Planning Ahead

Talk with your family and with students who have participated in the program to learn more about realistic budgeting. Program expenses can be influenced by cost of living at the program site, the exchange rate, additional travel, personal expenses, damage deposits, foreign registration fees, etc. Gather together as much financial information as you can, develop a budget and determine what you can afford.

Term Program Expenses

For Carleton seminars, the comprehensive fee for a one-term seminar covers tuition, room and board, and program-related expenses. Travel to the seminar site, books, and personal expenses are your own financial responsibility, as they are when you are studying on campus.

For all non-Carleton programs, financial aid, grants, and scholarships can be applied to ONE non-Carleton off-campus study program only. You are responsible for paying the deposit required by that program directly to the sponsoring institution, often to confirm your place in the program. Check with the institution about billing procedures and deadlines. It is your responsibility to convey that information to your parents and to the Business Office before you leave campus.

Program fees are established by the sponsoring institution and usually are based on the academic calendar year of that institution. Fifteen-week semester programs are more common than 10-week term programs. That means that participation in a fall semester program may be more expensive than fall term at Carleton, because you are paying for up to 27 credits and 15 weeks of room and board (compared to Carleton's 18 credits and 10 weeks room and board). Conversely, a spring semester program (which replaces winter and spring terms at Carleton) may be less expensive. A program deposit fee and expenses not included in the program fee, such as travel, are your responsibility.

Summer Program Expenses

Non-Carleton summer programs: Financial aid, including government grants and loans, is generally not available for non-Carleton summer programs. If there is a program that is only offered in the summer or other extenuating circumstances that would point to a summer OCS program, Carleton aid may be considered on a case-by-case basis with the concomitant term off during the academic year. Contact the Student Financial Services Director for more information.

Carleton summer seminars: Participants in Carleton summer seminars are eligible to receive aid and are required to take a term’s leave of absence during the academic year.

Developing a budget

Talk with your family and with students who have participated in the program to learn more about realistic budgeting. The off-campus budget worksheet can help you determine a realistic budget for your time off-campus.

Program expenses can be influenced by cost of living at the program site, the exchange rate, additional travel, personal expenses, damage deposits, foreign registration fees, etc. When comparing program costs, be sure that you are comparing apples to apples. For example, are meals included in the program fee? How about excursions? What are the housing options and expenses? Depending on what is included in the program fee, studying off-campus can be more affordable than a term at Carleton.