What's the Cost?
"What is the cost?" -- the question on the tips of many lips. The costs of a study abroad program depend completely on the program you choose. For some, it could be the same as a semester at IIT, plus flights and, of course, personal travel; for others it could actually be cheaper if the tuition at a partner institution is considerably lower than that of IIT (which can often be the case in Europe).
Costs will also be affected by whether you can bring your current financial aid with you, and this is again dependent on the program you choose. Access to study abroad-specific scholarships can also play a huge role in finances and we can help you try and find one that matches your needs and abilities.
Faculty-Led Programs are regular IIT courses, so regular tuition will apply, dependent on the semester in which your selected program takes place. Sometimes there are additional program-specific fees, which include field trips, etc.
Global E3 and Exchange Programs
You pay IIT tuition for the term you will be abroad. Minor administrative costs may also be required at the host university, much like those that usually would have been paid to IIT. You will pay housing costs directly to the host university, NOT IIT.
Partner University Programs
You pay the host university tuition fees, housing costs and other minor administrative costs. Tuition in Europe or Asia is often considerably less than IIT tuition, though tuition in Australia can be quite comparable.
External Programs
Similar to a partner program, you pay the host university tuition fees, housing costs and other minor administrative costs. However, you will have to do a bit of legwork on your own to be sure you are eligible to apply, and to see if there are additional fees added by the host university for not going through a partner program.
Third Party Provider Programs
Published fees for Third Party Programs can include tuition and fees, housing and meals, field trips/excursions, insurance and occasionally international airfare. Other programs simply list the tuition cost. Make sure that you obtain the complete cost information from your program provider.
| Type of Aid | Faculty-led Programs | GE3 and Exchange Programs | Partner University Programs | External and Third Party Provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institutional Scholarships |
Tuition scholarships only. Housing scholarships will not apply. |
Tuition scholarships only. Housing scholarships will not apply. |
No |
No |
| Federal Grants1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Maybe |
| Federal Loans1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Maybe |
| Federal Work Study1 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| State Grants1 |
Maybe |
No |
No |
No |
| Institutional Loans |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Private Loans2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
¹ These awards are only offered if you have completed FAFSA for the academic year of the study abroad program or exchange program. If you haven't done so already, be sure to work with your parents to complete the FAFSA. Even if you don't typically qualify for federal financial aid, you should still complete the FAFSA. While there are many affordable programs, a study abroad semester may cost a bit more than studying on the IIT campus, which may allow you to qualify for federal aid.
² You must have eligibility in your budget to apply for this loan.
Remember to renew your FAFSA application while abroad (if abroad for the spring semester only).
Financial aid for summer semesters can vary significantly. Check with the Office of Financial Aid to see how your financial aid is set up for summer.
For external and third party provider programs, federal financial aid eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis. No IIT institutional scholarships will be applied to these programs.
Check how this affects your package by filling out the Study Abroad Worksheet. For more information, please visit the Financial Aid Office page for study abroad.
Whether or not you qualify for financial aid, there are many study abroad scholarships available for both undergraduate and graduate students.
- Check with your department chair to see if any departmental scholarships exist;
- Search international education scholarship databases, such as IEFA, studyabroad.com, and internationalscholarships.com.
- If applicable, research your Affiliated Program Provider’s website, as they too could offer scholarships to their participants.
External scholarships and grants offer an opportunity for students to offset the costs of studying abroad. Some scholarships and grants are highly competitive while others have very early deadlines. Read through the descriptions and websites carefully before you submit an application. If you need help with an application, do not hesitate to come up to the Study Abroad Office for assistance.
The following are just a few scholarship/grant sites for you to research:
General Study Abroad Scholarships
Benjamin A. Gilman Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship
Foundation for Global Scholars
Global Studies Foundation
LewerMark 'Make Your Mark' Scholarship Program
Elder & Leemaur University Writing Scholarship
Mensa Education & Research Foundation
National Science Foundation
DiversityAbroad.com Scholarships
Regional Study Abroad Scholarships
ASIA
Japanese Student Services Organizations (JASSO)
Association of Teachers of Japanese Bridging Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship
Japanese Consulate Scholarships
Freeman Asia
AUSTRALIA
Australian Culture Forum
EUROPE
Ministry of the Flemish Community - Belgium
American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS) - Russia, Eurasia, SE Europe
French Government Scholarships - France
The Kosciuszko Foundation - Poland
American-Scandinavian Foundation - Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway
American Women's Club in Sweden - Sweden
British Counsil - UK
Butex Scholarship - UK
Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship - UK
National Welsh-American Foundation Exchange Scholarship - UK
Rhodes Scholarships - UK
R. Harper Brown Memorial Scholarship - UK
DAAD/RISE Scholarship program - Germany
Grant & Scholarship Opportunities For Graduate Students
Fulbright Student Program
National Security Education Program (NSEP)
Marshall Scholarships
Organization of American States
American Association of University Women - WOMEN ONLY
The Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship
Scholarships For Minorities
Microsoft Scholarship Programs
The Marion Wright Edelman Scholarship
Black Collegian
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship
Turkish Coalition of American & DiversityAbroad.com
American Physical Society
A Better Chance: College Scholarships
Brown Foundation
Gates Millennium Scholars Program
IIPP Fellowship Program
The Lagrant Foundation
The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)
NAACP
National Society of Black Engineers (must be a NSBE member)
Science Research Scholarship Awards
United Negro College Fund
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
The Korean American Scholarship Foundation
Korean Honor Scholarship
US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
Hispanic College Fund Scholarship Program
Hispanic Scholarship Funds Program
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Mexican American Legal Defnse and Educational Fund
Smithsonian Institution Native American Internship Program
American Indian Education Foundation
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Association of American Indian Affairs
The Cherokee Nation: Higher Education
Indian health Service
Anglo-Jewish Association
Rotch Travel Studio Grant for ARCH majors
U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship - for proposals on topics related to the mandate of the United nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and that seek to build strong ties among nations
Air Force Crossroads Scholarship - Connection to military as shown on website
Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association - Connection to military as shown on website
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for mathematics, natural sciences or engineering majors
Explorers Club Youth Activity Fund for natural science majors
Government Finance Offers Association for Business of Social Science Majors
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation - Connection to U.S. Marine Corps as shown on website
The Point Foundation for LBGT students and supporters
Scholarships for Military Children - Connection to military as shown on website
Society of Women Engineers for women pursuing degrees in engineering
Other Scholarship Databases
Global E3 - IIE Scholarship Website
International Education Financial Aid (IEFA)
Go Overseas Scholarships
Foundation Center
U.S. Government Sponsored Scholarships & Grants
Black Excel (for African-American Students)
Scholarships.com
Peterson's Award Database