Time and time again we have heard from students who indicate that they “could never afford to study abroad,” even as much as they would like to pursue such an opportunity. This is perhaps among the greatest misconceptions about studying abroad, and the pervasiveness of this belief has prevented countless students from even considering international educational experiences.
In fact, sometimes API’s programs may be more affordable than the average cost of a semester at a U.S. university. This, coupled with the fact that API awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year AND most students can use their financial aid to help cover the cost of study abroad, makes it a financially viable option and a wise investment in the future for students.
Per educationdata.org, the average cost of attendance for a semester in 2023 is as follows:
- Four-year, private institutions: $38,768
- Four-year public universities:
- In-state students: $9,678
- Out-of-state students $27,091
API offers a diverse range of programs at prices that fall far below these figures. Plus, all API programs include tuition and fees at the host institution, as well as housing, medical and life insurance, excursions, cultural activities, and more. To see API’s most affordable programs, you can see them summarized here.
Program Locations Available for $13,000 or Less
Argentina
- Buenos Aires
Chile
- Santiago
- Valparaíso
- Viña del Mar
Costa Rica
- San Joaquín de Flores
- San José
France
- Grenoble
Spain
- Barcelona
- Bilbao
- Granada
- Madrid
- Salamanca
- Seville
Program Locations Available for $13,500 or Less
China
- Shanghai
Croatia
- Dubrovnik
Czech Republic
- Prague
Hungary
- Budapest
Iceland
- Reykjavik
Poland
- Kraków
API’s most affordable programs are summarized here.
Will Studying Abroad Delay Graduation?
Some students believe studying abroad may delay graduation, and that might mean they need more money to complete their degree. However, the data disagrees. In fact, according to research completed by the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of Texas at Austin, four-year graduation rates are actually higher among the population of students who study abroad compared to their peers who remained on campus (Inside Higher Ed, July 2012). Likewise, the University System of Georgia recently released findings that “the evidence shows that [education abroad] will accelerate time to graduation relative to peers who don’t study abroad”: (“Students Who Study Abroad Graduate Faster Than Peers”, Inside Higher Ed, March 2022).
An Investment in Your Future
According to research conducted by the IIE Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact (Farrugia and Sanger, 2017) involving interviews with more than 4,500 study abroad alumni:
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- Study abroad has an overall positive impact on the development of a wide range of 21st-century job skills.
- The skills gained through study abroad have a long-term impact on career progression and promotion.
“Those more advanced in their careers more consistently linked study abroad to career growth and reported being hired or promoted based on their international experiences. This finding held true across all majors and industries.”
Why Should I Invest in an API Program?
API’s own research among our alumni supports the findings that studying abroad with API had a direct impact on our students’ future academic and professional success:
- “API helped me to stand out from the crowd on my graduate school applications. Interviewers saw studying abroad as a symbol of maturity.”~Alyssa C., API Italy student
- “Having international experiences such as studying abroad have set me aside in interview processes and allowed for new opportunities within my career. Drawing on both challenging and rewarding experiences from my time abroad allowed me to prove I was the best person for a position.” ~Lindsey B., API Scotland student
- “The opportunity [to study abroad] with API was my best life decision …that has truly translated to my professional success.” ~Scott M., API Qatar student
- “Absolutely loved my API experience. Since completing my time with API I have been offered every job and internship I’ve applied for.” ~Shea M., API Ireland student
