Financial Aid
Studying abroad is an investment in your education and future—and it doesn’t have to be out of reach financially. Loyola students can apply a variety of financial aid options to help make their international experience affordable and accessible. Here's what you need to know.
Types of Financial Aid
Loyola students may be eligible for the following types of financial assistance. Eligibility is determined by completing the FAFSA. While you may not utilize financial aid for Loyola, you may want to consider completing the FAFSA to explore funding options for your study abroad program or qualify for additional Loyola or external scholarships that might require it. The Financial Aid Office utilizes your program Cost Sheet to update your cost of attendance and repackage your financial aid awards.
Federal Aid
Includes Pell Grants, SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), and federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.
State Aid
Depending on your state of residence, you may be eligible for state grants or scholarships such as the Illinois MAP grant. Check with the Student Financial Aid Office to confirm how state aid may apply to study abroad.
Loyola Aid
Institutional scholarships, grants, and tuition discounts may be used towards exchange/direct-enroll programs, the Rome Center, and Jesuit affiliate partners. Students participating in an embedded spring semester faculty-led program may apply aid towards their tuition and fees. Consult with Financial Aid to understand how Loyola aid can be applied to your chosen program.
Applying Financial Aid to Study Abroad: A Step-by-Step Checklist
1. Complete the FAFSA
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), even if you don’t think you qualify. Studying abroad may impact your cost of attendance, which may adjust your financial aid package or make you eligible for additional aid.
2. Meet with a Study Abroad Advisor
Explore your program options and find a study abroad program that fits your academic and financial needs. Understand generally how aid is applied by program type.
3. Schedule a Financial Aid Appointment
Talk with the Financial Aid Office about how your specific financial aid package applies to the program(s) you’ve selected or are considering. Aid portability varies by program type.
Before you study abroad, here are some key questions to bring to your financial aid meeting:
-
- How much of my existing financial aid package can be applied to this specific program?
- Will my cost of attendance change, and how might that affect my aid eligibility?
- Can my Loyola scholarships or grants be used abroad?
- Are there any additional scholarships I can apply for specifically for study abroad?
- How does aid differ between summer and semester programs?
- If I don’t use all my aid in one term, can I roll it over to another?
- Will I need to complete additional forms or documentation?
4. Understand the Differences Between Semester and Summer Aid
Eligible semester or year-long programs may apply federal, state, and Loyola aid; however, only federal aid is available for all summer programs. Summer programs may offer limited aid due to annual aid limits or based on the number of credit hours earned. Plan carefully to ensure you have aid left to use. Remember: there is no separate FAFSA for summer. As long as you have a current-year FAFSA on file, you’ll be considered for summer aid.
5. Confirm Enrollment Requirements
Certain financial aid awards, such as the MAP grant (semester and academic year) and the Pell grant may require you to maintain enrollment in a specific number of credit hours, please consult with the Financial Aid Office to understand how this may be applicable to your award.
The MAP Grant award amount is an estimate made by the Financial Aid Office and is identified as a "State of IL MAP Grant (Est)." Please be aware that the number of available MAP Grants is limited by funding levels approved by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor and reductions to estimated or actual MAP Grants are possible. Eligibility for a MAP grant is tracked by the equivalent number of semester credit hours of MAP benefits paid on your behalf. This is called MAP Paid Credit Hours. Payment for each term is being made according to the equivalent number of credit hours eligible for MAP payment, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 MAP Paid Credit Hours. If you are enrolled in fewer than 15 credit hours, your award will be prorated.
All study abroad semester students will be registered for a default 15 credit hour registration hold. If you are a MAP grant recipient, and you choose to take fewer than 15 credit hours abroad, you need to notify the Financial Aid Office and your Study Abroad Advisor. If you take fewer credit hours abroad than your MAP grant award, you may be required to pay back any additional aid at the end of the term.
6. Explore Scholarship Options
Visit our scholarships page to learn more about external scholarships, specifically the Gilman International Scholarship for Pell-eligible students, Loyola scholarships for the Rome Center, and our affiliate partners’ curated lists of scholarships for students with high financial need.
Financial Aid Portability by Program Type
Affiliate Programs
Students pay the Study Abroad Office Administrative Fee, CISI Insurance Fee, and Affiliate Fee on their LOCUS account. Tuition, housing, and other fees are paid directly to the affiliate partner. If you are unable to pay the invoice at the time of receipt, many affiliate partners will accept proof of financial aid for delayed payments. Only federal aid is available for summer term (includes the Pell grant).
- Loyola Aid: No
- State Aid: Yes
- Federal Aid: Yes
Visit our Billing and Program Cost Page
Jesuit Affiliate Programs
Students pay the Study Abroad Office Administrative Fee, CISI Insurance Fee, Jesuit affiliate housing and tuition on their LOCUS account. Only federal aid is available for summer term (includes the Pell grant).
