Harvard University, MIT and 7 other schools, mostly in the top ranks, do not consider the financial potential of international students when recruiting (need-blind admission).
A candidate’s ability to pay is a factor that most American colleges consider when deciding whether to accept them. However, nine schools do not: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Amherst, Dartmouth, Bowdoin, Brown, and Notre Dame. All are ranked in the top 20 national universities or liberal arts colleges by US News in 2025.
Specifically, these schools will consider admission based on the criteria and potential of the candidates. International students’ applications will not be disadvantaged even if their family’s financial conditions are limited.
International students are also considered for financial aid, with a range of around $21,800-84,400 per year (around VND0.53-2.07 billion). The most generous currently is Harvard University.
At Yale University, students receive an average of $84,200 in aid if their family income is under $65,000 per year, while at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students receive more than $76,800. At Notre Dame, students receive an average of $79,900 in aid if their family income is under $40,000.
| TT | School name | Ranking (US News 2025) | Average support level (USD/year) | Tuition 2024 (USD/year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | 3 | 84,400 | 59,076 |
| 2 | Yale University | 5 | 28,700-84,200 | 64,700 |
| 3 | University of Notre Dame | 18 | 21,800-79,900 | 62,693 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 2 | 27,000 – 76,825 | 60,156 |
| 5 | Bowdoin College | 5 (liberal arts college) | 69,000 | 64,910 |
| 6 | Amherst College | 2 (liberal arts college) | 68,000 | 67,280 |
| 7 | Princeton University | 1 | 62,200 | 59,710 |
| 8 | Brown University | 13 | 49,830 | 68,230 |
| 9 | Dartmouth College | 15 | Not public | 65,511 |
In the US, universities usually have two admission rounds: Early Decision (deadline around November 15) and Regular Admission (deadline December 15 or January). The application usually includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, and academic and extracurricular achievements.
The United States is the world’s number one study abroad destination today. Last school year, the country had more than one million international students, from more than 200 countries and territories.
The majority of international students (47.6%) pursue degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields.
