If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and plan to study in the United States, you will not be eligible for any U.S. government-subsidized programs. These loan programs are paid for by U.S. taxpayers, so they are not available to non-U.S. citizens or residents.

You may still be able to find other loan programs, grants, and fellowships if you want to study at a school in the United States. In some cases, you may be able to apply for a loan if you have a coborrower who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is willing to take responsibility for the loan payment. The coborrower is the lender’s insurance that the loan will be repaid if you decide to return to your home country and do not repay the loan.

The best way to find out about your loan options is to contact the schools to which you are applying and ask whether they know of any financial aid options for students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.