Financing Education Away

The cost of your program will depend on many factors, including your host city's (and country's) cost of living, the exchange rate with the U.S. dollar, the length of the program, and your personal spending habits which include but are not limited to entertainment, travel, technology, and toiletries. Be sure to consider costs beyond the up front and advertised program fee when deciding where and when to go. These out-of-pocket but necessary costs may include: passport, student visa, round trip airfare, immunizations, local transportation, meals, books, insurance, and incidentals. Learn more about the concept of "cost of attendance" AKA all of the expenses related to pursuing an educational experience from the Office of Financial Aid. 

In general, all fees must be paid in full before the program starts. In some cases, special arrangements for budget payment plans or delayed payment deadlines may be possible. Ask your program advisor for details. All CSU students who study abroad via an affiliate or a reciprocal international exchange will be assessed a $150 administrative fee to their CSU student financial account for the term that they are abroad. National Student Exchange applicants will pay a $156 application fee to the consortium headquarters before being entered into the placement portal. 

Yes, federal financial aid travels to all approved education away programs (a consortium agreement is usually required). Federal aid is most commonly used for the fall and spring semesters but can also be used in the summer if a student has remaining eligibility. To receive federal financial aid, students must have submitted a FAFSA. Federal aid includes but is not limited to, Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), and Pell Grant. NOTE: State aid in the form of an OCOG (Ohio College Opportunity Grant) cannot apply to affiliate or exchange programs, only to faculty-led programs. The grant will be reinstated in the next eligible semester assuming student remains eligible. If you have federal funding through the VA or other military affiliation, please contact vabenefits@csuohio.edu to ask about using the funds towards education away. 

Yes, most institutional aid is portable towards the costs of an approved education away program. Exception: students with a CSU tuition benefit because of dependent familial relationship may only claim that benefit when they pursue an exchange program (international or domestic) or a faculty-led program (FLPA). Athletes should discuss the terms of their athletic scholarship with their academic coach within Athletics. 

Yes, Honors, Scholars, and Sullivan-Deckard awardees may use their scholarships towards education away expenses with approval of the Dean or Director. Please contact your academic coach or scholarship program staff.  

Others? Just ask the awarding entity and the answer will likely be "Yes!"

College NOW will extend their scholarship to any approved study abroad program. Please call College NOW to set up your disbursement. If you have other private outside financial sources, please contact them to inquire about using your award towards an approved education away program.  

Yes, SAY YES! scholarships can be used towards studying abroad. 

Yes,  Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) may be towards faculty-led study abroad programs.

Yes, with approval from the CSU campus principle investigator, the Choose Ohio First-Math Scholarship can be used for education away costs.

In all cases, please contact your outside scholarship sponsor to verify the applicability of your outside award towards an education away program. 

All financial aid (including any scholarships) will be processed and disbursed through CSU as the student's home university. Approved participants will enroll in a CSU placeholder course for their term(s) away and it's this enrollment which allows for the release of the financial aid. Students participating in a study abroad program not sponsored by Cleveland State should also complete a Consortium Agreement and provide a copy of their round trip flight itinerary to the Office of Financial Aid. 

Yes, there are many different scholarships and grants available to help lessen education away program costs. The different types of aid include Cleveland State sponsored scholarships, Ohio- sponsored scholarships, nationally-sponsored scholarships, program specific scholarships, affiliated grants and many more.

Personal Savings- Planning ahead is key in the process and will allow you to set aside savings to help pay for an education away program. Working a part-job, living at home, lowering or eliminating your car payment, cutting back on discretionary spending (entertainment or the latest shoes and handbags) can all save you money. Making informed choices and establishing your priorities will be helpful. 

Student Loans- Loans are a significant source of student funding for education away programs and are able to be redistributed to permit a larger disbursement for the semester in which a student is away. There are also private loans. Please note that students' borrowing limits increase in sophomore, junior, and senior years. Please visit the loan section of the Office of Financial Aid's web page for more information.

PLUS Loans- These are unsubsidized loans for the parents of dependent students and for graduate/professional students. PLUS Loans help pay for education expenses up to the cost of attendance minus all other financial assistance. Interest is charged during all periods. If a dependent student's parent is denied a PLUS loan, the student may qualify for additional student loans above the regular limits. 

Crowdfunding/Fundraising- Personal fundraising can be an effective way to help finance study abroad programs. Personal fundraising efforts can include requesting people/organizations to sponsor you, hosting fundraising parties, or launching online fundraising campaigns. For Example: FundMyTravel or Go Fund Me Students are able to create an online campaign to raise money towards their program costs. For tips on creating a successful fundraising campaign please consult resources like ‘5 Steps to a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign.’
 

Education Away Scholarships website lists CSU-sponsored education away scholarships for CSU students, Ohio state-sponsored scholarships for study abroad, and nationally-offered scholarships.