Finances

Tuition, Room and Board

At Kenyon, we use what’s called a 'home-school tuition model' for study abroad. That means every student pays Kenyon directly, and Kenyon in turn pays the program provider for tuition, room, and board. This ensures that financial aid still applies, billing is handled through Kenyon, and families don’t have to handle multiple payment points.

If your program’s tuition, room, and board cost less than or is equal to Kenyon’s rates, you’ll still pay Kenyon’s standard rates. Families aren’t asked to pay less because the model is designed to keep costs consistent across all students. If your program’s tuition, room, and board cost more than Kenyon’s, then the difference will be passed through to your bill.

This model makes study abroad financially accessible as Kenyon aid travels with the student. Students will not be advantaged or disadvantaged just because their chosen program happens to cost more or less than Kenyon.

Some programs do not include meals in their housing costs. This might mean that (1) meals are not included at all — you cook/buy your own food (self-catered) or (2) only some meals are provided and the rest are your responsibility.

In these cases, Kenyon will give you a meal credit on your Kenyon account to help cover the cost of food. The amount of this credit depends on the program’s meal plan structure. The credit is provided only up to the limit of Kenyon’s tuition, room, and board. In other words, the total cost of your program plus the credit cannot exceed what you would normally pay at Kenyon.

Example: If your program does not include meals, Kenyon applies a meal credit to your account so that your total charges are comparable to what you would pay for tuition, room and board on campus.

Kenyon covers the standard housing cost included in a program’s published fees. If a student chooses a housing option that is more expensive than the program’s standard option (for example, a private single room), the additional cost is the responsibility of the student. The only exception is a homestay, provided the total program fees (including tuition, housing and meals) do not exceed Kenyon’s tuition, room and board.

For programs in which housing is not included in the program fee and must be arranged separately, Kenyon will provide a credit equal to the cost of standard housing, again provided that the total program expenses do not exceed Kenyon’s tuition, room and board.

General Policy:

Most financial aid that you receive at Kenyon will also apply to your Off-Campus Study (OCS) program. However, there are a few exceptions. Work study, Kenyon Music Lessons, and CA benefits do not transfer to OCS programs. Kenyon Tuition Remission and GLCA Tuition Remission also do not transfer. Students who rely on these remission benefits may apply for need-based financial aid instead. If this applies to you, please speak with the CGE staff as early as possible.

What Aid Covers:

Your financial aid package (scholarships, grants, and loans) is applied to the standard cost of tuition, room, and board for your program. Additional academic expenses such as books, course materials, and required program travel are considered when calculating your financial aid eligibility. Aid does NOT cover optional costs such as gym memberships, club fees, optional excursions, or pre-semester courses that are not included in your program's official fee structure.

Kenyon's Payment:

Kenyon pays the program’s standard tuition, room, and board directly to the program. Any expenses beyond those standard program fees (like personal travel, optional field trips or upgrades in housing) are the student’s responsibility.

Why Unused Financial Aid (Including Loans) Matters:

Kenyon carefully manages how it pays tuition, housing and meals for off-campus study. Kenyon covers the program’s standard tuition, room and board, while financial aid (including grants, scholarships and student loans) is designed to help offset those charges.

If a student has been offered financial aid but does not fully accept it, whether that’s grants, scholarships or loans, that leaves part of the bill uncovered. In that situation, Kenyon cannot take on additional or higher costs (such as paying for a non-standard housing upgrade) on the student’s behalf. Doing so would mean Kenyon is covering more than its established responsibility while available aid resources remain unused.

Think of it like this:

1. Kenyon charges tuition, room and board.

2. The student’s full financial aid package (including loans, if accepted) is applied to reduce what the family owes.

3. If all offered aid is used and there is still an additional documented cost that Kenyon covers under policy, Kenyon may step in.

4. If aid is left unused, Kenyon expects those funds to be applied before it considers covering more.

This approach keeps things consistent and equitable for all students, since Kenyon cannot absorb extra costs for some while others are expected to make full use of their financial aid package.

