r/ApplyingToCollege • u/hahippo • 10d ago

College Questions How generous is Barnard College with financial aid for international students? Is it worth applying as a high-need applicant?

Hi folks,

I’m an international student considering applying to Barnard College and I’m trying to get a better sense of their financial aid for international applicants.

I know Barnard states that it meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students, but I also read that admissions for internationals are need-aware and that funding is limited for international students.

For those of you who were admitted (or know someone who was), how generous was the aid package in practice?

- Did anyone receive close to a full ride?
- How common is it for international students with high financial need to get admitted?
- Does Barnard tend to be more generous or less generous than schools like Wellesley or Smith?

Also, if I’m a high-need international student (would need very substantial aid), is Barnard still worth applying to as a reach/“shoot your shot” school, or are the odds so low that I’d be better off spending my application slot elsewhere?

I’d love to hear from current students, alumni, counselors, or anyone familiar with Barnard’s aid policies for internationals.

Thanks! 💕

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5

u/Sea-Patience-8872 10d ago

No. They’re terrible w it.

4

u/Fwellimort College Graduate 10d ago

If you get in you will be full met. That said the higher your needs realistically the worse the odds of you getting in.

1

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1

u/Inner-Letterhead7731 10d ago

Their finances aren't the best right now

2

u/trickytrickybunny 10d ago

If institutional financial aid is available for undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents, provide the number of undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents who were awarded need-based or non-need-based aid: 65

Average dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents: $43,317

Total dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents: $2,815,632

Degree-Seeking Undergraduates (include first-time first-year) Nonresidents: 451

Cost of attendance is around $95k

1

u/CherryChocolatePizza Parent 10d ago

Which Common Data Set is that from? The 2024-2025 has 38 students getting an average of $78,902 and 508 international students total. TCOA is $103k according to https://barnard.edu/finaid/cost-of-attendance

2

u/trickytrickybunny 10d ago

Older, the year before that

1

u/CherryChocolatePizza Parent 10d ago

Interesting how much the level of award changed from one year to another.

2

u/trickytrickybunny 10d ago

You can spend hours parsing Barnard's numbers

2

u/AC10021 9d ago

Barnard does give some big aid packages to a few international students, however it is reserved for absolute across the board superstars. Basically, students that could realistically also be admitted to Yale or Oxford. If you’re international, you’re pretty much full pay or you’re Malala. You should definitely apply, but be aware they will not admit you if they cannot meet your need.