How Much Does It Cost to Study Abroad? (Price Guide)

Study abroad prices depend on three things: who runs the program, where it is, and how long it lasts. A third-party provider bundles tuition, housing, and support into one program fee. A university program may bill tuition through your home school and charge housing and other fees separately. Enrolling directly at a foreign university is a third route with its own costs.

Because of that, any single average hides a lot. The figures below separate provider averages, destination estimates, and examples from universities, and they show which costs sit outside the program fee.

CIEE, a study abroad provider, publishes average program costs on its own site. These are averages for its programs, not for the whole market.

CIEE reports that its semester programs average $19,850, according to CIEE. Programs in Latin America average $17,950, and programs in Europe average $20,950.

Not every program lasts a full semester. Summer sessions and January terms cost less in total than a semester.

A January term costs around $3,650. A four-week summer session in Amsterdam costs around $6,550, and a six-week summer block in Cape Town costs around $7,450, according to CIEE.

Destination changes the total because tuition, housing, and everyday spending differ from country to country. DegreeCalc publishes estimated semester totals by region.

The range is wide. Germany is estimated at $6,000 – $9,000 for a semester, and Eastern Europe at $6,500 – $11,000. Latin America runs $8,500 – $14,000. Spain and Italy come to $12,000 – $20,000, France to $13,000 – $21,000, and the United Kingdom to $22,000 – $42,000.

These are estimates, and the source notes they do not cover airfare or one-time setup costs. Exchange rates also move, so check current rates when you budget.

Many students find that the program fee is not the whole bill. A university's own cost page shows what else to plan for. Brown University lists estimated costs for its Paris program for 2026-27.

Airfare is estimated at $1,200, and the long-stay student visa and related fees for US passport holders come to about $690. Brown notes that its figures are estimates that can change with exchange rates and inflation.

Other costs that often sit outside the program fee include meals, local transportation, books, phone service, and personal spending. Whether health insurance is included depends on the program, so read what the fee covers.

Provider programs usually quote one price that includes tuition and housing, which makes them easy to compare. University programs may charge tuition at your home rate or at a program rate, then add room, board, and fees. One example is Jerusalem University College, which lists an approximate one-semester total for 2026-27 that includes tuition, room and board, and fees.

Direct enrollment at a foreign university can bring tuition down, particularly in countries where public universities charge little. Living costs, though, can then become the main expense. Ask your school's study abroad office how credits transfer and whether your financial aid applies to a given program.

The estimates differ because the programs differ. CIEE reports a range of $17,950 – $20,950 for its own semester programs. Jerusalem University College lists $19,135 for a semester that includes room and board and field trips. DegreeCalc gives a much wider range of $8,000 – $35,000 across budget and premium destinations. A source covering only inexpensive destinations will land low, and one covering major cities in expensive countries will land high.

Scholarships and grants exist for study abroad, and federal aid may apply to approved programs. The study abroad office at your college and its financial aid office can explain which programs qualify and what you could receive. The federal student aid site, studentaid.gov, explains the federal programs.