Many non-U.S. citizens qualify for federal student aid. 
Don t assume you can t get aid just because you re not a citizen. The most common category of eligible noncitizen is that of permanent resident someone with a green card , but there are other categories as well. 

I am a non-U.S. citizen. Can I get federal student aid? 
Check with your college or career school s financial aid office for more information. You are considered an eligible noncitizen if you fall into certain categories, such as the ones listed below : You are a U.S. national includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island or U.S. permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C Permanent Resident Card, Resident Alien Card, or Alien Registration Receipt Card, also known as a " green card. " You have an Arrival - Departure Record I-94 from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services USCIS showing * Refugee, Asylum Granted, Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Conditional Entrant valid only if issued before April 1 , 1980 , or Parolee you must be paroled for at least one year, and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. You hold a T nonimmigrant status " T - visa " for victims of human trafficking or your parent holds a T-1 nonimmigrant status. Your college or career school s financial aid office will ask to see your visa and/or certification letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You are a battered immigrant - qualified alien who is a victim of abuse by your citizen or permanent resident spouse , or you are the child of a person designated as such under the Violence Against Women Act VAWA. You are a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau. If this is the case , you may be eligible for only certain types of federal student aid : Citizens of the Republic of Palau are elig

user: I'm from outside the U.S., can I still apply for student aid?

assistant: Of course. Don't assume you can't get aid just because you're not a citizen.

user: When am I NOT an eligible noncitizen and can not receive federal student aid?

assistant: Do you have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence I-171 or I-464?

user: No, I don't.

assistant: Are you in the U.S. on an F-1 or F-2 nonimmigrant student visa, or on a J-1 or J-2 nonimmigrant Exchange Visitor Visa?

user: Yes, that'd be the case.

assistant: Then I'm afraid you're not an eligible noncitizen and can not receive federal student aid.

user: Wait. If I'm not an eligible noncitizen, can I get any type of financial aid to study in the U.S.? Anything?

assistant: Ask the college or career school you plan to attend whether they offer any aid for students like you.

user: In which case would that be possible?

assistant: For example, when you hold a T nonimmigrant status "T-visa" for victims of human trafficking or your parent holds a T-1 nonimmigrant status. Your college or career school's financial aid office will ask to see your visa and/or certification letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.