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Can International Students get Student Loans in the United States?

For many people living in other countries, a college education in the United States represents a dream and opens doors to countless opportunities. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy for international students to get a college education in the United States. Aside from the obvious concerns of just getting into the country, paying for a college education in the US can be exceptionally expensive. Making matters worse, the US federal government does not offer financial aid to international students in most cases. Foreign citizens cannot get a federal student loan unless they attain citizenship or are eligible under a few exceptions, which I’ll explain shortly. Although most international students are not eligible for federal financial aid, they may be able to obtain a private student loan. While some private student loan companies offer loans to international students, many require that they have a US citizen co-sign the loan. The co-signer is equally responsible for paying back the loan if the student cannot. Of course, many people are wary of taking out a private student loan, as they often have much higher interest rates than federal loans. If you’re an international student looking to get a college education in the US, find out if you can get approved for federal financial aid or you may be forced to use private student loans.

What Non-Citizens can get Federal Aid?

There are only a few types of non-citizens who may be eligible for federal student loans in the United States. Many concern people who were forced out of their country or unwilling taken to the US. Here are the primary types of non-citizens who may be eligible:

  • Refugees
  • Lawful Permanent Resident
  • Victims of human trafficking
  • Persons granted asylum
  • Persons who are paroled into the US for at least one year and can provide evidence that they tend to become a permanent resident or citizen

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