More than 50 percent of Grinnell College students, many of whom receive financial aid, participate in a study away program. Find more information about how financial aid works with study away below. You can also review the Study Away Tip Sheet (PDF). You can learn more about study away programs and advising on the Institute for Global Engagement website.
Financial Aid for Study Away
Students may use Grinnell-funded financial aid for one Grinnell-approved study away program. Students approved to study away who wish to receive financial aid must complete the same financial aid application process as students intending to remain on campus. All financial aid deadlines and requirements still apply. Visit the online financial aid office (student login required) to check the status of your financial aid materials. Financial aid notices for the fall are generally provided by June, and financial aid notices for the spring will be adjusted in November.
Certain conditions apply to study away that may affect your financial aid:
- Students who receive institutional need-based aid (e.g., Harry Hopkins 1912 Grant, Grinnell Grant for QuestBridge, and International Grant) can generally expect their family contribution to remain the same when they study away. Financial aid will be adjusted based on the cost of the study away program as follows: cost of study away program minus family contribution equals grants, scholarships, and occasionally loan eligibility for high-cost programs. Students are generally not permitted to work abroad, and domestic programs are unlikely to offer work-study positions, so student employment is never used to meet the difference between cost and family contribution for study away.
- For institutional need-based aid recipients who participate in a study away program that is more expensive than Grinnell, the difference between the cost and family contribution may be met with a combination of grants and loans. However, loans may not be proactively added to a student's financial aid; instead, a student may request a loan, if desired, by following instructions on the Student and Parent Financing page of the online financial aid office (student login required).
- The cost of attendance includes required expenses related to tuition and fees; housing and food; miscellaneous personal expenses; and transportation. Optional fees (including those for more expensive housing and food options) increase the student’s responsibility. More information about each cost of attendance category is below.
- Tuition reflects Grinnell College tuition or program tuition, whichever is higher.
- Fees include all required fees. This includes the off-campus handling fee charged by Grinnell and any required fees charged by the program (e.g., health insurance, activities fees).
- Grinnell includes the cost of a homestay for the housing and food components of the cost of attendance. If a program does not offer a homestay, the lowest priced option is used when variable rates are quoted.
- The amount used for miscellaneous personal expenses is $1,500 for all programs.
- Transportation reflects a standard amount based on the student’s home region and their program's region.
- Students receiving only merit scholarship(s) can use these funds for study away. However, additional grants and scholarships are not available from Grinnell to assist with the cost of study away.
- Contact the Office of Financial Aid if you receive Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA), or staff tuition remission. You may be limited in how you can use tuition remission.
- Financial aid will not exceed the cost of attendance under any circumstance.
- Financial aid is not available for pre/post-sessions for an approved study away program. This includes intensive language study before the program begins.
Grinnell College pays all program invoices and then bills the student for billable expenses related to the study away program. The only exception may be an initial deposit, which the student pays directly to the program. The following is a list of tuition, fees, and other charges billed by the College for study away:
- The tuition of the program you attend or Grinnell College’s tuition, whichever is greater. The comprehensive fee published by some programs may include charges for items such as housing, food, insurance, transportation, and other items. Grinnell considers only the tuition portion of these fees when determining the tuition charge to be billed by Grinnell College. Additionally, tuition for pre/post-sessions, if charged by the program, is reflected as an additional charge on the billing statement from the College.
- Off-campus handling fee
- Grinnell College student health insurance (which may be waived)
- Housing and food charged by the program
- Transportation (e.g., airfare) only if billed to Grinnell College by the program (this is unusual) or paid in advance by Grinnell College
- Other miscellaneous fees that are charged by the program (student activity fees, health insurance fees, etc.)
The College will bill the student the estimated direct costs of the program prior to the beginning of the semester. After Grinnell receives the invoice from the program, an adjustment will be made to the bill to reflect actual charges. The bill will also be adjusted to reflect the deposit paid by the student (if included on the invoice from the program).
Grinnell tuition includes required books and course materials through a program called GrinnBooks. Students approved to study away will automatically be opted out of GrinnBooks and will receive a $150 credit on their semester bill from Grinnell to acknowledge expenses for books, course materials, supplies, and equipment that they may incur during their program.
Please email the Office of Student Accounts or call 641-269-4100 with billing-related questions.
