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

For students who demonstrate exceptional financial need

• Your home school acts as the lender

Federal Pell Grants

For undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree

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

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Administered by your home school’s financial aid office

• 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

For eligible students who plan to work as teachers in high-need fields or low-income areas

• 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

For students with a parent/guardian who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces in Iraq or Afghanistan

• 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

Discounts can’t be combined with multi-program discounts (the greater of the two will be awarded). Discount cannot be applied to Custom/Faculty-Led programs. Discount applied to final balance.

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 provides savings for students who want to participate on multiple programs. Apply for your first program and your CEA CAPA Admissions Advisor will help you through the multi-program application process:

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

Multi-program discounts can’t be combined with other offers.