Study Abroad Costs
Before you begin looking at study abroad programs, calculate your current expenses to get an idea of your budget.
- Compare ALL of your current costs to attend CPP for a semester. Include tuition, books, food, housing, transportation, school supplies, and daily incidentals.
- If you receive financial aid, calculate how much you receive to pay for the semester.
- Deduct this amount from the costs you just calculated to attend CPP. This will give you the out of pocket costs you have each semester.
- If you work during the semester to help pay for school, calculate how much you earn each semester.
- Please remember, you will more than likely be unable to work while you are abroad because your visa will not allow this or the cost to get a work visa is more expensive than what you would make.
Evaluate the features and costs of various programs to find the best match for your needs and interests.
Below are various factors that influence the total cost of participating on a study abroad program:
- Country Cost of Living: The cost of living in some countries (i.e. Scandanavian Countries) have a higher cost of living than other regions of the world (i.e. Southeast Asia).
- Big City vs. Smaller Town: Large cities or country capitals can automatically drive up the cost of living (i.e. Downtown Los Angeles vs. Pomona). If the cost is an issue, you might want to consider a smaller city or town.
- Exchange Rates: Places where the value of the dollar is higher means that your money can stretch farther, lowering your everyday cost of living.
- The cost benefit of a program must take the number of units into consideration. Think of this when you consider summer vs. Semester/year-long programs. You can divide the number of units that you can take by the cost to help compare programs
- Research your intended study abroad location to find out what the length of the term is (i.e. winter/summer break, quarter/semester, year-long).
- The time of year in which you choose to study can have an impact on the financial aid you may be eligible to receive (i.e. summer, J-term)
- The time of year in which you choose to study can also have an impact on cost of living due to peak-tourism season(s).
- Airfare can vary widely depending on your destination, check prices for the time of year you want to go abroad.
- Keep in mind the daily transportation in your host country— such as rail passes, taxi fares, and bus tickets— that may be required for travel.
- Know what your program fee covers and what it does not. Each program will have a budget and an itemization of what is included. Not all programs include the same activities or services.
- Additional costs (on top of the program fee) normally include airfare, tuition and fees, books, immunizations, passports/visa and spending money.
- Explore all of your options! Come to the International Center for advising or view programs on our website to learn about all of the programs available.
- The type of program you choose can play a significant role in how much it costs. However, there are benefits that may outweigh cost factors when choosing the right option for your needs.
Costs and billing will vary for different program types, but most times you should budget for the following three items:
- PROGRAM COST- Typically includes lodging, varying numbers of meals, field trips/social activities, orientation, international health insurance
- TUITION - Based on the number of credits you enroll for in your education abroad program
- OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES - Costs not included in your program fee but might be needed to pay out-of-pocket both prior to departure (passport, flight, etc.) and onsite (meals, travel, etc.); these are only estimates.
Costs for each program are detailed in the program pages.
Make sure you are aware of refund policies if you have to withdraw from a program.
Withdrawing from a program, especially close to departure, can have significant financial impacts. Please refer to the refund policies that are associated with your specific program.
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