International Student Aid
Understanding Your Aid Options as an International Student
International students are not eligible for U.S. federal financial aid programs, including Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study, and federal grants. However, there are meaningful funding options available to you:
- University scholarships — The Chicago School offers several scholarships designed specifically for international students, many of which are assessed automatically at the time of admission with no separate application required.
- Private loans — Some private lenders offer educational loans to international students, typically requiring a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner. Visit our Private Loans page for full details.
- External scholarships — A range of scholarships are available through your home country’s government, multinational organizations, and U.S.-based agencies. We’ve compiled a starting point list below by country.
- University payment plans — If you need help spreading your costs across a term, contact our billing office to ask about payment plan availability.
We encourage you to explore all of these options and reach out to our financial aid office early in your planning process. The earlier we know your situation, the more we can do to help.
Financial Quick Links
How scholarships are disbursed:
- Scholarships exceeding $1,000 are disbursed evenly across your student account over the academic year, unless otherwise noted.
- Awards under $1,000 are applied in full during the applicable term.
- The Office of Financial Aid will notify selected applicants in writing via email.
- University scholarships cannot be combined with other university scholarships or tuition discounts.
The Chicago School admits students of any race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, or age to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the university. Learn more about our non-discrimination policy.
Scholarships Open to International Students
Many of The Chicago School’s university scholarships are also open to international students. Visit the full Scholarships page to see all available awards and their eligibility criteria.
International Scholarships
The Chicago School offers several opportunities for university aid for international students. The following scholarships are for eligible international students and cannot be combined with other university scholarships or tuition discounts.
Global Connections Scholarship
The Global Connections Scholarship is available to students who are in non-immigrant statuses within or outside the United States and are ineligible for U.S. Federal Financial Aid. The Global Connections Scholarship is not available to permanent residents or eligible non-citizens in the U.S.
Award Amount: 10% tuition discount
The Global Connections Scholarship cannot be combined with other university scholarships or tuition discounts.
Global Impact Scholarship
The Global Impact Scholarship is awarded to full-time international undergraduate and graduate students of exceptional academic merit who meet a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 (or international equivalent) at the time of admission. Eligible students will automatically receive a 15% discount on their tuition each term if they maintain good academic standing while enrolled at The Chicago School.
Award Amount: 15% tuition discount
The Global Impact Scholarship cannot be combined with other university scholarships or tuition discounts.
Global Leaders Scholarship
The Global Leaders Scholarship is an award available to continuing international students at The Chicago School enrolled in an on-campus fall program. Applicants should share their experiences at The Chicago School, describe how their studies have impacted their professional development, and discuss their plans for serving as a global leader in their profession.
Award Amount: $1,000 (subject to change based on budget availability)
Past scholarship winners are eligible only if budget is available.
Global Partners Scholarship
Our global community is built on the strong partnerships we have formed with institutions around the world; the Global Partners Scholarship was designed to further strengthen those bonds. Eligible full-time international undergraduate and graduate students enrolled with or employed by an institution sharing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with our institution may be eligible to receive a 20% discount to their tuition each term if they maintain good academic standing while enrolled at The Chicago School.
Award Amount: 20% tuition discount
The Global Partner Scholarship cannot be combined with other university scholarships or tuition discounts.
Local Advantage Scholarship
The Local Advantage Scholarship was designed to simplify the process for international students already living in the U.S. who hope to transfer to The Chicago School. Eligible full-time international undergraduate and graduate students currently studying at another U.S. institution or who have completed a degree at a U.S. institution may receive a 25% discount applied to their tuition if they maintain good academic standing while enrolled at The Chicago School.
Award Amount: 25% tuition discount
The Local Advantage Scholarship is cannot be combined with other university scholarships or tuition discounts.
Private Loans for International Students
If university scholarships and personal savings do not fully cover your costs, private educational loans may be an option to explore. Most private lenders require an eligible U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident cosigner, someone who meets the lender’s creditworthiness requirements and is willing to share responsibility for the loan.