- Loyola Aid: Yes
- State Aid: Yes
- Federal Aid: Yes
Exchanges/Direct-Enroll Programs
Students pay the Study Abroad Office Administrative Fee, CISI Insurance Fee, and Loyola tuition on their LOCUS account. Only federal aid is available for summer term (includes the Pell grant).
- Loyola Aid: Yes
- State Aid: Yes
- Federal Aid: Yes
Faculty-Led Programs
Only federal aid is available for summer term (includes the Pell grant).
- Loyola Aid: Yes*
- State Aid: Yes
- Federal Aid: Yes
*Some restrictions apply
Rome Center
Just like in Chicago, students pay Rome Center tuition and housing on their LOCUS accounts. Learn more about the Rome Center’s tuition rates and financial aid options here. You can also learn more about the over $100,000 awarded annually in scholarships. Only federal aid is available for summer term (includes the Pell grant).
- Loyola Aid: Yes
- State Aid: Yes
- Federal Aid: Yes
Studying abroad is an investment in your education and future—and it doesn’t have to be out of reach financially. Loyola students can apply a variety of financial aid options to help make their international experience affordable and accessible. Here's what you need to know.
Types of Financial Aid
Loyola students may be eligible for the following types of financial assistance. Eligibility is determined by completing the FAFSA. While you may not utilize financial aid for Loyola, you may want to consider completing the FAFSA to explore funding options for your study abroad program or qualify for additional Loyola or external scholarships that might require it. The Financial Aid Office utilizes your program Cost Sheet to update your cost of attendance and repackage your financial aid awards.
Federal Aid
Includes Pell Grants, SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), and federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.
State Aid
Depending on your state of residence, you may be eligible for state grants or scholarships such as the Illinois MAP grant. Check with the Student Financial Aid Office to confirm how state aid may apply to study abroad.
Loyola Aid
Institutional scholarships, grants, and tuition discounts may be used towards exchange/direct-enroll programs, the Rome Center, and Jesuit affiliate partners. Students participating in an embedded spring semester faculty-led program may apply aid towards their tuition and fees. Consult with Financial Aid to understand how Loyola aid can be applied to your chosen program.
Applying Financial Aid to Study Abroad: A Step-by-Step Checklist
1. Complete the FAFSA
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), even if you don’t think you qualify. Studying abroad may impact your cost of attendance, which may adjust your financial aid package or make you eligible for additional aid.
2. Meet with a Study Abroad Advisor
Explore your program options and find a study abroad program that fits your academic and financial needs. Understand generally how aid is applied by program type.
3. Schedule a Financial Aid Appointment
Talk with the Financial Aid Office about how your specific financial aid package applies to the program(s) you’ve selected or are considering. Aid portability varies by program type.
Before you study abroad, here are some key questions to bring to your financial aid meeting:
-
- How much of my existing financial aid package can be applied to this specific program?
- Will my cost of attendance change, and how might that affect my aid eligibility?
- Can my Loyola scholarships or grants be used abroad?
- Are there any additional scholarships I can apply for specifically for study abroad?
- How does aid differ between summer and semester programs?
- If I don’t use all my aid in one term, can I roll it over to another?
- Will I need to complete additional forms or documentation?
4. Understand the Differences Between Semester and Summer Aid
Eligible semester or year-long programs may apply federal, state, and Loyola aid; however, only federal aid is available for all summer programs. Summer programs may offer limited aid due to annual aid limits or based on the number of credit hours earned. Plan carefully to ensure you have aid left to use. Remember: there is no separate FAFSA for summer. As long as you have a current-year FAFSA on file, you’ll be considered for summer aid.
5. Confirm Enrollment Requirements
Certain financial aid awards, such as the MAP grant (semester and academic year) and the Pell grant may require you to maintain enrollment in a specific number of credit hours, please consult with the Financial Aid Office to understand how this may be applicable to your award.
The MAP Grant award amount is an estimate made by the Financial Aid Office and is identified as a "State of IL MAP Grant (Est)." Please be aware that the number of available MAP Grants is limited by funding levels approved by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor and reductions to estimated or actual MAP Grants are possible. Eligibility for a MAP grant is tracked by the equivalent number of semester credit hours of MAP benefits paid on your behalf. This is called MAP Paid Credit Hours. Payment for each term is being made according to the equivalent number of credit hours eligible for MAP payment, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 MAP Paid Credit Hours. If you are enrolled in fewer than 15 credit hours, your award will be prorated.
All study abroad semester students will be registered for a default 15 credit hour registration hold. If you are a MAP grant recipient, and you choose to take fewer than 15 credit hours abroad, you need to notify the Financial Aid Office and your Study Abroad Advisor. If you take fewer credit hours abroad than your MAP grant award, you may be required to pay back any additional aid at the end of the term.
6. Explore Scholarship Options
Visit our scholarships page to learn more about external scholarships, specifically the Gilman International Scholarship for Pell-eligible students, Loyola scholarships for the Rome Center, and our affiliate partners’ curated lists of scholarships for students with high financial need.