Richmond, Virginia — USA
University of Richmond
Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international students, and layers a full-ride merit option on top: the Richmond Scholars Program covers full tuition, housing, and food for 25 incoming students each year. Admissions is need-aware, so read the fine print.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
The University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia funds international students through two distinct routes. First, it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted international student — if you get accepted and your family can't pay, your calculated need is covered. Second, it offers the Richmond Scholars Program, a full-ride merit scholarship that covers 100% of tuition, housing, and food for just 25 incoming students each year, awarded independently of financial need. The important catch: Richmond is need-aware for international applicants, meaning the admissions committee sees how much aid you're requesting when deciding whether to admit you — so asking for a full ride makes an already competitive process (roughly 22–24% freshman acceptance) even tougher. International transfers can still receive need-based aid — Richmond aims to meet 100% of demonstrated need for admitted transfers — but transfer funding is extremely limited, and transfers are completely ineligible for the Richmond Scholars merit award.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — Richmond is test-optional. You are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, though a strong score can help your candidacy, including for the merit Richmond Scholars award.
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes, required if English is not your native language — TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test accepted.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — the CSS Profile is required for need-based aid. Richmond's CSS code is 5569.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- Yes — a fee waiver is available to competitive applicants, but there are no codes to use beforehand.
- CSS Waiver Type
- After you submit your admissions application, a CSS Profile Fee Waiver Request Form becomes available in your Spider Portal. If approved, Richmond provides you a CSS Profile fee waiver code.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~22–24%
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $0 — Richmond offers an official "Richmond Awarded Fee Waiver" to all international students and applicants living abroad; follow the waiver instructions during submission.
- Transfer Students
- Accepted and eligible for need-based aid — Richmond aims to meet 100% of demonstrated need for admitted transfers — but international transfer funding is extremely limited, and transfers are completely ineligible for the merit Richmond Scholars award.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~15–16% — roughly 300 fall applications for about 50 spaces
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $50 — hardship waivers accepted.
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.
Richmond Need-Based Financial Aid (100% demonstrated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- 100% of your demonstrated financial need
- Institutional grant aid toward tuition, housing, food, books, and related costs
Who qualifies
Admitted first-year and transfer students who apply for financial aid. Richmond meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted international students. Note that admissions is need-aware for international applicants: the more aid you request, the more competitive your application must be. International transfers are eligible for need-based aid but funding is extremely limited.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application and indicate that you are applying for financial aid ($0 application fee — use the official "Richmond Awarded Fee Waiver" offered to all international applicants living abroad by following the waiver instructions during submission).
- 2Submit official high school transcripts, with certified English translations if the originals are in another language.
- 3Submit a counselor recommendation and one academic teacher recommendation.
- 4Submit English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) if English is not your native language.
- 5Complete the CSS Profile (Richmond's code is 5569) if applying for aid. If the CSS fee is a hardship, submit the CSS Profile Fee Waiver Request Form that appears in your Spider Portal after you submit your application; if approved, Richmond issues you a fee waiver code.
- 6Submit the University of Richmond Certification of Financial Responsibility — required for all non-U.S. citizens.
Richmond Scholars Program
Merit-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- Full tuition
- Housing
- Food
Who qualifies
Incoming first-year students only — roughly 25 Richmond Scholars are named each year. This is a full-ride merit award covering 100% of tuition, housing, and food, granted independently of financial need. Transfer students are completely ineligible for the Richmond Scholars Program.
How to apply
- 1Apply to the University of Richmond for first-year admission through the Common Application or Coalition Application.
- 2Strong academic and extracurricular achievement drives selection for this competitive full-ride merit award; a high SAT/ACT can strengthen your candidacy even though testing is optional.
Good to know
- Richmond is need-aware for international applicants — the admissions committee sees how much aid you request, so a full-ride request makes an already competitive process (~22–24% freshman acceptance) tougher. Your application still needs to be exceptional.
- There are two separate funding routes: need-based aid (meets 100% of demonstrated need) and the merit-based Richmond Scholars Program (a full ride for ~25 incoming students covering tuition, housing, and food). Freshmen can be considered for both; transfers are eligible for need-based aid only.
- English proficiency is required for non-native English speakers — TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.
- CSS fee waiver is a portal-based process: there are no codes to use in advance, but after submitting your admissions application you can request the CSS Profile Fee Waiver Request Form in your Spider Portal, and Richmond issues a waiver code to competitive applicants who are approved. Richmond's CSS code is 5569.
- All non-U.S. citizens must submit the University of Richmond Certification of Financial Responsibility.
- Transfers: funding is extremely limited and transfers cannot receive the Richmond Scholars merit award. Transfer admission runs ~15–16% (about 300 fall applications for ~50 spaces), the application fee is $50 (hardship waivers accepted), and you apply via the Transfer Application (Common App, Coalition, or the Richmond Institutional Transfer Application). Required: all post-secondary transcripts, a final high school transcript showing math through Algebra II, a College Report plus a College Instructor Recommendation, English scores, and the CSS Profile with the Certification of Financial Responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Richmond give full scholarships to international students?
Yes, through two routes. Richmond meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international students, so if you're accepted and your family can't pay, your calculated need is covered. Separately, the merit-based Richmond Scholars Program is a full ride — covering tuition, housing, and food — for about 25 incoming first-year students each year, awarded independently of need.
Is the University of Richmond need-blind for international students?
No — Richmond is need-aware for international applicants. The admissions committee sees how much financial aid you're requesting when deciding whether to admit you, so requesting a full scholarship makes admission more competitive. Once admitted, however, Richmond meets 100% of your demonstrated need.
What is the Richmond Scholars Program?
The Richmond Scholars Program is the University of Richmond's full-ride merit scholarship. It covers 100% of tuition, housing, and food for roughly 25 incoming first-year students each year, awarded on merit independently of financial need. It is open to freshmen only — transfer students are completely ineligible.
Does the University of Richmond require the SAT for international students?
No. Richmond is test-optional, so you are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores. A strong score can still help your candidacy, including for the merit Richmond Scholars award.
Does the University of Richmond require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes, if English is not your native language. Richmond accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test.
Is there a CSS Profile fee waiver for international students at the University of Richmond?
Yes. There are no codes to use beforehand, but after you submit your admissions application, a CSS Profile Fee Waiver Request Form becomes available in your Spider Portal. If approved, Richmond provides a CSS Profile fee waiver code to competitive applicants. Richmond's CSS code is 5569.
What is the University of Richmond's acceptance rate?
Freshman acceptance runs roughly 22–24%. Transfer admission is more competitive at around 15–16% — approximately 300 fall applications for about 50 spaces.
Does the University of Richmond accept international transfer students with full funding?
Transfers are eligible for need-based aid — Richmond aims to meet 100% of demonstrated need for admitted transfers — but international transfer funding is extremely limited, and transfers are completely ineligible for the merit Richmond Scholars award. Transfer acceptance runs about 15–16%, the application fee is $50 (hardship waivers accepted), and you apply via the Transfer Application (Common App, Coalition, or the Richmond Institutional Transfer Application) with all post-secondary transcripts, a final high school transcript showing math through Algebra II, a College Report and College Instructor Recommendation, English scores, and the CSS Profile plus Certification of Financial Responsibility.
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