Assistance towards your success
Financial Aid
St Olaf College provides financial aid to all students who are in need of assistance. Financial aid comes in many forms, grants and scholarships, loans, student work awards and more. They will help to cover basic supplies, health insurance and taxes. As an international student your resources for extra funding may be limited while in the US, thus, budgeting your costs would be a great way to see your spending and therefore adjust to things.
- Here is a link to the general financial aid website for international students for more information:
International Student Information
- For returning students who wish to know more about retaining St Olaf Loans:
Returning International Students
- For information on international payments:
- If international students encounter an unforeseen circumstance that is not the fault of the student then they can apply for Severe Economic Hardship to help them financially with being able to work more details here:
Immigration
While studying here at St Olaf there are rules that you must be aware of while at St Olaf College and the US. As international students, you should learn and understand the laws that apply as an international student in order to maintain your academic status here.
- Maintaining your Immigration Status
- Violation of Status/Visa Termination
- If you are unable to finish your studies by the program deadline on your I-20 and would like to know more please click the following link:
- As a student at St Olaf, there may be a situation that would require a student to reduce a course load below the 3 credit minimum. If you would need this option please click here:
- St Olaf requires you to take three of the four possible Interim sessions to graduate. Thus, if you fit the requirements you can take an Interim off. See this link for more information:
Other Information:
Taxes
- Most international students do not realize how much taxes they have to pay and only realize it once they end up in the states. Save money throughout the year for taxes you need to pay in the Spring. (Most international students need to pay between $400 and $600 in MN State Taxes every year.)
- Understanding taxes can be confusing so when you are taxed for something make sure you understand what that tax is. Some taxes are:
- Income tax- Taxes on your income
- State tax- taxes for the state
- Federal tax- the federal government tax
- Scholarship tax- This tax is the one that usually shocks most international students. This is a tax that is taxed when you have a scholarship that is above an academic cost, such as a scholarship/s that covers room and board as well as academic expenses. This is taxed each semester.
- Tax treaties- Some of you may be tax-exempt which means that you do not pay certain taxes because of the treaties your country has with the US.
- Sales tax- In the US sales taxes are not built into products when you see them on the shelf thus when shopping always overestimate a good or service just a little more.
- Tax refunds- You may receive a tax refund if you have been overtaxed by the Federal Government throughout the year and thus you will receive a refund.
- Employment in the US
Health Insurance
Health insurance is important to have while living in the U.S.
International St. Olaf students are required to purchase health insurance through the college. Details about the plans cost and coverage can be found on the International Student Health Insurance Page.
Travel
While in the US you might want to travel somewhere for a break or need to travel for a program. If you are doing so please see the following links: