This question can have a complex answer. First, it’s critical to understand that the university itself provides the largest amount of financial aid. It should be clarified that only the institution you select to attend will provide you with aid. Consider it is related to a game show. You will only claim the prizes behind that door if you choose door number three.
Need-based financial aid and Merit-based scholarships for international students are the two funding sources that educational institutions normally make available to you after you apply. The outcomes of your family’s or your income and assets are employed to determine need-based assistance.
Your college can decide whether you meet their requirements for need-based aid immediately after you have finished the FAFSA and/or the CSS Profile (more on that later). The data is processed differently by each college, and some offer more than others. The only grant of this kind you are eligible for is the need-based financial aid from your college.
If you accomplish all the requirements, a specific institution might supply you with a number of merit scholarships. Various institutions will offer different amounts and availability of this type of financial assistance, and some universities don’t provide any merit aid at all.
Private or public scholarships belong under the third category. A large number of these, as time allows, is possible. The drawback is that certain universities can deduct this kind of scholarship from your need-based financial aid for students.
The CSS profile is needed by 500–600 colleges. This is a more comprehensive look of your money. They request external scholarship funds and include them in aid packages, which might result in less institutional need-based aid being given.