Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania makes a clean promise to international applicants: if you are admitted, the college will meet your institutionally determined financial need for all four years on campus. There is also a free route through the aid paperwork – the CSS Profile or F&M’s own International Aid Form.
The constraint is budget, not policy. F&M says the aid for international students is generous but limited, and asks families to apply early. Below are the published 2026-27 costs, the exact forms, and the deadlines that decide whether an Indian applicant is in the aid queue at all.
Franklin & Marshall international financial aid at a glance
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Last date to apply | 15 November 2026 (Early Decision I), 15 January 2027 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision) – financial aid forms are due with the application |
| Official website | fandm.edu – Apply for financial aid (international students) |
What F&M promises international students
F&M’s own wording: “if you are admitted to F&M, we will meet your institutionally determined financial need for all four years on campus.” The college reports that 100% of demonstrated financial need is met for all enrolled students, and that about 65% of students receive some form of need-based aid, including international students.
Two honest caveats are printed on the same page. The aid budget for internationals is limited, so the college encourages early applications – in practice ED I and ED II applicants are considered while funds remain. And need is calculated as cost of attendance minus expected family contribution minus any merit award; a merit scholarship therefore reduces the need-based grant rather than stacking on top of it.
Cost of attendance 2026-27
F&M publishes a full cost-of-attendance table. The rows below add up exactly to the printed total of $97,041, which is the number to use when planning how much aid to request.
| Tuition | $74,770 |
| Housing / room fee | $12,080 |
| Meal plan fee | $7,240 |
| Health services fee | $146 |
| Student activity fee | $200 |
| Books and supplies | $800 |
| Personal expenses | $1,350 |
| Transportation | $400 |
| Loan fees | $55 |
| Total cost of attendance | $97,041 |
F&M’s Commonwealth Commitment – tuition-free study for Pennsylvania residents with household income under $75,000, and no more than Penn State in-state tuition between $75,000 and $150,000 – is a state-resident programme and does not apply to international applicants. Do not count it in your planning.
CSS Profile or the free International Aid Form
This is where F&M is friendlier than most US colleges. The aid page says an international applicant applying for aid must submit either the CSS Profile (Fall 2027 / Spring 2028 cycle, available from October 2026) or the International Aid Form. The CSS Profile costs $25 for the first college and $16 for each additional college, and the College Board provides a fee waiver when parent income is under $100,000 – but the free F&M form removes the cost entirely.
Once aid has been determined before admission, F&M states that students will not be required to file a new CSS Profile later. F&M also assumes a minimum student earning contribution of $1,550 in the first academic year and $2,150 in each of the next three years, so budget for that amount of term-time or summer earnings.
How to apply for aid at F&M
- Apply for admission through the Common App by 15 November 2026 (Early Decision I) or 15 January 2027 (Early Decision II / Regular Decision). Decisions for RD are released by 1 April.
- Submit the CSS Profile for the Fall 2027 / Spring 2028 cycle (available from October 2026) or F&M’s International Aid Form – the second option is free.
- Report both biological or adoptive parents’ income and assets, plus step-parents’ information if applicable, since F&M’s formula uses the household that supports the student.
- Ask the admission office early about the international aid budget rather than waiting for the decision – the college’s own advice is to apply early because funds are limited.
- Keep the aid file consistent with the admission file; F&M compares the figures it receives with the documents submitted before admission.
Important dates for the 2027 intake
- 15 November 2026 – Early Decision I; notification within 30 days of the deadline.
- 15 January 2027 – Early Decision II; notification within 30 days.
- 15 January 2027 – Regular Decision; notification by 1 April.
- 15 April 2027 – priority deadline for transfer applicants for the fall term (final deadline 1 July); spring transfer priority 15 November, final 1 December.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. F&M states that if an international student is admitted, the college meets its institutionally determined financial need for all four years on campus, and that 100% of demonstrated need is met for enrolled students.
Not necessarily. International applicants can submit either the CSS Profile for the Fall 2027 / Spring 2028 cycle or F&M’s own International Aid Form, which carries no fee.
The total cost of attendance is $97,041: $74,770 tuition, $12,080 housing, $7,240 meal plan, plus fees, books, personal expenses, transportation and loan fees.
Early Decision I is 15 November 2026; Early Decision II and Regular Decision are both 15 January 2027, with Regular Decision results released by 1 April.
Yes. F&M describes the international aid budget as generous but limited and encourages families to apply early, which is why an Early Decision application can matter for aid-seeking applicants.
No. The Commonwealth Commitment covers Pennsylvania residents only, so international applicants should plan around the standard need-based aid process.
Official links
- Apply for financial aid – Franklin & Marshall College
- Cost of attendance 2026-27 – Franklin & Marshall College
- Financial aid overview and aid for international students – Franklin & Marshall College
- International student experience and admission – Franklin & Marshall College
Related reading: browse more USA scholarships, study abroad scholarships and international scholarships.
Related scholarship posts:
- Tufts University financial aid for international students
- Davidson College financial aid for international students
- Centre College financial aid for international students