Estimate your total cost for a study abroad semester — not just the program fee, but flights, housing, food, and the extras that add up.
This adds your program fee (tuition and mandatory fees), round-trip flights, monthly housing if it isn't already bundled into the program fee, monthly food and living costs across your program length, and a catch-all for visa, insurance, and miscellaneous fees. Program fees at many university-run exchange programs already include housing and sometimes meals — check yours before entering a separate housing number to avoid double-counting.
Visa and immigration application fees, mandatory international health insurance (often required by the host country, not optional), a housing security deposit, local transportation passes, and a phone/data plan are the most commonly underestimated line items. Even a program fee marketed as "all-inclusive" is worth reading closely for what it actually excludes.
Can I use financial aid and student loans for study abroad? Usually yes, if the program is run through your home university or an approved partner — most federal and institutional aid can be applied, though work-study typically cannot. See our full guide on study abroad financial aid for details.
Is study abroad usually more or less expensive than a normal semester at home? It varies enormously by destination and program type. A semester in a lower-cost-of-living country through your home university's exchange program can cost about the same as or less than staying home.
What costs do students most commonly forget to budget for? Visa and immigration fees, mandatory international health insurance, a security deposit, local transportation, a phone/data plan, and personal travel during breaks.
Does studying abroad affect my GPA? It depends entirely on your home school's policy — some schools record study abroad grades as pass/fail (no GPA impact), while others fully incorporate the grades. See our guide on how studying abroad affects your GPA.
Does Studying Abroad Affect Your GPA? — school policies compared.
Study Abroad Financial Aid Guide — using aid, loans, and scholarships abroad.
College Cost Calculator — compare against a normal semester's cost.