Can Studying Abroad Be Affordable?

Studying abroad is more affordable than students may think. Scholarships are available for students who wish to study abroad, but deadlines are closing soon.

Kayli Hillebrand, Director of the Global Education and Outreach (GEO), is a vital part of the university’s study abroad program. According to Hillebrand, there are plenty of scholarships that students can apply for, which students can come to GEO for more information regarding.

“Our goal is to make the process as streamlined and simple as possible while equipping our students to succeed in whichever endeavor they choose to engage in,” Hillebrand said. 

According to Dr. Laurie Hatch, Associate Professor of English, students should apply to programs as soon as possible since the deadlines for most of the trips are usually in October and November. Dr. Hatch recommends for students that are curious about study abroad programs to research online, as there are more scholarships than people realize. 

According to Hillebrand, one way that students can accept aid for study abroad is through the Gilman Scholarship. Students can only receive the Gilman Scholarship if they also receive the Pell Grant. Other scholarship options depend on other factors which may include ethnic identification, program location, or specific area of study.  

According to Hillebrand, GEO has several partner programs affiliated with the university that can be less costly for students. These include Best Semester, Living and Learning, and Veritas. These trips can range from semester programs and summer programs. 

“We are what is called a cost-plus model. So, [in] all of those programs, students are only paying the program fee, plus a study abroad admin fee,” Hillebrand said. 

Location is the biggest determining factor in regards to how much a study abroad program might cost, according to Hillebrand. For example, since Japan is expensive to live in, programs there would be pricer. In comparison, if someone was to go to Ecuador, the program would be less expensive because it is more of a developing country. 

Students can receive more information on study abroad programs offered by logging into ViaTRM, with their student logins, where they can look at some of the options the GEO office has to offer, according to Hillebrand.