A few things to know before applying:
- Some lenders may require a valid U.S. Social Security number.
- Interest rates, terms, and eligibility requirements vary significantly by lender. Research carefully and compare multiple options before applying.
- The Chicago School certifies any eligible private lender of your choice and does not endorse specific lenders.
Visit our Private Loans page for a full overview of the process, a comparison of loan features, and ELMSelect, which lists private lenders, as a starting point for your research.
- Learn About Private Loans
International External Scholarship Opportunities by Country
International students may also be eligible for scholarships offered by their home country’s government, multinational organizations, or U.S.-based funding agencies. The resources below are provided as a starting point for your research. We do not endorse the opportunities listed here. You are responsible for reviewing and verifying all details directly with each organization before applying.
If your country is not listed below, we encourage you to research your home government’s ministry of education, regional scholarship bodies, and international development organizations as potential sources of funding.
- EduCanada
https://www.educanada.ca/scholarships-bourses/can/index.aspx - BC Scholarship Society
https://www.bcscholarshipsociety.ca/ - Organization of American States (OAS)
https://www.oas.org/en/about/who_we_are.asp
- Chinese Scholarship Council
https://www.chinesescholarshipcouncil.com/
- National Scholarships (Gov. of India)
https://www.education.gov.in/scholarships-education-loan-0 - Indian Government Scholarships – Summary Resource
https://www.idp.com/india/blog/indian-government-scholarships/
- DHET International Scholarships
https://www.internationalscholarships.dhet.gov.za/
- The Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) – Ph.D. Foreign Scholarships
https://www.studyabroad.pk/scholarships/the-punjab-educational-endowment-fund-peef-phd-foreign-scholarships-25700
- LPDP Scholarship (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education)
https://lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id/en/
- Fulbright Comexus
https://www.comexus.org.mx/ - FIDERH (Fund for Human Resource Development)
https://www.fiderh.org.mx/financiamiento.html - FUNED (Fundación Mexicana para la Educación, la Tecnología y la Ciencia)
https://www.funedmx.org/
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Provides funding for graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the U.S.
https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org - The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Provides merit-based funding for New Americans, immigrants, and children of immigrants who are poised to make significant contributions to U.S. culture, society, and academia.
https://pdsoros.org/ - Ford Foundation Fellowships
The Ford Foundation Fellowships provide funding to pre-doctoral, dissertation, and post-doctoral scholars pursuing graduate study or academic research in the U.S.https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/ford-foundation-fellowships - EducationUSA Scholarship Search
A platform offering a searchable database of scholarships for international students seeking to study in the U.S.
https://educationusa.state.gov/find-financial-aid - Study Portal Scholarship Search
A platform offering a searchable database of scholarships for international students seeking to study in the U.S.
https://www.mastersportal.com/search/scholarships/master/united-states
Additional International Scholarship Resources
Beyond country-specific programs, the following organizations offer scholarship and funding opportunities open to students from multiple countries:
- Fulbright Program — One of the most prestigious international exchange programs, offering grants for graduate study in the U.S. — https://fulbright.org
- Organization of American States (OAS) — Scholarship and fellowship programs for students from OAS member states — https://oas.org
- Aga Khan Foundation — Graduate study scholarships for students from select developing countries — https://akdn.org
- Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program — For students from World Bank member countries pursuing development-related studies — https://worldbank.org
- Rotary Foundation Scholarships — Peace fellowships and vocational training grants — https://rotary.org
Important Visa Considerations
Your visa status has a direct impact on your financial aid eligibility and your ability to work while enrolled. A few things worth knowing:
- International students on F-1 or J-1 visas are generally not authorized to work off-campus without explicit authorization from their Designated School Official (DSO) or Responsible Officer (RO).
- On-campus employment may be permitted under certain visa conditions. Check with your international student advisor before accepting any position.
- Any changes to your enrollment status, such as dropping below full-time, taking a leave of absence, or withdrawing, can have serious implications for your visa status in addition to your financial aid. Always consult with your international student advisor and financial aid office before making enrollment changes.