International students: How to show financial ability
UC’s Ron Cushing speaks with U.S. News and World Report
International students accepted to an American college must then demonstrate financial ability to pay for tuition, books and living expenses while in the United States, according to a story in the U.S. News & World Report.
“There are numerous ways international students can demonstrate financial ability,” explained Ron Cushing, director of UC International Services for the U.S. News & World Report story. “Students must show that they have the first year of support available and indicate how subsequent years of study will be funded.”
U.S. News & World report reports that accepted students at American colleges will work with their designated school official, or DSO, who serves as a liaison between the school and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. SEVP is a U.S. government program that ensures U.S. schools and international students comply with laws and regulations.
DSOs "are required to receive, review and evaluate proof of financial responsibility for an international student prior to issuing the student a Form I-20," Paige Hughes, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security Investigations, wrote in an email.
A Form I-20 certifies that an international student has been admitted for full-time study once proof of financial ability is established. Hughes says prospective students must provide evidence that meets their school's specific requirements.
After a school issues an I-20, students are eligible to apply for a student visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. A U.S. government official will review the documents, including the evidence of financial ability, and make the final decision about whether a student can pay, and if so will issue a student visa to study in the U.S.
UC enrolled 4,616 international students for Fall 2024 with nearly half coming from India and substantial numbers also coming from China, Vietnam, Nepal and Nigeria, according to the Office of Institutional Research.
Read the full U.S. News & World Report article online.
Featured image of UC students taken by Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
Related Stories
These teeny spiders are social media stars
August 28, 2026
The New York Times turned to a University of Cincinnati professor to explain the appeal of jumping spiders on social media.
An internal divide among unions on AI impacts the Wisconsin gubernatorial race
August 28, 2026
Anne Lofaso, a professor in the Donald P. Klekamp College of Law at UC, spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio, about the schism among unions over AI and whether it is a plus, a negative, or somewhere in between when looking at job creation.
Campus buzz returns as UC students experience their first week
August 27, 2026
Near-perfect weather, record first-year enrollment, Thrifty Move-In and a packed Involvement Fair mark the University of Cincinnati’s first week back as thousands of Bearcats move into campus housing.