Buon giorno principessa! There’s a reason why Italy is ranked one of the top countries in the world for study abroad students—aside from its beautiful, romantic language, world-famous cuisine, and stunning architecture, Italy is also home to a vibrant and storied past that has been center-stage in the world’s history. What better place to learn about the world and push yourself beyond your comfort zone than in a country that is a crucial part global politics and culture?
If you’ve been thinking about going abroad, why not participate on a study abroad Italy summer program? Going abroad in high school is an incredible opportunity for students to expand their worldview at a younger age (and getting that bullet point on your college application doesn’t hurt either!). But what about high school study abroad cost? Paying for a summer, semester, or even a year abroad can seem daunting, but with some tough budgeting, scholarships, and affordable programs, you can absolutely make it work! We’re here to tell you how much high school study abroad programs in Italy cost (and how to afford them).
What will you be paying for during high school abroad in Italy?
So what exactly is your money going towards when choosing high school study abroad programs in Italy? There are a few categories of expenses that you should know about, and plan for, before jumping on the airplane to la bella vita.
1. Program fees
Obviously, the first thing you’ll need to budget for when considering high school in Italy is the cost of the program itself. The cost of your program depends on a few different things, such as length of the program: do you want to go on a summer program, a semester program, or a year-long program? Do you want to stay in a homestay or in dorms? Would you like all your meals included or would you rather fend for yourself? Does your program include extracurriculars, cultural visits, and field trips? Typically, the more amenities you get out of your program, the more it’s going to cost, and your average high school in Italy program can cost anywhere between $5,000-15,000. The longer, higher-end programs can cost over $35,000.
2. Flights
Your flight to Italy is definitely going to make up a big chunk of your budget, but the good news is if you do your flight research well ahead of time, you can often find cheap flights! Many round-trip flights cost about $1,000, but flying on a budget airline can cut that cost nearly in half. You can also utilize student discount websites such as STA Travel to find great flight deals specifically packaged for students.
3. Travel insurance
Whether you’re going for a few months or a year, it’s usually a pretty good idea to have your own travel health insurance. A small amount of money upfront can save you a lot of hassle later on.
4. Fun money
Yes, you’re going on a high school in Italy program because you want to have a life-changing international experience, but let’s be honest—you also want to have fun. And getting to know a new culture and country is fun! You’re obviously going to want to do day trips to see the sights, eat out to explore local cuisine, snag tickets to all of the incredible museums, and buy souvenirs to bring back home! That means you’re going to need to budget for fun money which—depending on your spending habits—can be anything between $300 and $1,000. This expense is entirely discretionary when it comes to high school study abroad programs in Italy.
Typical costs of high school study abroad programs in Italy
So what are the usual costs to participate on high school study abroad programs Italy? Like we said, the costs of your adventure abroad is entirely dependent on what kind of program you decide to go on. Here’s a breakdown of what you could come across when researching high school study abroad cost.
1. Full-year programs/exchanges $$$
So you want to dive deep into Italian culture. You want to taste every cheese, explore every Roman ruin, meet every local, learn each, beautiful rounded syllable of the Italian language. You want an authentic experience abroad, and for that, you want to participate on a full-year program or exchange program while studying in Italy in high school.
These kinds of programs tend to be fully immersive. Not only will you be spending a full academic high school year abroad, you’ll also most likely be living with a host family, which will throw you head-first into the realities (and beauties) of living in Italy. You’ll also most likely be in a language-immersive classroom, where your classes and homework will all be in Italian. If you really want to dig deep into the world of Italian culture, these are the kinds of programs for you. Just remember that since this is a full year abroad costs will be significantly higher than other programs you might be more familiar with.
- Low-end cost: For a full-year, immersive high school in Italy study abroad program, the low-end of costs can be around $13,000. Programs such as Youth for Understanding give you what you need to succeed: host family placement, assistance in enrolling in a local, Italian high school, airfare, orientation, Italian language instruction, insurance, and on-the-ground-support (whatta bargain!).
- High-end cost: If you want all the bells and whistles, slightly more expensive programs will cost around $35,000. These kinds of programs will include the same basics as a lower-end program (host family placement, language instruction, orientation, etc.), but it will also included additional amenities such as unique academic opportunities, language-focused programming, and immersive cultural day-trips and activities.
