Top 20 US Universities with Largest Financial Aid for International Students

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Top U.S. Universities Offer Generous Financial Aid to International Students

A recent survey by U.S. News & World Report highlights the significant financial support available to international students at some of the most generous U.S. universities. The data reveals that, on average, international students at these institutions can receive between $80,100 and $90,100 in financial aid over the course of their studies.

According to the annual survey of 823 universities, the average financial aid for international students during the 2024-2025 academic year was approximately $25,100. However, among the top 20 institutions, this amount is more than three times higher, averaging around $84,400. This substantial difference underscores the varying levels of financial support offered across different universities.

Wesleyan University in Connecticut topped the list, providing an average of $90,100 per international student. In the previous academic year, 108 international students received financial aid at the private liberal arts college. Other notable institutions include Williams College, Duke University, and Wellesley College, which also ranked highly in terms of financial aid provided to international students.

Geographically, the majority of universities offering the highest levels of aid are located on the U.S. East Coast. Massachusetts leads with five institutions on the list, while only three West Coast universities made the cut: Stanford University, Pomona College, and the California Institute of Technology.

U.S. News noted that 16 of the 20 institutions ranked within the top 20 of their respective categories, including national universities and national liberal arts colleges. Financial resources per student, such as spending on academic programs and services, account for 8% of the U.S. News Best Colleges ranking. Although financial aid is not directly included in this ranking factor, better-resourced schools tend to have more money for financial aid.

All 20 institutions that provide the most financial aid to international students are private universities, with annual tuition ranging from $65,960 to $74,550. Below is a list of the top 20 universities based on the average annual financial aid provided:

| No. | University | Category | U.S. News Ranking | Average Annual Financial Aid (USD) | No. of International Students Receiving Aid | |-----|------------|----------|-------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | 1 | Wesleyan University | Liberal Arts | 13 | $90,100 | 108 | | 2 | Williams College | Liberal Arts | 1 | $88,400 | 123 | | 3 | Duke University | Research | 7 | $88,300 | 190 | | 4 | Wellesley College | Liberal Arts | 7 | $88,100 | 80 | | 5 | Haverford College | Liberal Arts | 24 | $87,500 | 56 | | 6 | Pomona College | Liberal Arts | 7 | $86,900 | 98 | | 7 | Vassar College | Liberal Arts | 13 | $86,300 | 54 | | 8 | Stanford University | Research | 4 | $84,900 | 260 | | 9 | Cornell University | Research | 12 | $84,400 | 349 | | 10 | Dartmouth College | Research | 13 | $84,200 | 501 | | 11 | Yale University | Research | 4 | $83,900 | 489 | | 12 | Smith College | Liberal Arts | 13 | $83,300 | 164 | | 13 | California Institute of Technology | Research | 11 | $82,700 | 63 | | 14 | Amherst College | Liberal Arts | 2 | $82,600 | 212 | | 15 | Providence College | Regional | 2 | $82,400 | 68 | | 16 | Brown University | Research | 13 | $82,300 | 310 | | 17 | Swarthmore College | Liberal Arts | 4 | $81,200 | 70 | | 18 | Colby College | Liberal Arts | 24 | $80,900 | 205 | | 19 | Colgate University | Liberal Arts | 22 | $80,300 | 122 | | 20 | Tufts University | Research | 36 | $80,100 | 231 |

Among public universities that reported financial information, the University of Vermont awarded the highest average financial aid to international students during the 2024-2025 academic year. The university, which charged nearly $47,600 in out-of-state tuition, provided an average of about $39,655 aid to 119 international students.

In contrast, Auburn University in Alabama offered a much lower average amount—approximately $11,134—but supported far more students, providing aid to 5,807 international students, the highest number among all public and private institutions.

According to the U.S. Association of International Educators (NAFSA), international students in the United States are generally not eligible for federal financial aid. However, they may receive institutional or external funding, most commonly in the form of need-based or merit-based scholarships. Merit-based aid is highly competitive and typically awarded based on academic achievement, skills, talents, or exceptional abilities.

The College Board's 2025 Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid report shows that average published tuition and fees are about $31,900 per year for out-of-state students at public four-year universities and about $45,000 per year at private nonprofit four-year institutions, levels that are broadly comparable to what many international students pay.

During the 2024-2025 academic year, the United States hosted nearly 1.18 million international students, a 5% increase and a record high, according to the Institute of International Education's Open Doors report. These students, representing more than 200 places of origin, accounted for about 6% of the total U.S. higher education population, with India, China, and South Korea as the leading source countries.