Next Steps:

Because financial aid can vary by individual, we strongly encourage all students to meet with CGE staff to review how their aid will apply and what costs they should anticipate.

Required Fees and Expenses

Who pays? All program deposits and/or confirmation fees must be paid directly to your Off-Campus Study (OCS) program provider. Application fees and housing deposits must also be paid directly to the program provider, not Kenyon. Once enrolled in your study abroad program, Kenyon will pay any tuition bills sent by the OCS program provider and you will pay Kenyon the same as you would if you were on campus (see more above under Financial Aid).

What are the exceptions? Students participating in Kenyon-Rome or Kenyon-Exeter will pay deposits directly to Kenyon.

How will I know the amount? Once you are accepted into your program, you will be notified of the exact deposit amount and deadline. In most cases, you will have about two weeks to pay, though this varies by program.

What is the refund policy? Deposits are generally non-refundable.

Do I get reimbursed? After you provide proof that you have paid your deposit to the program provider, the amount of your deposit will appear as a credit on your Kenyon tuition, room, and board bill for the semester you are abroad.

Timely payment is essential; late payments can result in additional fees from both Kenyon and the program provider, which will be charged to your Kenyon account.

Each program has its own withdrawal policy. Make sure you read and understand it carefully. If you withdraw after confirming participation, you are responsible for:

1. Any unpaid deposits owed to the program Any late withdrawal fees charged by the program.

2. These charges will be placed on your Kenyon account.

If you want to dispute withdrawal charges, you must do so directly with the program provider, not Kenyon.

Kenyon cannot predict global events or guarantee that study abroad will always proceed as planned. Rarely, but sometimes, events such as political unrest, natural disasters or other emergencies may cause a program to be altered or cancelled. In these cases, financial arrangements are determined by the host program or university. Kenyon is not responsible for refunding program fees in the event of a cancellation. Students must follow the policies of the program provider regarding refunds or credits.

Off-Campus Study Scholarships

Many of the program providers offer scholarships to students accepted to their programs. It is more likely that you will secure a scholarship if you apply early. Scholarships are offered by IES, Arcadia, AMIDEAST, CIEE, DIS, IES, IFSA-Butler, Middlebury, SACI, SFS and SIT, among others. Check with the program provider for details about their scholarship process.

The Andrew D. Pochter Memorial International Studies Fund supports deserving students — regardless of financial need — whose academic interests align with the fund’s three goals: (1) Promote global understanding through a summer internship or immersive undergraduate study experience in an Islamic nation in the Middle East (including North Africa). (2) Advance academic pursuits within an interdisciplinary concentration or major focused on international affairs and the Middle East. (3) Enhance language proficiency in a foreign language spoken in an Islamic country.

Application Requirements & Deadline

Applications must be submitted to the Center for Global Engagement (cge@kenyon.edu) by 12 p.m. EST on the stated deadline.

Required Materials:

1. Statement of Intent (1–2 pages) describing the program, project, or experience for which you're applying — and explain how receiving the award would help achieve one or more of the fund’s goals.

2. A brief letter of support from a faculty member that speaks to your academic qualifications and highlights the merits of your proposed program or project.

NSEP Boren Awards for International Study (for geographic areas, languages, and fields of study that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad)

Gilman Undergraduate Study Abroad Scholarships (for Pell Grant recipients) and Gilman-McCain Scholarship (for children of active-duty military with federal financial aid)

Critical Language Scholarship (intensive summer language study)

Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Undergraduate Scholarship

Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship

JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) Scholarships

National Welsh-American Foundation

Freeman Asia Scholarship

Society of Saint George (for English heritage students to study in England)

American Institute of Bangladesh Studies Fellowships

Fulbright Program (graduating seniors)

Henry Luce Foundation: Luce Scholars Program

Institute for International Education (IIE)