International Students

Although international students are not eligible for US federal financial aid, there are other financial aid opportunities available to assist international students with financing their education:

Private Student Loans
Scholarships
Institute Work-Study

Private Loans for International Students

If interested in receiving a private student loan, please apply online to complete the financial aid application.  Please submit the Monterey Institute Financial Aid Application at your earliest convenience.

After reviewing your financial aid application, the financial aid office will email you your award letter offer with instructions on how to apply for a student loan with a lender.  When approved for a student loan the lender will send us a certification request to certify your student loan.  Funds are then made available to the Institute for student financing.

International students may obtain private education loans with the support of a co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident. To qualify for these loans, a co-signer must have lived in the US for the past two years, have an acceptable credit history, have two years of employment history, and have current income to qualify for this loan.

If you and your family are considering a private education loan, you can use the California Private Loan Marketplace to instantly and accurately compare rates and terms from multiple private loan lenders. This will help you make an informed decision about the most appropriate loan and/or lender for you. The Marketplace displays products from local and national lenders, complete with detailed listings of APRs, interest rates, total cost, monthly payments, borrower benefits, fees and repayment options.

Keep in mind that not all lenders participate in the California Private Loan Marketplace. For more information on private loans, and to view a list of all lenders participating in the student loan program, please visit: http://www.finaid.org/loans/privatestudentloans.phtml

The Monterey Institute does not offer a list of preferred lenders.

If you need help selecting a lender, please refer to our online list of things to consider when choosing a lender. You may choose any lender that participates in the private loan program. The Monterey Institute of International Studies Office of Student Financial Planning does not receive, and will not accept inducements from lenders in exchange for promoting a particular loan. In addition, the Monterey Institute does not share in the profits from student loans. Borrowers are welcome to choose any participating lender.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Financial Planning at finaid@miis.edu, or 831-647-4119.

Please contact the ministry of education, or closest education advising center in your home country, to learn more about federal funding opportunities.

How To Apply For Scholarships

All admitted international students are considered for the Monterey Institute Merit Scholarship, ranging from $4,000 to $16,000 per academic year. We also encourage you to apply for other scholarships. For your convenience, the Office of Student Financial Planning has compiled a list of outside organizations that provide scholarships, fellowships, and grants to international students.

Institute Work-Study Program

International students who have a F1 or J1 visa may work on campus for 20 hours a week through this program. You must obtain a Social Security number to work in the US. If you do not have one, please visit the Office of International Services for more information. You can find on campus job opportunities online.