Financial Aid (College)
Complied below are resources available for refugees on financial aid at the college level. This is not an exhaustive list. Opportunities are organized by the provider of the funding/resource.
Provided for by Organizations
The UNHCR, a department of the United Nations, offers an opportunities page for international scholarships. The page contains various refugee related scholarship opportunities across a large number of mostly European countries.
DAFI is the largest provider of educational scholarships for refugees. The program is run by UNHCR and has supported over 27,200 students in 59 countries. Recipients of the scholarship will receive coverage of tuition, fees, study materials, food, transportation, accommodation, and other expenses, as well as monitoring, academic prep, and language prep classes. The DAFI network also hosts student clubs and alumni groups, and is great for mentoring and networking. Contact the UNHCR office to apply for the scholarship.
Address: 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: +1 202-296-5191
Email: USAWA@UNHCR.ORG
Address: 220 East 42nd Street, Suite 3000, New York, NY 10017
Phone: +1 212-963-0032
Email: usane@unhcr.org
The Institute of International Education offers multiple grants, scholarships, and programs for displaced students. Eligibility varies by program. The organization has an Emergency Student Fund for international students studying in the US when their home country is in crisis. They offer the Odyssey Scholarship, which provides funding for tuition, housing, living expenses, and academic support for refugees and other displaced students.
There is no formal application for these programs. Institutions part of the IIENetwork can nominate a certain number of students for the programs. Contact your school for a nomination. Find out if your school is a member here.
FAFSA related/Federal
The Pell Grant is a grant, not a loan, meaning that it does not need to be repaid. It is available to various non-citizen groups, including those from these official status categories: refugee, asylum granted, and conditional entrant. Undocumented students are not eligible for federal student aid or the Pell Grant. Check details on eligibility here. To apply, first fill out a FAFSA form, and schools will use that information to determine whether you qualify for a Pell Grant. The maximum award for the 2026-2027 school year is $7,395.
FSEOG is very similar to the Pell Grant. Depending on need, you will recieve $100-$4000 each year. Not all schools offer FSEOG. To apply, fill out a FAFSA form and schools will use that information to determine your eligibility. Schools will reach out to you if you recieve a grant.
Provided by Schools
The Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students is administered by Columbia Global in partnership with schools within Columbia University. The scholarship is not currently accepting applicants, but will likely open again in the future.