Navigating Financial Aid for International Students
"Bryn Mawr is a global community where 13% of undergraduates are non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents."
"Bryn Mawr is a global community where 13% of undergraduates are non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents."
Below, Financial Aid Counselor Shailaja Velamuri shares her tips on the financial aid process for international students.
What types of financial aid are available to international students?
- Institutional Grants: These are need-based funds provided by the College and need not be repaid.
- Health Insurance Grant: Per our current policy, we require all our international students to sign on to the College’s health insurance plan. This cost is covered by Bryn Mawr in the form of a Health Insurance Grant.
- Campus Employment: On-campus employment opportunities are available to all students. The Office of International Student & Scholar Advising will help you complete the necessary paperwork and ensure you meet the requirements for legal employment while in the United States. Any wages earned are paid directly to you, and you can decide how to use them, whether for personal expenses or to help offset your educational costs.
- International Loan: The College offers an international loan of up to $5,500 each year to eligible students. This is an interest-bearing loan and must be repaid. You may choose to accept/reduce/decline the loan on your award.
- Private Alternative Loans: If you need additional funding after utilizing other available resources, you may be eligible to apply for a private loan through a U.S. lender. Keep in mind that most lenders require additional documentation and a cosigner. A cosigner is generally a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living in the United States who has an established and favorable credit score.
What financial aid forms or documents do international students need to submit?
International students are required to submit the CSS Profile, and your financial aid counselor may request additional documentation during the review process. These documents will be added to the checklist on your applicant portal, so we encourage you to monitor your financial aid checklist periodically.
Currently, we do not accept any other form in lieu of the CSS Profile.
What are the key deadlines international students should be aware of?
The office of Financial Aid is committed to providing financial aid awards to all admitted students who submitted the requested documents by the deadline.
For Early Decision I, the deadline is November 15, 2026.
For Early Decision II, the deadline is January 1, 2026.
For Regular Decision, the deadline is January 15, 2026.
What are some common mistakes applicants make when completing their financial aid forms—and how can they avoid them?
On the CSS Profile, the data should be reported in the currency of your home country, not in US dollars.
It is often difficult to submit corrections to the CSS Profile. So, it is good practice to give yourself enough time to complete each section on the Profile, save the data, get your parents/guardian to review it, and then submit.
What’s the biggest misconception about financial aid for international students?
The idea that international students pay the full sticker price to attend college in the US – this is not true at Bryn Mawr. In 2026, the average need-based aid awarded to admitted international students was over $53,000 per year!
"Bryn Mawr evaluates eligibility for financial aid during the first year, and the family contribution remains the same for all 4 years. "
What makes Bryn Mawr’s financial aid process unique compared to other U.S. liberal arts colleges?
Bryn Mawr evaluates eligibility for financial aid during the first year, and the family contribution remains the same for all 4 years. Any increase in costs over the years is adjusted by grant funding. This makes it easier for families to plan and budget to fund all 4 years of education.
Bryn Mawr also covers the cost of health insurance each year through a Health Insurance Grant, which is provided at no cost to the student and does not need to be paid back.
What if I need a CSS Profile Fee Waiver?
If you are applying for institutional aid, you can apply for a CSS Profile fee waiver through a form available in the Financial Aid section of your applicant portal. The Office of Financial Aid will review your request and notify you if you are eligible for a fee waiver by email within 7–10 business days. To ensure your request is reviewed before application deadlines, we recommend submitting the form as early as possible. Because applicants are limited to one fee waiver request, please verify that all information is accurate before submitting. We also require you to submit all admissions materials on your checklist before requesting a fee waiver.
Applying as an International Student?
Click the button below to learn more about applying to Bryn Mawr as an international student.