As a nonresident on an F-1 visa, are my investment dividends taxed differently than a resident's?

Yes. Most F-1 students are nonresident aliens for their first five calendar years, and that status changes how investment income is taxed. U.S.-source dividends paid to a nonresident are generally subject to a flat 30% withholding, though a tax treaty with your home country may cut that rate (India's treaty, for instance, lowers it). In contrast, capital gains on selling stock are usually not taxed by the U.S. for nonresidents who are present under 183 days, a surprising break. You'll file Form 1040-NR, not the regular 1040, and your broker will ask you to complete Form W-8BEN to apply the right withholding. Keep dividend statements (Form 1042-S) for your filing. Once you pass the residency test, you'll switch to ordinary resident taxation.