The Office of Financial Aid provides several tools to help students better understand the financial implications of studying away. Here are a few things to keep in mind before using these tools:
- They are for estimating purposes only. Actual costs and financial aid may differ.
- If you still have questions after using these tools, you may schedule an individual appointment or email the Office of Financial Aid.
- If your financial aid includes ACM, GLCA, or staff tuition remission, please schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor to discuss whether tuition remission can apply to your program.
- The tools may not be fully accessible by people using assistive technology. Contact the Office of Financial Aid if you need assistance.
Study Away Program Cost Comparison Spreadsheet
The Study Away Program Cost Comparison spreadsheet (Excel) provides a general idea of how the cost of various programs compare to the cost of being on campus. It also provides more information about outside scholarship opportunities for study away. This tool is particularly helpful for students in the early stages of exploring programs.
Study Away Cost Estimators
The Study Away Cost Estimators provide an estimate of cost and financial aid for a student's program. These tools are primarily for students who have chosen a program or are choosing between their final options. Video demonstrations provide an in-depth walk-through of each estimator.
Students who receive institutional need-based financial aid should use the Study Away Cost Estimator for Need-Based Aid (Excel). Examples of need-based financial aid include Harry Hopkins 1912 Grant, Grinnell Grant for QuestBridge, and International Grant. Watch the video for more information about how to use this tool.
Students who receive only merit scholarship(s), outside tuition benefits (not tuition remission), and/or outside scholarships, should use the Study Away Cost Estimator for Merit Only (Excel). Watch the video for more information about how to use this tool.
The normal policy for outside scholarships applies when a student studies away. A student cannot receive more financial aid than the cost of attendance. You can find more information on the Outside Scholarships Tip Sheet (PDF). Please email the Office of Financial Aid if you have questions about your particular circumstances or need assistance completing scholarship applications.
Outside Scholarships for Study Away
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Open to U.S. citizens who are receiving a Federal Pell Grant.
- Visit the Online Financial Aid Office (login required) and click on the Aid by Term tab to see if you are receiving a Federal Pell Grant.
- Deadline is typically around (check their website for actual deadlines):
- March for fall and academic year applications
- October for spring and summer applications
For dependent children of active duty service members who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid.
Boren Scholarships provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduates to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad. Qualifying locations include Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Deadline is in the winter.
Bridging Scholarships for Study in Japan
Applicants must be U.S. citizens. They must also be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad. Their study in Japan must last for at least three months and must earn credit that will transfer to their home campus in the U.S. Deadline is in the spring.
Open to undergraduates who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will study abroad in Asia. Applicants must have need as determined by the FAFSA. The student must have a minimum GPA of 2.8. Deadline is in the spring.
Open to undergraduates who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Deadline is in the winter for fall, summer, and academic year programs and in the summer for spring semester programs.
Global Respectful Disruption Initiative (GRDI) Scholarship
Open to students who have a current U.S. address (U.S. citizenship not required). No GPA requirement. Deadlines are throughout the year for programs that take place during the summer or the academic year. Review GRDI's website for instructions and deadlines for the current application round.
Note: Ann M. Landstrom, M.S. can assist Grinnell students who are applying for the Gilman, Boren, and Freeman-Asia Scholarships. Schedule an appointment through Handshake.
Scholarships from OCS Programs
Check with the program(s) you are considering to see if they offer funding. If they do, application materials are usually available on their website.
These program providers have previously offered Grinnell College students funding for study abroad.
Programs can provide guidance on whether a visa or permit is required and how to apply for those documents. It can take time to secure the required paperwork, so please be proactive.
If you need a letter from the Office of Financial aid for your visa or permit:
- Email your request to the Office of Financial Aid.
- Indicate if you need a hard copy of a letter with an original signature or a digital copy. If the former, you can pick up the original copy at the Office of Financial Aid. If the latter, we will email a copy to you. If are not on campus and need the original letter mailed to you, provide your complete mailing address. The cost of priority mailing, either in the United States or to a foreign country, may be reflected as a charge on your billing statement.
- Indicate the start and end date of the program, if available. Some consulates require this information.
- Letters will only be provided to the student and will not be provided directly to a consulate.
- Allow 7 to 10 business days for processing.
Students who decide to attend a program not approved by the Institute for Global Engagement are not eligible for aid through Grinnell College. Grinnell cannot be responsible for notifying lenders that students have enrolled elsewhere.