Financial assistance for international students
When applying for admission to CUW, you will have to submit a proof of your ability to cover all expenses at least during the first year of your stay here. There are limited institutional scholarship opportunities for international undergraduate students. Possible scholarships are based on academic/portfolio performance and must be applied for each semester. As a graduate international student, you will not be eligible for any type of financial assistance from Concordia. Learn more below.
It is extremely difficult to get a loan from any American bank. This means that it is your responsibility to find funds needed and you cannot count on any financial source in the U.S. You cannot expect to obtain this money by undertaking employment because according to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations, you may not engage in any type of off-campus employment until the end of the first academic year. Any subsequent employment is strictly regulated and limited in time. In regard to this, before coming to the U.S. carefully consider if you have the necessary financial resources to cover your tuition and living expenses at least for the first year of your stay.
Financial assistance details
The average undergraduate international student is awarded $17,000 in grants/scholarships! There are four types of financial aid in the form of institutional scholarships and grants available to qualifying students.
Types of undergraduate international student aid
- Presidential Scholarship: $9,000–$12,000
- Talent Scholarships (amount based on audition or portfolio review)
- Concordia Grant: $5,000
- Luther Promise: $3,000
Learn more about each of these options here.
Outside scholarships
Other outside scholarships may be available to you. Check for opportunities from:
- guidance office
- church
- employers
- parent's employers
- volunteer organizations
- ...and our outside Scholarships & Grants page
Financial aid process
Interested students must first apply at www.cuw.edu/apply and be accepted before financial aid packages can be offered. After acceptance fill out your institutional aid form via Docusign.
Apply for as many as you can!
Graduate assistantships
The only financial assistance available for international students is offered to graduate students in the form of graduate assistantship positions. Both international and American graduate students are eligible for the assistantship positions. Graduate students are offered a job in one of the departments that offer positions. Graduate assistants undertake to work 20 hours per week for one calendar year. At the end of each month the department you work with (sign a contract) pays $1,000. You can use this money either for covering your tuition, living or other expenses.
In order to apply for a graduate assistantship position, by May 1st you would have to submit the following documents:
- Fill in a graduate assistantship application form
- Obtain two letters of recommendation from your professors
- Prepare a current resume with your biography
- Write a cover letter addressed to the Graduate Assistant Selection Director explaining reasons for applying for a position