Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania — USA
Bryn Mawr College
A women's college that meets 100% of calculated financial need for all admitted students — including international undergraduates — with a full ride in cases of extreme hardship. But admissions is need-sensitive, so requesting maximum funding makes acceptance highly competitive, and international transfers get no institutional aid at all.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Bryn Mawr College is a women's college in Pennsylvania — one of the historic Seven Sisters — that meets 100% of the calculated financial need of every admitted student, international undergraduates included. In cases of extreme hardship this functions as a full ride, covering 100% of tuition, housing, and meals. All of this funding is need-based. There is one important catch: admissions is need-sensitive (need-aware) during evaluation, meaning the committee considers how much aid you're requesting when deciding whether to admit you — applying for maximum funding makes an already competitive process highly competitive, so your application needs to be strong. And this generosity is for entering first-years: international transfer students are ineligible for any institutional aid, need-based or merit, and are only accepted if they can fully self-fund. Because Bryn Mawr is a women's college, admission is for students who identify as women.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — Bryn Mawr is permanently test-optional. SAT and ACT scores are not required, and your application receives the same review with or without them.
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes, required for non-native English speakers — TOEFL, IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test. Automatically waived if your native language is English, or if your primary language of instruction has been English for all four years of high school.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — the CSS Profile (school code 2049) is required if you are requesting financial aid.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- Yes — institutional CSS Profile fee waivers are available for cases of severe hardship. There is no alternative form (no ISFAA).
- CSS Waiver Type
- Institutional waiver only. Submit your primary admissions materials and indicate your interest in a fee waiver on the Declaration of Finances form in the applicant portal — the financial aid office then evaluates your request. There is no free paper alternative to the CSS Profile.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~34–38%
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $0 — Bryn Mawr charges no application fee.
- Transfer Students
- Accepted, but with ZERO institutional aid for international transfers — need-based or merit. International transfers are admitted only if they can fully self-fund, and must show funding for a minimum 2-year residency.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~13.9%
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $0 — no application fee for transfers either.
What “full scholarship” means here
This school guarantees it will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. In simple English: if you get accepted and you've applied for financial aid and you don't have any money to attend, they can give you a full scholarship to cover your cost of attendance. Both conditions matter — and the CSS Profile is how you prove your need.
Bryn Mawr Need-Based Financial Aid (100% of calculated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- 100% of your calculated financial need
- In cases of extreme hardship, a full ride — 100% of tuition, housing, and meals
Who qualifies
Admitted students who apply for financial aid, including international undergraduates. All funding is need-based. Admissions is need-sensitive (need-aware) during evaluation — applying for maximum funding makes admission highly competitive, so the rest of your application must be strong. Not available to international transfer students, who are ineligible for any institutional aid. Because Bryn Mawr is a women's college, admission is for applicants who identify as women.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common Application — Bryn Mawr charges no application fee ($0).
- 2Complete the Bryn Mawr writing supplement (250–500 words).
- 3Submit official high school transcripts, sent by a school official with English translations.
- 4Provide the counselor recommendation and School Report.
- 5Submit two academic teacher recommendations.
- 6Send a mid-year grade report.
- 7Include English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) if you are a non-native English speaker and don't qualify for the waiver.
- 8If requesting aid, complete the CSS Profile (school code 2049). If the CSS fee is a severe hardship, indicate your interest in a fee waiver on the Declaration of Finances form in the applicant portal — the financial aid office evaluates it.
- 9Submit the Declaration of Finances (Certificate of Finances) — required for all international students, filed in the applicant status portal after you apply.
Good to know
- Bryn Mawr is a women's college — one of the Seven Sisters — so admission is for applicants who identify as women.
- Admissions is need-sensitive (need-aware) for financial aid applicants: requesting maximum funding makes admission highly competitive, so your application needs to be strong. Once admitted, Bryn Mawr meets 100% of your calculated need.
- There is no free alternative to the CSS Profile — no ISFAA. Instead, low-income applicants facing severe hardship request an institutional CSS fee waiver by indicating interest on the Declaration of Finances form in the applicant portal.
- The Declaration of Finances (COF) is required from every international applicant, submitted in the applicant status portal after you apply — separate from the CSS Profile.
- Transfer students: international transfers are ineligible for any institutional aid, need-based or merit. They are accepted only if they can fully self-fund and must demonstrate funding for a minimum 2-year residency. Transfer acceptance runs around 13.9%, the application fee is $0, and the checklist is the Common App for Transfer, all post-secondary transcripts, final high school/secondary transcripts, a College Report (registrar or dean), an academic recommendation from a university professor, English proficiency scores if your current university's instruction isn't in English, and a Declaration of Finances proving 100% self-funding for a minimum 2-year residency.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bryn Mawr College give full scholarships to international students?
Yes. Bryn Mawr meets 100% of the calculated financial need of every admitted student, including international undergraduates. In cases of extreme hardship this acts as a full ride, covering 100% of tuition, housing, and meals. All aid is need-based. Note that Bryn Mawr is a women's college, so admission is for applicants who identify as women, and admissions is need-sensitive — requesting maximum funding makes acceptance more competitive.
Is Bryn Mawr College need-blind for international students?
No — Bryn Mawr is need-sensitive (need-aware) during evaluation. The admissions committee considers how much financial aid you're requesting when deciding whether to admit you, so applying for maximum funding makes admission highly competitive. Once you're admitted, however, Bryn Mawr meets 100% of your calculated need.
Does Bryn Mawr College require the SAT for international students?
No. Bryn Mawr is permanently test-optional — SAT and ACT scores are not required, and your application receives the same review whether or not you submit them.
Does Bryn Mawr College require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes, if you are a non-native English speaker. Bryn Mawr accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test. The requirement is automatically waived if your native language is English, or if your primary language of instruction has been English for all four years of high school.
Is there a CSS Profile fee waiver for international students at Bryn Mawr?
Yes — Bryn Mawr offers institutional CSS Profile fee waivers for cases of severe hardship. There is no alternative form (no ISFAA). You submit your primary admissions materials and indicate your interest in a fee waiver on the Declaration of Finances form in the applicant portal, and the financial aid office evaluates your request. The CSS Profile school code is 2049.
What is Bryn Mawr College's acceptance rate?
Approximately 34–38% for freshman applicants — relatively accessible for a college that meets full calculated need. Transfer admission is more competitive at around 13.9%.
Does Bryn Mawr College accept international transfer students with full funding?
No. International transfer students are ineligible for any institutional aid at Bryn Mawr — need-based or merit. They are accepted only if they can fully self-fund, and must show funding for a minimum 2-year residency. If you need funding at Bryn Mawr, you must apply as an entering first-year. Transfer acceptance runs around 13.9%, and the application fee is $0.
What is required to apply to Bryn Mawr College as an international freshman?
The Common Application (no application fee); the Bryn Mawr writing supplement (250–500 words); official high school transcripts submitted by a school official with English translations; a counselor recommendation and School Report; two academic teacher recommendations; a mid-year grade report; English proficiency scores if you're a non-native English speaker; and, if applying for aid, the CSS Profile (code 2049) plus the Declaration of Finances, which every international applicant must submit in the applicant status portal.
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