There are a great many programs you can utilize.

Many students want to know, “Can I use my financial aid for study abroad?

Generally, the answer is, “Yes”.  You can probably use your financial aid to study abroad if you are eligible to receive financial aid at your home college or university and if your home college or university has approved your proposed study abroad course of study. 

The only way to find out for sure is to ask your financial aid advisor at you home institution.  Some financial aid officers will not okay certain aid, and others will.  Some private colleges will also allocate institutional funds towards study abroad.

Some federal aid available to you may include:

There are a great many sources of financial aid available to students who want to study abroad.  I will list some of them here. You can find out about a great many programs through the financial aid office at your home college or university.

Can I use my financial aid to study abroad?

Well, this will, of course, depend on your specific study abroad program. Generally, most of the reputable U. S. international student exchange program will accept many of the grants and loans offered by the U. S. federal government.  

Some of the grants that can be credited to your program fees are:

• the Federal Pell Grant (need-based aid)

• the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant (need-based aid)

• Federal Perkins Loan

• Federal Stafford Loan

• Federal PLUS Loans for Undergraduate Students

Some Federal Scholarships that are available to study abroad students are:

• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

• David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad

• Program aid from your study abroad program

• State Aid

• Third-Party Scholarships that you can apply for

• Fundraising (there are a gazillion ways to do this – car washes, bake sales, pizza and cookie dough sales, scratch off cards, subscriptions to a newsletter you can write from overseas, personal solicitations from businesses, etc.)

If my study abroad program costs more than the costs at my home college or university, can I get additional aid? or If my study abroad program costs less than the costs at my home college or university, will I get less aid money?

Well, each situation is different. Most  likely the cost of your study abroad program will be different from the costs of attendance at your home institution. If the cost is greater overseas, you can apply for additional aid.

Make an appointment to talk with your financial aid officer.  Prepare a budget. Know exactly what the program fees cover. 

• Do they cover your international airfare? 
  
• Will  your airfare to the U. S. departure city be your responsibility or the program responsibility? 
  
• Who pays for housing – your or your program? 
  
• What about your meals? If you live in a homestay, are all meals covered?  How many meals per day are included with the program.

Dot all of your “I’s” and cross all of your “t’s”.  Make your case for increased aid. There are no guarantees.  Also, apply to both your home institution and also directly to the study abroad program.

There is plenty of money available to you when you study abroad. For a listing of programs that provide financial aid and scholarships for study abroad, click the preceding link.  You've just got to go out there and find it.  Click the link above to find out how to study abroad on a shoestring budget.