Billing, Fees & Deposits, and Refunds

Billing Overview:

Tier 1: The Match Tier (=)

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 (+)

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 (*)

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

Health Insurance Fee:

You will be billed for OWU Student Health Insurance unless you apply for a waiver. Keep in mind that students studying abroad or in other U.S. cities need continuous insurance coverage. Talk to your family before deciding whether or not to waive coverage. You will have access to our institutional provided travel insurance at no additional cost for while you are traveling outside of the U.S.

Additional Billed Costs:

Your program may allow you adjust housing, meal plans, or add planned excursions or a flight option, which could affect costs. These additional fees will be added to your OWU student account and may appear 1-2 months into your term away, or even after your program ends. These are reconciled once we receive the final program invoice from our partners. Plan ahead for adjustments to housing, meals, and other added expenses.

Important Notes

  • Partner Program App Fees Deposits:

    While most of billing and payments for your off-campus program will be charged by OWU, many of our partners require that you pay them directly for application fees and/ or deposits (when applicable). Refundable deposits that OWU receives will be credited to your account.

  • External Scholarships: These are applied to your account once processed and may adjust your financial aid package.

Refunds

  • Program Withdrawal:
    • Notify IOCP immediately in writing/ via email (iocp@owu.edu) if you decide not to attend.
    • OWU will refund payments only if the program partner refunds the money. You're responsible for knowing the refund and withdrawal policies of your specific program. Many of our partners have strict cancellation/ withdraw deadlines well in advance of the program and even our billing schedule. You may be financially liable for fees you have yet to be billed via OWU.

  • Processing Time: Refunds may take up to two months after the term ends.

  • Non-Refundable Fees: OWU Application and administrative fees are non-refundable.