How much money does it cost?

How much money does it cost to be an exchange student in America? That’s the question I am trying to answer in today’s article.

Disclaimer: This may vary over the years to come! The following values are the average from five different exchange companies which are located in Germany. Status: 2020

The price for a full year as an exchange student may also vary from the extras you choose. Extras may be:

• if you want to be placed in a specific state
• placement near the coast
• if you want to be placed in a city

How much money does it cost to be an exchange student?

If you decide to be placed randomly and did not choose any extras the average price you need to expect is about 11.608 €. This alone is a lot of money to spend. But it doesn’t stop there.

included

Depending on the company you choose the included services may vary but most exchange companies include the following services in their programs:

• outward and return flight
• DS-2019 document
• orientation meeting
• shelter and food provided by the host family
• 24/7 emergency hotline
• certificate (at the end of your stay)
• health, accident and liability insurance
• Language test including evaluation
• etc.
  • you can find detailed information on the websites of the exchange companies

not included

But this average price doesn’t include the following expenses:

• SEVIS fee ($ 220 / ≈ 200 €)
  • https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq (official)
  • How much is the I-901 SEVIS Fee?
    • For exchange visitors (J-1)
• Visa fees ($ 160 / ≈ 145 €)
  • https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/eligibility-and-fees/ (official)
• eventual vaccinations
• pocket money (200 € per month is recommended)
• costs for private trips and excursions
• fees at the local school
• etc.
  • you can find detailed information on the websites of the exchange companies

That sounds like a lot of money you have to spend becoming an exchange student but you have the option to get a scholarship, which I will discuss in a later post.

Like I said before the average program cost is 11.608 € this may be higher than what your exchange company will charge you it might also be lower. If you add all the additional cost to this you will probably and more likely end up paying around 15.000 € to be an exchange student for one year.

I hope this gives you a little inside on how much money it cost to be an exchange student.