Scholarships and Expenses
Invest in a life of purpose.
International students who meet or exceed the minimum requirements for admission will be awarded an academic scholarship. In determining this, we look at a student’s overall application, academic achievement and potential for success at Albion College.
International Scholarships
All admitted international students are eligible for awards covering approximately 60% of expenses. Students will be notified at the time of acceptance of their scholarship value. In general, families must be able to contribute most of the cost of attendance from sources outside of Albion College.
Living in residence halls allows you to meet more people and lets you get more work done. There are study areas you can use, and if all that is distracting, you have a million other places to go study.
Estimated Cost for International Students
Before you apply to Albion College, it’s important to review our costs and make a family financial plan. International students can expect to contribute up to $30,000 per year toward their education after their scholarship has applied.
Health Insurance for International Students
International students are required to purchase health insurance coverage approved by the college, which has an estimated annual expense of $1,600. For this reason, the cost of attendance for international students may not reflect the cost estimate for US citizens and Permanent Residents.
I-20 Next Steps
In order to receive the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility necessary for your visa application, you must be admitted to Albion College and submit the necessary documentation showing that you have the funds to cover your first year of study. Please complete the I-20 Request Form, located on your Briton Bound account, no later than July 1 for Fall/August entry and October 15 for Spring/January entry.
Financial Documentation for I-20
External Sources for Financial Assistance
- Education USA
- FinAid!
- International Education Assistance Aid
- Fastweb (must live in the US)
- Institute of International Education
- Peterson’s
- Rotary International
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do to confirm my plans to enroll and prepare for arrival?
Once you know that you will attend Albion, log into your Briton Bound account and pay your enrollment deposit. This deposit will be applied to your first bill. You must also submit a complete I-20 Request form to begin the visa application process.
Once you have sent your deposit, you will receive details about the many steps required before you arrive.
Are more scholarship funds available?
We have many more qualified international applicants than we can fully fund through financial aid awards. Albion accepts scholarships from external sources as well.
Can I get a loan from Albion College for the costs?
Albion College does not provide loans for students. A few US banks will offer loans to international students; however, they require a well-qualified US citizen to co-sign the loan. You may be eligible for loans from your government or local banks, and Admissions can help you if they require specific documents.
May I work on campus to cover the difference?
While campus jobs are possible and many students hold them, they provide only a few hundred dollars per month and students typically use their earnings toward their personal expenses. Visa regulations limit the type and amount of work an international student may do, and we cannot use the possibility of a job to issue the I-20 for immigration purposes – those funds must be in a bank account.
May I live off campus to decrease my costs?
Albion College is a residential campus and all students are required to live in college-owned housing for the four years of study. Toward the end of their studies, students have options for college-owned housing that may be more or less expensive. Students who move to non-college-owned housing may have their financial aid reduced.
How will I know what future costs will be?
Each year costs increase due to changes in tuition, the cost of living, health insurance, etc. We cannot predict the costs for future years; tuition typically rises 4-5% and other expenses rise 2-5%. Students are expected to pay their bills each semester and will not be allowed to register for nor attend classes until balances are paid. We strongly encourage families to plan now for these increases to avoid interruptions in study.
What if the currency exchange rate changes?
We understand that families have no control over changes in the currency exchange rate, however, we cannot alter the costs or estimates based on these fluctuations. Students remain responsible for paying the amount due before registering for future semesters.
What can I do to increase my scholarship for future years?
The final scholarship offered before you deposit will not change for the four years of study. You are welcome to apply for external scholarships to contribute to expenses for future years, and Albion offices can assist you with the documents you need for these applications.
Albion has opened my mind to things that I would not have learned otherwise; from the city of Albion to the homemade solar panels in Israel and everything in between. With every class and extracurricular activity that I do, I find myself expanding my horizons.