Lancaster, Pennsylvania — USA
Franklin & Marshall College
Meets 100% of institutionally determined need with loan-free institutional grants for international freshmen AND transfers — but admissions is need-aware, so requesting a full ride lowers your acceptance odds. One-shot aid rule: apply for aid with your admission or you're locked out forever.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania offers full need-based financial aid — up to 100% of your demonstrated financial need — to international freshman AND transfer students. Awards cover tuition, housing, and meals through institutional grants that never need to be repaid, so F&M's packages are genuinely loan-free. Two things you must understand before applying. First, F&M is need-aware for international applicants: the admissions committee sees how much aid you request, and asking for a full ride actively lowers your chances of acceptance, so the rest of your application has to be exceptional. Second — and this is the make-or-break rule — you must apply for financial aid at the same time as your admission application. If you're admitted as a self-funded student who didn't apply for aid, you are barred from EVER applying for or receiving institutional aid in any future year, no matter how your family's finances change. There is no second chance, so decide before you submit.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — F&M has been completely test-optional for over 30 years. Choosing not to submit SAT or ACT scores will not hurt your application.
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes — required for non-native English speakers. F&M accepts the TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — you can use the CSS Profile (school code 2261), or complete F&M's own free International Aid Form instead.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- No CSS fee waiver codes — but there's a free alternative.
- CSS Waiver Type
- F&M provides no institutional CSS fee waiver codes. Instead, use F&M's own free International Aid Form, accessed and completed online through the F&M International Aid Portal by your application deadline — it costs nothing.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~28–32% overall (lower for internationals requesting total funding)
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $60 — a hardship waiver is available through the Common App or Coalition App.
- Transfer Students
- Accepted and funded under the same 100%-met-need policy, AND automatically reviewed for partial merit scholarships up to $35,000/year. But transfer aid resources are highly restricted and fiercely competitive.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~26–38%
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $60 — hardship waivers available through the Common App for Transfer.
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.
F&M Need-Based Financial Aid (100% of institutionally determined need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- Up to 100% of your demonstrated financial need
- Tuition, housing, and meals covered through institutional grants
- Loan-free — the grants never need to be repaid
Who qualifies
Admitted international freshman and transfer students who apply for financial aid at the same time as their admission application. F&M meets 100% of institutionally determined need for all admitted undergraduates. Admissions is need-aware for international applicants: requesting a full ride lowers your acceptance odds, so the rest of your application must be exceptional. Critical: if you are admitted as a self-funded student who did not apply for aid, you are permanently barred from ever receiving institutional aid in any future year.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common App or Coalition App ($60 fee — a hardship waiver is available inside the application). You MUST indicate you're applying for financial aid on this application — you cannot request aid in any later year if you skip it now.
- 2Submit your official high school transcripts.
- 3Submit the School Report and a counselor recommendation.
- 4Provide two teacher letters of recommendation.
- 5Submit English proficiency scores (TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo) if you are not a native English speaker.
- 6Complete the CSS Profile (school code 2261) — or, if you can't afford the CSS fee, complete F&M's own free International Aid Form online through the F&M International Aid Portal by your application deadline.
Good to know
- The one-shot aid rule is the single most important thing to know about F&M: you must apply for financial aid concurrently with your admission application. If you're admitted as a self-funded student who didn't apply for aid, you are barred from EVER applying for or receiving institutional aid in any later year — regardless of any change in your family's finances. There is no exception and no appeal.
- F&M is need-aware for international applicants, so apply for the amount of aid you genuinely need but understand that requesting a full ride lowers your acceptance odds — the rest of your application has to be exceptional.
- Transfers get a real bonus: alongside 100%-met need, international transfer applicants are automatically reviewed for partial merit scholarships worth up to $35,000/year. But transfer aid resources are highly restricted and fiercely competitive, so treat it as a strong plus, not a guarantee.
- The free International Aid Form saves you the CSS fee: F&M gives no CSS fee waiver codes, but its own online International Aid Form (via the F&M International Aid Portal) costs nothing and can be used in place of the CSS Profile.
- Transfer applicants need the Common App for Transfer, transcripts from every college attended, a final high school transcript or proof of graduation, a Transfer College Report, one academic evaluation (from a college instructor or professor), English proficiency scores if applicable, and the CSS Profile or F&M's free online International Aid Form.
Frequently asked questions
Does Franklin & Marshall College give full scholarships to international students?
Yes. F&M meets 100% of institutionally determined need for all admitted undergraduates, including international freshman and transfer students, with awards covering tuition, housing, and meals through institutional grants that never need to be repaid (loan-free). Aid is need-based — you must apply for financial aid at the same time as your admission application.
Is Franklin & Marshall need-blind for international students?
No — F&M is need-aware for international applicants. The admissions committee sees how much aid you request, and asking for a full ride actively lowers your chances of acceptance. Once admitted, F&M meets 100% of your institutionally determined need, but the request itself makes an already competitive process harder.
What happens if I get into F&M without applying for financial aid — can I apply later?
No, and this is the most important rule at F&M. You must apply for financial aid concurrently with your admission application. If you are admitted as a self-funded student who did not apply for aid, you are permanently barred from EVER applying for or receiving institutional aid in any future year, regardless of how your family's finances change. If there is any chance you'll need aid, you must request it up front.
Does Franklin & Marshall require the SAT for international students?
No. F&M has been completely test-optional for over 30 years. Choosing not to submit SAT or ACT scores will not hurt your application.
Does Franklin & Marshall require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes. English proficiency testing is required for applicants who are not native English speakers. F&M accepts the TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test.
Is there a CSS Profile fee waiver for international students at F&M?
F&M does not provide institutional CSS Profile fee waiver codes. Instead, there's a free alternative: complete F&M's own International Aid Form, accessed and filled out online through the F&M International Aid Portal by your application deadline. It costs nothing and can be used in place of the CSS Profile (school code 2261).
Does Franklin & Marshall accept international transfer students with full funding?
Yes. International transfer students are funded under the same 100%-met-need policy as freshmen, and they're automatically reviewed for partial merit scholarships worth up to $35,000/year — a strong plus. Be aware, though, that transfer aid resources are highly restricted and fiercely competitive. Transfer acceptance runs roughly 26–38%. You'll need the Common App for Transfer, all college transcripts, a final high school transcript or proof of graduation, a Transfer College Report, one academic evaluation, and English scores if applicable.
What is Franklin & Marshall's acceptance rate?
Freshman acceptance is approximately 28–32% overall, though it runs lower for international students requesting total funding. Transfer acceptance is roughly 26–38%.
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