Prospective International Student Financial Aid

Financial Aid
Applying for Financial Aid
International Students
Prospective International Student Financial Aid

International students are a vital part of the St. Olaf community and the Financial Aid Office is committed to helping students reach their academic goals. Scholarships, on-campus work-study, and loans are awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence and economic need

St. Olaf has international students from over 100 countries.

Degree-seeking students are also automatically considered for international scholarships. Scholarships for our international students ranged from $5,000 to $77,000. International students are eligible for merit based and need based institutional funding from St. Olaf. While most financial assistance for international students is based on financial need, applicants are welcome to apply for merit scholarships.

UWC students can receive up to 100% of the comprehensive fee (tuition, housing and meal plan) between St. Olaf + funding from the Davis Foundation In need based + Merit based Financial Aid.

Non-UWC students can receive up to 100% of tuition in St. Olaf institutional need based grants + merit scholarships.

This would leave some work study and loan funds available to cover room and board — but they will not cover all of those costs. There would be somewhere around USD$15,000 in costs for room and board that are not covered by any sort of financial aid.

Students who wish to apply only for merit scholarships (and don’t want to apply for need-based aid) do not need to complete any of the other parts of the financial aid process.
All students are considered for Academic scholarships during the admission review process. Academic scholarship decisions are made by the Admissions Office.
Students applying for Fine Arts Scholarships must submit separate applications. Please click here for more information about applying for merit scholarships at St. Olaf.

Apply Now

St. Olaf is one of over 300 schools nationally to require the CSS Profile in determining institutional aid. The CSS Profile is a more in-depth and nuanced financial aid application than the FAFSA. All students interested in need-based St. Olaf aid are required to complete the CSS Profile. There is a fee required to complete the CSS Profile.
St. Olaf’s CSS Profile Code: 6638.
St. Olaf does not provide CSS Profile fee waivers for international students. Students are able to submit the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) or the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (Intl ACAC). The ISFAA and the Intl ACAC is free. St. Olaf is happy to accept EITHER the CSS Profile or the ISFAA or the Intl ACAC from international students applying for need-based aid.
The CSS Profile or the ISFAA or the Intl ACAC for the 2026-27 Academic Year can be completed any time after October 1, 2025. Please note that you are completing the CSS Profile or the ISFAA or the Intl ACAC with final tax information for 2024, so please have that information readily available when completing the CSS Profile. If your parents are separated or divorced or were never married, St. Olaf will consider both biological parents’ financial information when determining eligibility for institutional need-based grants.

CSS PROFILE

International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA)

INTL ACAC

Types of St. Olaf Financial Aid

St. Olaf International Student Grant

International Student Grants are awarded based upon your financial need. It is money you do not have to repay to St. Olaf and will be awarded in subsequent years as long as you are making progress towards your academic studies. The amount of your grant may increase slightly based upon the subsequent year’s tuition or comprehensive fee but will not change dramatically.

International Student Employment

International Student Employment funds provide students with the opportunity to work on campus for a certain number of hours per week. As an international student on an F-1 visa, you can work only on-campus and up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year and up to 40 hours per week during breaks.
A typical Student Employment award is about $3,500 per year. You would need to work approximately 7-9 hours per week.

St. Olaf International Student Loan

International Student Loans are offered to international students to help them meet their educational expenses. This is a loan that must be repaid.
The maximum loan amount is $4,000 per year with a cap at $16,000 over four years. The typical repayment period is five years.
The annual interest rate is 5.0% and begins accruing upon disbursement to your student account.

For Students Applying for Fall 2026 Enrollment

Financial Aid Deadline	Early Decision 1	Early Action	Early Decision 2	Regular Decision
Complete and Submit the CSS Profile OR the ISFAA OR INTL ACAC	November 1	November 1	January 15	January 15
Financial Aid Award Notification	Early December	Early January	Early February	Early April

Planning Your Expenditures

There are many costs to keep in mind while contemplating studying abroad. The Tuition and Expenses page outlines the basic costs of attending St. Olaf for an academic year. Actual costs for subsequent years will be higher.

Travel

You should also keep in mind the costs of travel to your home and back, travel within the United States, phone bills, and summer activities.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is important while living in the United States and quality medical coverage is a must. All international students are enrolled in a group insurance plan negotiated by St. Olaf. The cost of this medical plan varies year-to-year, but students can expect to pay $500/semester (or $1,000 for the year). Health Insurance is billed to students through SIS. Vision and dental care are not included. International students wanting coverage for vision and dental care while in the U.S. should purchase their own independent plan.

More Information

Often the best source of aid for international students is their country of origin. Check with your local government agencies to see if they have educational funding budgets. These programs often require you to return to your home country and work in some faculty there. Contact the cultural section of your embassy or your ministry of education for more information (there are many awards which require you to be nominated by your government).

There may be a few private scholarships for international students. Many of these scholarships require that you apply from within your home country, and you may not be eligible if you are already living in the United States.:

Scholarships and Grants for Study in the United States and Abroad

International students are not eligible for U.S. government loan plans, grants, or work-study programs. However in a few cases (depending on your country of origin) the U.S. government may offer some financial assistance. You should check with the U.S. State Department to see if there are any programs at this time.

If you are an American living overseas or have dual citizenship with the United States, please refer to the Domestic Prospective Student Financial Aid Application Process.