial aid.

Take help from your family

More than 2/3 of international scholars depend on their own resources and the resources of their family for financing their education in the US, according to NAFSA. The study by the IIE revealed that 81% of international under-graduate students were dependent and 48% of international graduates were dependent on their own resources and their family’s resources to study in the US. It also came out in the study that 7%of undergraduate international students received financial aid from the school and 5% from their home government and 5% from private organizations.