Funding Options

Our interest-free payment plan lets you choose payment amounts and due dates—monthly, bi-weekly, weekly—to meet your budget. Use this flexible plan on its own or combine it with other financial aid.

Setting up your payment plan is easy: contact our Student Accounts Team at 800.266.4441 ext. 1807. Remember, the sooner you start your plan, the smaller your payments will be and the more time you’ll have to pay for your program.

The U.S. Department of Education offers loans and grants for students enrolled in approved study abroad programs. What’s the difference? Loans must be repaid (with interest); grants are free money toward your education. You may use federal funding for study abroad if your home school approves your study abroad program for academic credit and you are enrolled at your home school throughout the study abroad term.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

For students enrolled at least part-time in a qualifying school

Direct Loans generally offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans.

• Direct Subsidized Loans: for eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans: for eligible undergraduate/graduate/professional students; students do not have to demonstrate financial need
• Direct PLUS Loans: for graduate/professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for expenses not covered by other financial aid
• Direct Consolidation Loans: combines all eligible federal student loans into a single loan

Federal Perkins Loan Program

• Your home school acts as the lender

Federal Pell Grants

• Amounts depend on financial need, cost of attendance, and attendance plans.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

• Amounts depend on financial need, when you apply, and other aid received
• Schools receive a limited amount of FSEOG funds each year, so apply early

Teacher Education Assistance for College & Higher Education Grants

• Recipients must take certain classes and work in qualifying jobs after graduation to prevent the grant from turning into a loan

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

• Recipients must meet certain financial, age, and educational requirements

CEASecure™ is an optional refund plan that allows you to withdraw from your CEA program for any covered reason up to one calendar week before the program’s start date. CEASecure™ provides refunds for the following covered reasons:

• Medical: If you or one of your immediate family members becomes seriously ill, is seriously injured in an accident, or dies.
• Terrorist attack: If the U.S. Department of State determines that there has been a terrorist attack against U.S. interests in the host country and issues an official Travel Warning stating that Americans should not travel to that country.
• Job loss: If your parent or legal guardian is laid off from work or loses their job as a result of a general staff reduction or position elimination.
• Total destruction of your primary residence: If your primary place of residence is destroyed by a natural disaster, fire, or explosion.

What is refundable prior to departure? A refund includes all program fees paid to CEA, less the application fee, non-refundable program confirmation fee, late fees, and the cost of the CEASecure™ plan.

Am I eligible for any kind of refund after my program starts? CEASecure™ covers trip interruption refunds after your program starts under the following conditions:

• Medical: If you or one of your immediate family members becomes seriously ill, is seriously injured in an accident, or dies.
• Terrorist attack: If the U.S. Department of State determines that there has been a terrorist attack against U.S. interests within the host country of your program site, and issues an official Travel Warning stating that Americans should not travel to that country.

How are trip interruption refunds determined? Refunds are pro-rated based on how far along you are in your program when a covered condition takes place. The application fee, non-refundable confirmation fee, late fees, and the cost of CEASecure™ are not refundable. The aggregate amount of refunds for one incident cannot exceed $1 million.

How much does CEASecure™ cost?

• $475 for semester and trimester programs
• $275 for summer and short term programs
• $1,000 for academic year programs

How do I enroll in CEASecure™? Call 1.800.266.4441 or complete and sign an enrollment form in your MyCEA Account. Please click here for more information.

If you do not choose to purchase CEASecure™, you fall under the CEA Standard Refund Policy, which provides refunds depending on the withdrawal date's proximity to the program start date. Under the Standard Refund Policy, no refunds are granted after the program withdrawal date and no refunds are possible after the program start date.

You loved your time abroad so much that you want to go again? You’re definitely not the only one… and we want to help you out! The CEA Alumni Go-Again Discount is available to any CEA Alumnus who’s paid their previous CEA study abroad experience in full and been accepted to an additional CEA program. Discounts allow go-again alums to save:

• Semester/Trimester + Semester/Trimester = Save $1,000
• Summer + Summer = Save $500
• Semester / Trimester /Year + Summer = Save $500
• Short Term + Any Program = Save $250

So many exciting study abroad programs, so little time...who can choose just one? Fortunately, you don't have to! The CEA Multi-Program Discount allows students who apply for multiple programs at the same time to save:

• Semester/Trimester + Semester/Trimester = Save $1,000
• Summer + Summer = Save $500
• Semester / Trimester /Year + Summer = Save $500
• Short Term + Any Program = Save $250

529 plans, legally known as "qualified tuition plans", are tax-advantaged savings programs created to help families save money for college. Different plan advantages, options, restrictions and fees apply in every state.

Currently, 529 plans are operated by state governments and cover college tuition based on an enrollment-weighted average of in-state public college tuition rates.

The rules determining plan use and fund withdrawal capabilities vary from state to state. You will need to consult your 529 plan requirements to learn what your funds can be used for. Generally, only accredited degree granting institutions or Title IV institutions accept 529 plan funds. This means that if a student is not registered at their home institution and/or that institution will not disperse a student's financial aid to CEA, then a student cannot use their 529 plan to pay for their study abroad experience. However, the parent/529 contributor can withdraw funds from the 529 plan at any time, for any reason. Tax penalties may apply in this case.

Please speak with your 529 provider and home institution about whether you can apply your 529 plan funds to study abroad.

If you still need funding after completing your FAFSA and applying for scholarships, you may consider applying for educational loans through private lenders, like banks or credit unions. Discuss the pros and cons with your family first, and be sure you understand how federal and private student loans differ:

• Interest rates: Private loan interest rates are usually higher than federal student loans and may vary based on market interest rates; that means your monthly payment can change.
• Loan fees: Private lenders may charge origination fees, monthly service charges, and/or late fees
• Eligibility: Private loans generally have stricter eligibility requirements and are subject to credit approval; lenders may require a good credit score and a co-signer.
• Repayment plans: Private lenders may not offer flexible repayment options like those offered for federal student loans, such as income-based or extended payment plans.

What if financial aid and scholarships just aren’t enough? It's time to get creative! Consider alternate funding sources and methods, such as:

• Crowd-funding
• Fundraising on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter
• Local business, religious, and civic groups, like Rotary, Lion’s Club, or Kiwanis
• High school alumni organizations
• Local and national chapters of sororities and fraternities

Study Abroad Scholarships

• Benjamin A. Gilman International
• Boren Awards for International Study
• Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
• Fulbright Program
• Fund for Education Abroad
• Golden Key Study Abroad Scholarships
• HACU Study Abroad Scholarship Programs
• Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant

Scholarship Searches

• All Abroad
• Black Excel
• Cappex
• College Board Scholarship Search
• College Resource Network
• DiversityAbroad
• FastWeb
• Federal Student Aid
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• Human Rights Campaign LGBT Scholarship Database
• International Education Financial Aid (IEFA)
• IIE Passport Study Abroad Funding
• International Scholarships
• Michigan State University Scholarships for Multicultural Students
• Mobility International USA
• SallieMae Scholarship Search
• Scholarship Experts
• Scholarships 360
• Scholarships Canada
• Scholarships.com
• StudyAbroad.com Scholarships
• UNESCO
• United Negro College Fund
• University of Minnesota Study Abroad Scholarship Search