Haverford, Pennsylvania — USA
Haverford College
Meets up to 100% of demonstrated need for international freshmen with all-grant aid — and families earning under $60,000 get a no-loan package. But aid is need-aware and freshman-only: international transfers who request aid are automatically denied.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Haverford College, a highly selective liberal arts college just outside Philadelphia, offers full need-based financial aid to international freshman applicants — covering up to 100% of your demonstrated financial need. All aid is need-based: Haverford has no academic merit scholarships and no athletic scholarships, so funding is calculated purely from your family's finances. Packages are built from grants, and for families earning under $60,000 a year there is no loan expectation at all — the package is entirely grant aid. Two things are critical to understand. First, admissions is need-aware for international students: Haverford's international aid budget is capped, so requesting a large full-ride package makes an already competitive process significantly more difficult. Second, this generosity is freshman-only. Haverford commits 100% of its international aid budget to incoming first-year students, so if you apply as an international transfer AND request financial aid, you will be automatically denied admission — transfers must fully self-fund. If you need funding at Haverford, the freshman route is your only route.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — Haverford is completely test-optional. International freshmen are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes, unless waived — if English was not your primary language of instruction for the past three years, you must submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test scores. Applicants taught in English for the past three years are exempt.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — the CSS Profile is required to be considered for need-based aid.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- No CSS fee waiver codes — but there's a free alternative.
- CSS Waiver Type
- International freshmen who can't afford the CSS Profile fee may submit the free ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application) paper form instead, at no cost.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~12–13.3%
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $65 — waived either through a counselor fee-waiver request letter or by checking the standard financial-hardship box on the Common Application.
- Transfer Students
- Accepted, but with ZERO financial aid for international transfers — 100% of the international aid budget is committed to incoming freshmen. Requesting aid as a transfer means automatic denial. You must fully self-fund.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~12.3–14% — transfer admission is difficult because Haverford has a very high retention rate, leaving few open spots.
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $65
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.
Haverford Need-Based Financial Aid (up to 100% demonstrated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- Up to 100% of your demonstrated financial need
- All aid is grant-based — no academic merit or athletic scholarships exist
- No loan expectation for families earning under $60,000/year — the package is entirely grants
Who qualifies
International freshman applicants who apply for financial aid. Funding is calculated solely from your family's finances — Haverford offers no merit or athletic awards. Admissions is need-aware for international students because the international aid budget is capped, so requesting a large full-ride package makes admission more competitive. Not available to international transfer students, who are automatically denied if they request aid.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common Application with the Haverford Writing Supplement, and indicate that you are applying for financial aid ($65 fee — waived via a counselor fee-waiver request letter or the financial-hardship box on the Common App).
- 2Submit your official high school transcripts.
- 3Provide the School Report and a counselor recommendation, plus two teacher letters of recommendation.
- 4Submit English proficiency scores (TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo) if English wasn't your primary language of instruction for the past three years.
- 5Complete the CSS Profile — or, if you can't afford the CSS fee, submit the free ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application) paper form instead.
Good to know
- Haverford has no academic merit scholarships and no athletic scholarships — every dollar of aid is need-based, so a strong financial-aid case rests entirely on your family's demonstrated need.
- If your family earns under $60,000 a year, your aid package carries no loan expectation — it's built entirely from grants you never repay.
- Admissions is need-aware for international applicants: the international aid budget is capped, so requesting a large full-ride package makes an already competitive process (roughly 12–13% acceptance) even harder.
- Transfer students: Haverford commits 100% of its international aid budget to incoming freshmen. International transfers who request aid are automatically denied and must fully self-fund. Transfer admission is also very difficult (~12.3–14%) because of Haverford's very high retention rate. Transfer applicants need the Common App for Transfer, all college transcripts, a final high school transcript showing the graduation date, a Transfer College/Registrar's Report, two academic evaluations from university professors, and mandatory financial documentation proving they can cover 100% of costs themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Does Haverford College give full scholarships to international students?
Yes — for freshmen. Haverford meets up to 100% of demonstrated financial need for international freshman applicants, entirely through need-based grant aid. There are no merit or athletic scholarships. For families earning under $60,000 a year, the package has no loan expectation at all. Admissions is need-aware, however, so requesting a large full-ride package makes admission more competitive, and international transfer students receive no aid.
Is Haverford need-blind for international students?
No — Haverford is need-aware for international applicants. Its international aid budget is capped, so the admissions committee weighs how much aid you're requesting, and asking for a major full-ride package makes an already competitive process (roughly 12–13% acceptance) harder. Once admitted, Haverford covers up to 100% of your demonstrated need.
Does Haverford require the SAT for international students?
No. Haverford is completely test-optional, so international freshmen are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Does Haverford require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes, unless you're exempt. If English was not your primary language of instruction for the past three years, you must submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test scores. Applicants who have been taught in English for the past three years are waived from this requirement.
Is there a CSS Profile fee waiver for international students at Haverford?
Haverford does not issue CSS Profile fee waiver codes. Instead, international freshmen who can't afford the CSS fee may submit the free ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application) paper form at no cost, so you can apply for aid without paying anything.
What is Haverford's acceptance rate?
Roughly 12% to 13.3% for freshman admissions. Transfer admission is around 12.3% to 14%, and is difficult because Haverford's very high retention rate leaves few open spots — plus international transfers receive no financial aid.
Does Haverford accept international transfer students with full funding?
No. Haverford commits 100% of its international aid budget to incoming first-year students, so there is zero aid for international transfers. If you apply as an international transfer and request financial aid, you will be automatically denied admission. Transfers must fully self-fund and submit financial documentation proving they can cover 100% of costs.
What is required to apply to Haverford as an international freshman?
The Common Application with the Haverford Writing Supplement, official high school transcripts, the School Report and a counselor recommendation, two teacher letters of recommendation, English proficiency scores if English wasn't your primary language of instruction for the past three years, and either the CSS Profile or the free ISFAA if applying for financial aid. The $65 application fee can be waived via a counselor fee-waiver request letter or the financial-hardship box on the Common App.
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