Finances
Although international students are not eligible for government relief funds, you can consider the following options in case of financial hardship.
Did you miss the " Scholarship Opportunities for Internationals" Workshop? Find the recording here.
You are required to file your U.S. IRS taxes
If you were or have been an F-1 student in the U.S., you have an IRS tax reporting responsibility and are required to file your taxes every year whether you have worked or not. Cal Lutheran offers F1 international students the opportunity to meet this requirement through an online tax-reporting software for foreign nationals called Sprintax. Use this service if you have been in the U.S. for less than 5 years only. F1 students who have been in the U.S. for more than 5 years are considered "resident" for tax purposes and cannot use Sprintax services. They are free to process their taxes themselves, or through online filing systems such as Turbo Tax or H&R Block.
The 2025 Tax Season: REGISTER NOW! for a non-resident tax webinar
Purchase discounted Sprintax codes - AVAILABLE NOW!
Severe Economic Hardship Work Permit
If you have completed a full academic year in F-1 visa status can apply for employment authorization to work off-campus part-time while school is in session and full-time during academic breaks. The processing time takes 3-5 months and the applicant must be able to provide evidence that a financial hardship has occured. Annual renewal is possible if the situation persists.
To lean more and check your eligibility, schedule an appointment with us
Apply to Cal Lutheran Financial Aid
Our financial aid counselors want to make sure a Cal Lutheran education is affordable for you. They will work with you to help maximize your financial aid award, define the best scholarships or financial assistance option for you, and guide you through the decision making process. For questions regarding financial aid for International students, please contact Dr. Johanna Owens, Financial Aid Counselor at jowens@CalLutheran.edu.
Learn more about Cal Lutheran financial aid
Looking for Scholarships? Visit the financial aid International Student Resources page
Cal Lutheran Community Cupboard
The Cal Lutheran community cupboard is located in the Samuelson Chapel lounge. We provide non-perishable food items, grocery store gift cards, and Ullman Common meals to any current student who may have need of them. We aks nothing of students (no identification asked) except that they take only what they need and leave the rest for others. Should you wish to donate any items, Samuelson Chapel is open each day from 8am-5pm.
Checkout our Amazon wishlist for donation ideas