- Recommended program: CIEE’s Italian Language and Culture Program in Ferrara, Italy
2. Semester programs $$$
If you want to get some experience under your belt but don’t want to quite commit to a full year abroad, then a semester program might be the answer! Semester programs typically last 3-6 months and, similar to year-long programs, focus on full cultural and language immersion.
This usually means that like the longer year-long programs, you’ll have the opportunity to live with a local host family, attend classes with Italian students or other international students, and really explore the surrounding area of your chosen study abroad city.
- Low-end cost: For 3-6 months, the low-end cost is around $9,000, which—in the cases of programs such as Greenheart Travel—can include the costs of roundtrip airfare, host family placement with three meals a day, and orientation.
- High-end cost: A slightly higher-cost semester program in Italy can cost around $17,000, which can include all the basics, as well as volunteering and community involvement programming, networking opportunities, and overnight and day excursions.
- Recommended program: API’s Semester in Rome, Italy
3. Summer programs $$$
If you want an incredible experience abroad but don’t want to take time away from your academic year while in high school, then a study abroad Italy summer program is just the ticket! You’ll get all the benefits of studying abroad but with less of a time commitment.
These kinds of high school study abroad programs in Italy can either include the more traditional homestays, where you live with a local family, or sometimes student dormitories. Although you’ll have less time to fully immerse yourself in a summer program, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to learn the local lifestyle, language, and culture! (and fit in plenty of trips to your favorite gelato shop)
- Low-end cost: Study abroad summer programs that are on the lower end cost about $3,000.
- High-end cost: If you want the best of the best, your program cost could be closer to $10,000.
- Recommended program: ISA’s Summer Program in Sorrento
4. Italian language schools $
For those students who don’t want to just dance the tango, but also learn the lingo, you’ll probably want to look into Italian language school programs. These kinds of programs are fully immersive—you’ll be speaking and hearing Italian in the classroom, at home, and when you’re out with your friends. Full immersion programs are the best way to truly learn a language and be a part of the local culture.
- Low-end cost: The duration of your language program may vary, which can affect the cost, but lower-end costs typically run around $8,000.
- High-end cost: More expensive language programs, with full immersion day-trips, support, and activities, can cost as high as $16,000.
- Recommended program: Westcoast Connection
View ALL High School Study Abroad Programs in Italy
Quick tips to lessen your overall costs to study in Italy
Now that you know the general costs of your high school in Italy study abroad experience, you may be a little intimidated by how you’re going to pay for it. But there’s good news! If you get a little creative, you can easily cut costs on your experience abroad.
- First of all: Consider a lower-cost program. Although a higher-cost program may seem flashy and exciting, you’ll still receive all the essentials (on-the-ground support, orientation, assistance with housing and enrolling in school) from a cheaper program, and you’ll still have a life-changing experience. After all, you’re not studying abroad just for the program—you’re studying abroad for the country itself!
- Do your research! Make sure you get the best bang for your buck by really digging into the details of each program and making sure you know what you’re paying for. Tools like MyGoAbroad can help you narrow down your choices and compare and contrast different programs, but if you’re still undecided, go to the professionals! GoAbroad’s Online Advisors can help you with some top-notch advice and guidance.
- Be sure to plan out a budget. You can check out a some of GoAbroad’s best tips to create (and stick to) a study abroad budget, as well as talk to your parents or legal guardian to help you figure out how to plan out your money.
- Look up scholarships! GoAbroad’s Scholarship Directory for High School Students is a never-ending resource of scholarships and grants for those hoping to expand their worldview by going abroad. And who doesn’t love free money?
Let’s shop for high school study abroad programs in Italy!
Going abroad as a high school student is an incredible experience. Most students study abroad while in college, and not as many younger students go abroad in high school, making you a unique and brave adventurer! You’ll learn more about yourself and the world than you ever would have by just staying at home. Yes, it costs money to study abroad, but the end results are totally worth it. Do your research on various programs to make sure you’re picking the one that best fits your needs (and your budget) and you’ll be living la dolce vita in no time!