The 2025-2026 academic year started this fall. If you aren’t starting college until fall 2026, you would be in the 2026-2027 academic year as a freshman.
Please please do a chance me/match me thread. Your information posted here in the long paragraphs is not easy to parse.
All international students should be looking at colleges in their home countries, or perhaps in Europe where costs are less.
You need a LOT of aid to attend colleges here. A LOT. Many of the most generous colleges are need aware for admissions so your high level of financial need will be considered.
The schools @tsbna44 listed above are highly competitive for admissions anyway with international student acceptances being in the single digits.