Study Abroad & Off-Program Billing Model

(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 to be directly linked to your normal financial commitment at OWU, allowing your institutional scholarships and financial aid to travel with you predictably and sustainably. With all three of our Tiers, your OWU tuition, housing fee, meal plan fee, and miscellaneous fees are all charged via their usual line items on your OWU bill. But all the money from the fees, as well as a portion of your tuition, is then passed on to the study abroad partner to fund your experience. 

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.
External Aid	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	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.
External Aid	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	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	Your normal OWU on-campus bill, plus a supplemental study abroad fee of $5,000.
Financial Aid	Institutional aid still transfers. The higher supplemental fee helps OWU partially offset the higher program cost.
External Aid	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.

---

Universal Access Benefit: The Connection Grant

To address the major up-front financial hurdle of out-of-pocket expenses, all students are encouraged to apply for a Connection Grant.

• What it Covers: Flight/transportation costs not included in program.

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

This grant is designed to significantly eliminate a substantial out-of-pocket expense 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 flight grant of up to $3000 addresses major upfront cost barriers.
Financial Transparency	The cost is highly predictable: it's either the normal OWU bill (Tier 1) or slightly/ elevated one (Tier 2 & 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. See Additional Fees, Deposits, Refunds, & and Out-Of-Pocket Expenses.

Summer Study Abroad

Please note that the Tier System does not apply to summer off-campus programs. You can find the cost for a particular summer study abroad program directly on the study abroad partner's website. OWU will still facilitate billing, allowing federal aid to be applied toward your off-campus costs. However, OWU need- and merit-based aid does not apply to summer study abroad. After paying any required application fees and deposits, your remaining tuition and housing costs will be billed through your OWU student account when summer billing is processed.

All off-campus billing is processed through Nelnet and eligible for the payment plan option. Questions about your bill should be directed to either Student Accounts or IOCP.