Financial Aid

If you are eligible for Macalester financial aid when on campus, your financial aid (other than work study) can be applied to the cost of an approved study away program. Exceptions to using financial aid for study away costs include: non­-immigrant visa (F­1 and J) and asylee status students (for fall 2023-spring 2024), as well as students who receive ACTC Dependent Tuition Assistance Program (DTAP) benefits (see below for more information).

Macalester College need-­based financial aid for study away is based upon total cost­-of-attendance including: tuition (Macalester tuition or program tuition, whichever is higher), room, board, airfare, books/supplies, and estimated personal expenses. The cost­-of­-attendance estimate will not include allowances for immunizations, obtaining a passport, supplemental travel, or personal expenses beyond the semester estimate. Since your study away cost-of-attendance differs from your on-campus cost-of-attendance, your financial aid award will be adjusted accordingly for that semester. The Center for Study Away provides study away program cost­-of­-attendance amounts to the Financial Aid Office for all approved students. Once the Financial Aid Office calculates your financial aid award based upon the costs described above, you will receive an updated financial aid notification mailed to your home address. If you study away in the fall, you will receive your financial aid notification in May; if you study away in the spring, you will receive the letter in October.

You may have student loan options even if you don’t currently receive financial aid. Contact the Financial Aid Office by email at [email protected] for more information.

Financial aid is not available at Macalester for summer study away programs. Students should consult with their summer program directly to learn of any scholarship opportunities.

DTAP Benefits

ACTC DTAP benefits for students whose qualifying parent or guardian is not a Macalester employee are not applicable toward study away costs unless the program selected is administered by Macalester or is an exchange program. If you receive these benefits and do not attend a Macalester-administered or exchange program, you will be charged the actual study away program tuition rather than Macalester tuition. DTAP recipients also have the option of applying for need-­based financial aid for the semester of study away and should contact the Financial Aid Office directly at [email protected] for detailed instructions.

TREP Benefits

Beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year, ACM Tuition Remission Exchange Program benefits can be used for study away costs as long as the student is attending a semester-long program approved by the Study Away Review Committee (SARC).