Study Abroad & Off-Program Cost

(Effective Fall 2026)

We are thrilled to introduce a new, simplified tiered pricing structure for Ohio Wesleyan University's study abroad programs. This model is designed to make the cost of studying abroad predictable, ensure the maximum transfer of your OWU financial aid, and significantly increase access for all students. Our goal is to ensure that a high-impact global experience is a viable reality for every Ohio Wesleyan student.

How Do the Tiers Work?

The tier model allows the cost of off-campus programs/ study abroad directly linked to your normal financial commitment at OWU, allowing your institutional scholarships and financial aid to travel with you in a predictable and sustainable way.

Three Core Goals:

1. Financial Transparency: Eliminate confusion with predictable, clear costs.

2. Increased Accessibility: Ensure institutional aid transfers to maximize affordability.

3. Program Quality: Sustain a wide variety of high-quality, high-impact global programs.

Understanding the Three Tiers

The cost of your study abroad program is determined by the program's overall expense. Our programs are organized by tiers in our program directory, allowing you to filter by tier.

Find your program's cost tier below:

Tier 1: The Match Tier (=)

This is the cornerstone of our commitment to equitable access.

Component	Billing Model
Student Bill	The student is billed their normal OWU on-campus rate (tuition, housing, meal plan, and fees).
Financial Aid	Full institutional scholarship and financial aid apply seamlessly.
Impact	Your cost for the semester abroad is identical to your cost for a semester on campus. This removes the financial barrier and makes study abroad a reality for nearly everyone.

Tier 2: The Plus Tier (+)

This tier covers slightly higher-cost programs while maintaining high affordability.

Component	Billing Model
Student Bill	Your normal OWU on-campus bill, plus a supplemental study abroad fee of $2,500.
Financial Aid	Institutional aid still transfers. The supplemental fee helps OWU partially offset the higher program cost.
Impact	The cost remains highly predictable and affordable, with only a minimal, one-time fee added to your regular semester bill.

Tier 3: The Premium Tier (*)

These specialized, high-cost programs offer unique curricular experiences.

Component	Billing Model
Student Bill	Students are billed the actual cost of the program through OWU.
Financial Aid	Institutional aid and OWU scholarships DO NOT apply, with the exception of the Connection Grant and specific departmental awards. However, students are still able to apply scholarships awarded by their program sponsor and apply for a number of external study abroad specific scholarships.
Aid That Still Applies	Federal aid (Pell Grants, loans), departmental awards (Baran, Horsfall, Lenfest), and external need-based aid (FEA, Gilman, Boren). See our financial aid link to the right for more information.
Impact	This transparent model allows us to continue offering unique, high-value, high-cost programs that define our academic excellence, while ensuring students understand the financial commitment upfront.

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Universal Access Benefit: The Connection Grant

To address a major up-front financial hurdle, all students are eligible to apply for a Connection Grant.

• What it Covers: Up to $3,000 for flight and transportation costs.

• Who is Eligible: This is a critical, universal benefit available to students in all three pricing tiers.

This grant is designed to significantly reduce the out-of-pocket expenses students face before their program even begins, further increasing equity and access.

Summary of Advantages

Benefit	How the Tiered Model Achieves It
Increased Access	Tier 1 programs are the same cost as a semester at OWU, and the $3,000 flight grant addresses major upfront cost barriers.
Financial Transparency	The cost is highly predictable: it's either the normal OWU bill (Tier 1), a slightly elevated one (Tier 2), or the actual program cost (Tier 3).
Sustainable Funding	The model facilitates the predictable transfer of institutional aid and captures necessary costs through fees, ensuring the program's long-term health.

Ohio Wesleyan pays all program fees and charges directly to the program with a few exceptions, such as program application fees and program deposits.

Please note that these policies do not apply to summer off-campus programs. For information about summer off-campus programs, please contact IOCP.