Calvin Off-Campus Program Costs
Pricing Philosophy for Off-Campus Semesters & Interims:
Calvin is committed to working with students to make studying off-campus a possibility. Calvin offers a wide range of opportunities for studying off-campus during both the regular semester and/or the January term (interim). The costs of these opportunities vary and the price for each experience is calculated in different ways for interims and semesters.
- INTERIM COURSES: Students are required to pay all costs associated with the interim. Students pay the course fee. After the interim experience all expenses associated with the interim are paid and any excess funds are refunded to the students who participated in that interim. If there are additional costs associated with the interim, students would be billed. The cost of interims includes some administration fees and typically covers:
- Transportation to and from the site of the interim as well as in-country transportation costs during the interim;
- Room & Board;
- Admission costs and entrance fees;
- Some immunization costs;
- Travel Insurance (this insurance is a supplemental health insurance policy that also provides financial assistance for medical or political evacuations if needed, this insurance does NOT pay for expenses if the student decides not to participate in the program).
- SEMESTER PROGRAMS: Budgets for each semester program are recalculated each year to account for a variety of changing factors (exchange rates, changing transportation costs, changing room and board costs, etc). Due to these factors the costs of the semester may change over the course of the experience, yet the price of the semester stays constant once established. Students are expected to pay the established price plus some additional administrative fees (such as technology, access, and campus activities fees). Following the semester there is no additional refunds passed on to the student. The price of the program typically covers the following costs:
- Tuition, Room & Board;
- Transportation to and from international locations (from Grand Rapids);
- Selected Excursions throughout the semester;
- Visas and some immunization costs;
- Travel Insurance (this insurance is a supplemental health insurance policy that also provides financial assistance for medical or political evacuations if needed, this insurance does NOT pay for expenses if the student decides not to participate in the program).
Calvin Off-Campus Semester Costs:
The price of each semester program is based on the total costs of the semester divided by the total number of students who participate. As a result the final price of any program is not fully established until the final group studying off-campus has been identified (after academic registration for the following semester – early/mid November for spring semester programs and late April/early May for Fall semester programs. As soon as the final price of each program is established the Off-Campus Programs Office will send this information directly to each student signed up for each program.
In order, for students to have some price information related to the program they might be considering the Off-Campus Program Office will provide a price range whereby we expect the final price to fall. The College attempts to keep the off-campus program price comparable to the price of tuition, room and board (based on a 21 meal plan) plus roundtrip airfare for the given semester of the program. If the cost of the semester is less than the tuition, room and board cost of the same semester at Calvin, the student will pay the cost of Calvin’s tuition, room and board. If the cost of an off-campus semester is greater than the tuition, room, and board, cost for the same semester at Calvin, the student will pay the actual cost of the program. The following chart describes the typical price breakdown (depending on numbers of students and exchange rates) of Calvin’s off-campus programs.
Higher Priced Programs |
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Lower Priced Programs |
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Non-Calvin Off-Campus Semester Program Costs:
The cost for Calvin-partnered and Calvin-supported off-campus semester programs are variable depending on the price set by the partnering organization. This price is available at most program Web sites (administered by the partnering organization). Note the following regarding the price of non-Calvin programs for Calvin students:
- Students are expected to pay at least the amount of Calvin tuition, Calvin will then pay the partnering organization the price of the program;
- If the price of the program is more than Calvin tuition, the student will pay the actual cost of the program plus the appropriate administrative fees at Calvin;
- Additional costs beyond tuition may or may not be included in the cost of non-Calvin programs. Students are encouraged to understand all costs of the programs they are pursuing. These costs are the responsibility of the student whether self incurred or assessed by the operator of the program. These costs could include: room and board, immunizations, excursions, and travel insurance;
- Transportation to and from the program site are the financial responsibility of the student;
Additional Scholarships
The following scholarships are available to students studying off- campus in Calvin-sponsored semester programs. See each description for individual scholarship requirements.
Bays-Herzberg Asian Studies Scholarship
Apply to this scholarship
- for fall semester Study in China program only
- 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA
- junior or senior class level at the time scholarship is used
- demonstrate an interest in pursuing Asian Studies as a major or minor, having taken at least one course in Asian Studies
- some evidence of financial need
One scholarship of $1,500 to a fall semester student.
Preference:Candidates will communicate in a 400 - 500 word essay their personal interest for the semester in China through their answers to the following questions:
- Explain their interest in the Asian Studies program.
- Describe what they hope to accomplish during their semester abroad in China.
Application deadline for fall semester program: April 22, 2011.
Kate Bytwerk Scholarship
Apply for this scholarship
This scholarship was established by communications arts and sciences professor Randall Bytwerk, together with his wife Sharon, in honor of their daughter Kate, who died at age 12 while hiking during a semester spent in Hungary in 1996. It is awarded to a student who fulfills the following requirements:
- 2.5–3.39 GPA (note upper cut-off)
- junior or senior at the time the scholarship is used
- applying to a semester program outside the United States
Financial need may be considered.
One scholarship of $1,950 awarded to a fall semester student.
One scholarship of $1,950 awarded to a spring semester student.
Application deadline for spring semester programs: April 22, 2011
Bradley C. Miller Scholarship
Apply for this scholarship
This scholarship was established by Brad Miller '86, an economics and mathematics major with an interest in integrating faith with economic growth in the developing world. It is awarded to a student who fulfills the following requirements:
- 3.0 GPA or higher
- sophomore or junior status by the time of program; preference may be given to students going into their junior year
- applying to a semester program in the non-Western world
- financial need is not required
One scholarship of $1,400 awarded to a fall semester student.
One scholarship of $1,400 awarded to a spring semester student.
Application deadline for spring semester programs: April 22, 2011.
International Opportunities Scholarship
THIS SCHOLARSHIP WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR FALL 2011.
This scholarship was established by Mr. Shane and Mrs. Melissa De Jong Schaap and is awarded to a student who fulfills the following requirements:
- 3.0 GPA or higher
- junior or senior level at the time the scholarship is used
- history, political science, economics, or communications major
- plans to work internationally and integrate faith with career
Financial need may be considered for this award. You are required to write an essay as part of application for this scholarship. Recipients are required to write a short paper at the end of their semester programs for the program donors.
One scholarship of $1,500 awarded only in the spring for a fall semester student.
Application for fall semester programs: Not offered for fall 2011.
Apply for this scholarship
Here is some more information about outside scholarships.
