Going Abroad Within Your Budget

Are you on a budget? Great! We are here to help and we offer a range of programs for every budget. Check out these resources to find a program that works for you:

  • Review the and the best financial deals
  • Talk to an听 (we can suggest programs and talk about your personal financial situation)
  • Regardless of your program choice, be sure to apply for scholarships!
Remember:
  • You can use your financial aid package!
  • Program costs vary widely
  • There is听not听a direct correlation between program cost and the quality of your experience.

Comparing Program Costs with 抖阴传媒在线 Costs

Knowing your cost of attendance at CU is crucial to determining which program fits in your budget.

  1. Check out CU鈥檚 Bill Estimator
  2. Write down your 鈥淐U 抖阴传媒在线 Cost Estimate鈥
  3. Check out CU Ed Abroad鈥檚
  4. Choose any program and jot down the 鈥淭otal Estimated Budget鈥 number*
  5. Now, compare those numbers. If the Ed Abroad program feels like too much for you, select a new program 鈥 maybe one from the !

*The posted costs for CU Education Abroad are comprehensive and include everything we think you鈥檒l spend money on, like tuition, housing, food, insurance, a plane ticket and personal expenses. (Costs don鈥檛 include vacation travel, so plan for that if it鈥檚 important to you).

Think About Location

Avoiding bigger cities and "hot spots"听is often the best strategy to cut costs. While a well-known city may seem attractive, looking off the beaten path can save a lot of money while allowing you to experience a hidden gem. For example, check out Granada instead of Barcelona, Brighton instead of London, or Wollongong instead of Sydney! With the money you save, you can still spend time visiting any larger cities on breaks or weekends.

Summer vs Semester

  • Summer programs generally have a smaller price tag since they are shorter, but they cost more per credit hour.
  • Maybe summer is your best option because of academic, work or family obligations. If so, we can help you find an affordable summer option!
  • Financial aid is decreased in the summer, so you鈥檒l need a way to pay for most costs out-of-pocket. See the听Financial Aid听page for more information about how summer aid works.
  • Don鈥檛 rule out a semester program because the price tag is higher. You can use more of your financial aid package for semester programs, and scholarships tend to be higher than summer.
  • Consider whether you rely upon a summer job听and how studying abroad for a summer may impact your earnings. While you may also work during the regular school year, students typically work many more hours during the summer months and rely heavily on summer earnings for the remainder of the year.
To weigh your options:
  1. Calculate the cost of a summer abroad and add that to the cost of a regular semester in 抖阴传媒在线. (See #1 above!)
  2. Now do the opposite and think about the costs of an affordable semester program (plus maybe a summer class at CU).
  3. If you plan to have a summer or year-round job, think about the income gained or lost and calculate that into your plan.
  4. Consider whether you will have any financial aid to use for summer. If you aren鈥檛 sure, check out the听Financial Aid听page, or speak with the Office of Financial Aid to learn more about what鈥檚 available to you.

The takeaway: A semester abroad can simply replace the cost of a semester at CU, while summer is an "extra" cost that families have often not planned on financially. Students who select an affordable semester program will almost always find that it is more cost-effective to go abroad for a semester.