International students are well represented at Suffolk University. Although federal and state aid programs must be awarded to US citizens and permanent residents, there are a number of institutional financial aid options available to our international population. Most of this funding is in the form of on-campus employment. However, a limited number of scholarships based on academic merit are available to international students.

If you are an international student, experiencing financial difficulties, and planning to enroll on a full-time basis, the following financial aid programs may be available:

International Student Employment

This employment program was established to provide international students with on-campus employment. The Financial Aid Office provides placement for recipients. Full-time undergraduate and graduate students may apply. Recipients are selected on the basis of need and merit. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500 per academic year.

A separate application is required.

Dean’s Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to full-time entering freshmen and transfer students. Recipients are selected on the basis of merit. Award amounts range from $2,000 to $10,000 per academic year. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for renewal.

No application is required; all new students are considered.

Archer Fellow

This grant is awarded to selected full-time entering freshmen and transfer students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences who are designated Archer Fellows. Recipients are selected on the basis of merit, and not all students participating in the program receive a grant. Award is $500 per academic year. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for renewal.

No application is required; all students are considered.

Griffin Fellows Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to full-time entering freshmen and transfer students enrolled in the Sawyer Business School. Recipients are selected on the basis of merit. Award is $500 per academic year. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for renewal.

No application is required; all students are considered.

Ballotti Learning Center Scholars Program

Each year, 10 students are selected for this program and are required to work 300 hours with the Ballotti Learning Center in exchange for the award. Recipients are selected on the basis of merit, and applicants must have minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Only full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors who have been enrolled at Suffolk University Boston full-time at least one year prior may apply. Award amount is $4,000 per academic year. $1,765 is posted as a grant to the student’s tuition account, and $2,235 is awarded as employment, which is paid on a bi-weekly basis for hours worked.

A separate application is required: MS Word .doc | Adobe Acrobat .pdf

Orientation/Scheduling Assistantship Program

Each year, 10 students are selected for this program and are required to work 300 hours on orientation/scheduling activities in exchange for the award. Recipients are selected on the basis of merit, and applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8. Only full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors who have been enrolled at Suffolk University Boston full-time at least one year prior may apply. Award amount is $4,000 per academic year. $1,765 is posted as a grant to the student’s tuition account, and $2,235 is awarded as employment, which is paid on a bi-weekly basis for hours worked.

A separate application is required: MS Word .doc | Adobe Acrobat .pdf

Math Center Scholars

Each year, 10 students are selected for this program and are required to work 300 hours with the Math/CS Support Center in exchange for the award.  Recipients are selected on the basis of merit and applicants must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average.  Only full time undergraduate or graduate students who have completed Calculus 1 and 2 and show strong ability in Math may apply.  Award amount is $4000 per academic year with $1765 posted as a grant to the recipient’s tuition account and $2235 paid bi-weekly for hours worked.

Writing Center Scholars

Each year, 10 students are selected for this program and are required to work 300 hours with the Writing Center in exchange for the award.  Recipients are selected on the basis of merit and applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 AND A MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.25 IN ENGLISH.  Only full time sophomores or juniors at the time of application may apply.  Award amount is $4000 per academic year with $1765 posted as a grant to the student’s tuition and $2235 paid bi-weekly for hours worked.

International Student Ambassadors

Each year, 6 students are selected for this program and are required to work 300 hours with the Center for International Education in exchange for the award.  Only full time sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students who have been enrolled at Suffolk University Boston full time at least one year prior may apply.  Undergraduate applicants must carry a cumulative 2.8 grade point average, graduate students a minimum 3.0.  Award amount is $4000 per academic year with $1765 posted as a grant to the recipient’s tuition account and $2235 paid bi-weekly for hours worked.

NESAD Ambassadors

Each year 8 students are selected for this program and are required to work 300 hours with NESAD in exchange for the award.  Recipients are selected on the basis of merit and must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8.   Only full time sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students who have been enrolled at Suffolk University Boston full time at least one year prior may apply.  Award amount is $4000 per year with $1765 posted as a grant to the recipient’s tuition account and $2235 paid bi-weekly for hours worked.

Sawyer Ambassador Program

Each year 10 students are selected for this program and work 300 hours in the Dean’s Office on retention related projects. Recipients are selected on the basis of merit and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Only full time students may apply. Award amount is $4,000 per academic year. $1,765 is posted as a grant to the student’s tuition account, and $2,235 is awarded as employment, which is paid on a bi-weekly basis for hours worked.

A separate application is required: MS Word .doc | Adobe Acrobat .pdf

Trustees’ Ambassadors Program

Each year, 16 students are selected for this program and are required to work 300 hours with the Enrollment Management Division in exchange for the award. Recipients are selected on the basis of merit, and applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8. Only full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors who have been enrolled at Suffolk University Boston full-time at least one year prior may apply. Award amount is $4,000 per academic year. $1,765 is posted as a grant to the student’s tuition account, and $2,235 is awarded as employment, which is paid on a bi-weekly basis for hours worked.

A separate application is required: MS Word .doc | Adobe Acrobat .pdf

Grandfathered Tuition Plan for Meritorious Students

This program offers undergraduate students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6 a scholarship equal to the annual tuition increase if certain terms are met. Applicants must have been enrolled at Suffolk University full-time for at least one year prior and have no W, L, NG, D, F or Incomplete grades. Grades are reviewed once per year, following the spring semester. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits to qualify.

Family Discount Plan

This program offers an award of $1,000 to families with two undergraduate dependent students who are both enrolled full-time at Suffolk University. Recipients must remain enrolled full-time for both Fall and Spring semesters to qualify.

Fellowships

This program is available to graduate students with priority given to those enrolled full-time. Recipients are selected on the basis of merit and work on-campus performing research and/or administrative tasks. Award amounts vary and recipients are paid bi-weekly for hours worked. Please review the fellowship fact sheet for additional information.

TERI Alternative Loan Program/PEP Professional Education Plan

TERI, The Education Resources Institute, offers these loan programs to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program. International students MUST apply with a creditworthy co-applicant who is a US citizen or permanent resident. Applicants may borrow from $1,000 up to the cost of education less financial aid received. Loan approval is based on the applicants’ creditworthiness and ability to repay the loan. Both loan programs offer competitive interest rates. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for loan applications.

Arriaga Family Emergency Fund for International Students

This interest-free loan program is designed to cover emergency expenses of full-time international students enrolled at Suffolk University. Students must submit an application to the Center for International Education, and wait for approval by the Fund Committee. The maximum amount of the loan will not exceed $1,000 per student per academic year. The loan must be repaid within six months after the date it was granted. Please contact the Center for International Education for application information.

Arab Student Aid International (ASAI) Scholarship/Loan Program

This program provides interest-free loans for Arab students studying full-time in the United States. Amount of loan varies from $2,000 - $4,000 per academic year. Students must have a valid visa and complete one full year of study before applying. Recipients are selected on the basis of need and merit, and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Deadline date is May 1, for the following academic year. For further information and application materials, please contact ASAI at (908) 654-5511.

Note: If you entered the United States on a J1 or F1 visa, it permits you to work up to twenty hours on campus. Fellowships and all forms of employment count toward the twenty-hour limit. You must have a social security card before you can begin working.

For additional information and assistance, please contact:

The Center for International Education
20 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 573-8154
email: oia@suffolk.edu

The Financial Aid Office
41 Temple Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617)-573-8470
FAX: (617)-720-3579
email: finaid@suffolk.edu