Studying away is an exciting opportunity to expand your academic and personal horizons—and thoughtful financial planning can help make it possible. Many students are able to apply their Allegheny, federal, and state financial aid toward sponsored study away programs, making off-campus study more accessible than you might expect. Students are responsible for understanding how their financial aid, billing, and payment obligations apply before, during, and after their time away. The information below outlines key financial aid policies, billing procedures, additional costs to consider, and available external funding to help you plan effectively for your study away experience.
Financial Aid Information
Students are responsible for understanding how financial aid applies to their study away program. Questions about aid eligibility or coverage should be directed to the Financial Aid Office.
General Financial Aid Policies
- Students are able to utilize their entire Allegheny and federal/state financial aid package for a sponsored study away program with the exception of work study and tuition exchange scholarships.
- Students must notify the Office of Financial Aid if they receive an external scholarship related to their study away program.
- Enrollment in fewer than 12 credits (full-time status) may affect federal, state, and institutional aid and could impact visa status.
- Enrollment beyond full-time status may result in additional charges, which are the student’s responsibility.
- Financial aid, institutional aid, and scholarships that do not apply to a study away program is the student’s responsibility.
Institutional Aid & Study Away Limits
- Allegheny institutional aid may be applied to one semester of off-campus study.
- The Allegheny College Merit Award may be used for one study away experience and is available for up to eight semesters total.
- Institutional aid is not applied to a second semester except for select academic-year programs.
- Students who study away for an additional semester without advance approval must take a Leave of Absence.
Financial Aid After Study Away
- Students planning to receive financial aid for the semester following their study away experience must complete all required financial aid forms by published deadlines.
Financial Services & Billing
Billing During Study Away
- Allegheny tuition and an off-campus ($800 sponsored, $1,200 non-sponsored) study away fee will be billed during the study away experience.
- Room and meal charges may apply depending on the program.
- Sponsored program costs are billed at the same time as semester bills for on-campus students.
- Students with outstanding balances on their Allegheny account are not eligible to participate in a study away program.
Additional Billing Information
- If room and meals are not included in the program fee, students pay those costs directly to the host program, landlord, accommodation provider, etc.
- Students are responsible for reviewing their bills and contacting Financial Services with any questions.
- Any credit balance remaining after financial aid is applied will be issued as a check mailed to the student’s home address.
Payment Responsibilities
- Students who are delinquent in paying their Allegheny bills prior to program departure may be withdrawn from the program due to nonpayment.
- Completion of the Allegheny College Student Agreement is required upon registration for a study away program.
Additional Costs to Consider
In addition to the program fee, students should plan for additional expenses, which may include:
- Passport fees
- Visa or residence permit costs
- Housing*
- Meals*
- Airfare
- Personal expenses
*Housing and meals are only additional costs if they are not included in the program fee.
Independent and Summer Programs
- Allegheny institutional aid does not apply to independent or summer programs.
- All costs for independent or summer programs are the student’s responsibility, including (but not limited to):
- Health insurance
- Visas
- Airfare
- School of Record fees
- Housing and meals
- Excursions and activities
Financial Aid Processing for Independent Programs
- Allegheny must collect enrollment and cost information from the host institution to process financial aid.
- Students may be required to provide a host institution contact to complete a Consortium Agreement.
- Financial aid will not be finalized until a completed Consortium Agreement is returned to the Office of Financial Aid.
External Funding
In addition to your regular financial aid package, there are many scholarships available to help offset the costs of a semester off-campus. Some awards are specifically for Allegheny College students, others are nationally competitive scholarships. For example, if you receive the Pell Grant, then you’re automatically eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship when studying abroad. The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is another scholarship whose mission is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting students of color and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. For assistance applying for external scholarships, contact Student Success (814-332-2898).
For more information on scholarships for study away programs, see: