best travel programs for college students

College Students

Explore the world on your own terms.

Looking for an authentic travel experience with your peers that allows you the flexibility to travel your way? We have you covered!  Taking a gap year and not in college? No problem! This trip is designed for anyone ages 19-22 interested in an adventure.

We unbundled most of the activities to provide an affordable program where you can have plenty of flexibility to pick and choose your own unique experience! Creative itinerary, plenty of free time, and exciting options allow you to make the most out of your travels. Meet fellow travelers from all over while experiencing Greece on your own terms!

College Programs with TFT

Plenty of freedom.

Our tour is designed with plenty of free time so you can explore on your own or with your new friends!

Choice & Flexibility

Our tour offers a wide range of activities to choose from. Want to learn how to cook like a local? No problem! Want to spend your evening on a sunset cruise in Greece? We can make that happen! Choose your own adventure.

Affordable Tours

We have created affordable options so no matter what your budget is you can travel the world! Pick and choose to add on as many activities and additions as you would like.

Small group sizes

Group sizes of 14-30 travelers means you will make plenty of new friends and never feel like just a number. Small groups are a safer and more authentic way to travel!

Greece Island Hopping Summer Break for College Students

• Jun 18 - Jun 28 Full

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05 / 05 Swim in the Mediterranean.

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College Study Abroad

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Featured study abroad programs .

At CIEE, we offer a variety of college study abroad programs covering semester, summer, and January terms. In addition to studying internationally, we provide internships abroad where students gain professional skills and experience in real-world work environments. Learn more about our comprehensive college study abroad programs and international internships below.

Featured Study Abroad Programs

Spring Study Programs

Study abroad on one of CIEE's spring programs! Start planning your adventure today.

Fall Study Programs

Kick off the school year by studying or interning abroad during the Fall semester.

Intern Abroad

Dive into an international internship (in-person, virtual, for-credit - your choice!).

Search All STUDY Programs

CIEE provides study abroad programs in some of the world's top locations, from Spain and Italy to South Korea and Australia . With 150+ programs in over 30 countries, your dream study abroad destination is just a few clicks away!

Trending Study Abroad Destinations

Study abroad in Spain with CIEE on one of our top study programs in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Alcalá de Henares, or Palma de Mallorca.

South Korea

Study abroad in South Korea with CIEE in Seoul and put your Korean lanuage skills to the test, all while learning more about Korean culture.

Study abroad in Italy with CIEE in Rome, Florence, or Milan where you can explore Italian culture, language, fashion, cuisine, and more.

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Why choose ciee.

High-Quality Study Abroad Programs

For more than 75 years, CIEE has set the standard for study abroad programs.

Academics:  Our rigorous academic programs extend outside the classroom walls, offering you the experience and skills you need to succeed in your college career and beyond.

Cultural Immersion:  We offer you the life-changing opportunity to travel abroad and live like a local, rounding out your experience with exciting cultural excursions and activities.

Student Support:  Our resident directors and staff, highly trained support teams, and health & safety specialists are with you at every step of your journey.

$8+ Million in Scholarships and Grants

CIEE is committed to helping every student – regardless of socioeconomic background or academic major – access a transformative study abroad experience. If you’re looking to travel abroad, but are worried about covering the costs, CIEE offers a variety of study abroad scholarships & grants for students with demonstrated financial need and proven academic merit.

CIEE maintains many partnerships  to help students grow academically, professionally, and personally through study abroad. 

Explore Scholarships & Grants

Flexibility To Design Your Own Program

With  CIEE's Open Campus Block Program , you can design your very own study abroad program to include up to three different locations. Feel free to build your own program using our custom study abroad tool, spin the globe , or take a look at experiences around some of our most popular open campus combinations!

Build Your Own Program

Health & Safety

Living abroad means a new environment and lifestyle - two things that can affect your  health and safety . With planning and awareness, living abroad can be a very healthy, safe, and rewarding experience for you.

CIEE has partnered with experts in producing resources that address health concerns for students who are thinking about studying abroad. As a founding member of the Interassociational Advisory Committee on Safety and Responsibility in Study Abroad, we are committed to the operation of safe and secure study experiences.

College Study Abroad Blogs

Should I Study Abroad in Spain or Italy?

When weighing your study abroad options, it’s easy to get stuck on a few favorite destinations. We get it! After all, we offer a ton of different study abroad programs... keep reading

• Activities & Excursions
• Foreign Language
• Planning/Packing
• Alcala de Henares
• Palma de Mallorca

2 Best CIEE Travel Grants for College Students

If you’re planning for a study abroad adventure, chances are you’re starting to get organized and assess what needs to be done ahead of your travels. And one of the... keep reading

• Scholarships

Grace: "Studying abroad is about more than just classes; it's diving into a new culture, facing challenges head-on, and discovering parts of yourself you never knew existed"

Grace Kadia is part of the Summer Global Internship students at CIEE Berlin. She is originally from Fort Worth, Texas and studying at the University of North Texas, where is... keep reading

• Best Time to Study Abroad
• Communications
• Internships

Questions About College Study Abroad

Put simply, study abroad is when a student pursues their academic goals in a foreign country. By studying abroad, students learn more about different cultures, languages, people, and more, transforming their global perspective and cultural understanding. 

Read more: What is Study Abroad? Everything You Need to Know!

Yes! Students who study with CIEE can earn college credit abroad for specific courses they take. We recommend that students check with their campus study abroad office prior to leaving for their program to ensure that course credits can be counted. 

Search all Courses

Yes, CIEE study abroad is a legit study abroad organization that was founded in 1947 with the mission of promoting international education and exchange. Headquartered in Portland, Maine, CIEE aims to humanize international relations and foster peace through international educational programs that promote intercultural understanding.

Check out our full list of study abroad programs!

Studying abroad can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be, but in general, the cost to study abroad can range anywhere from $3,650 for January programs to $19,968 or more for semester programs . The cost of studying abroad varies depending on several factors, including:

• Program type
• Length of study

While the cost of study abroad programs for college students is constantly changing, CIEE program fees typically include all essentials outside of airfare and meals. This typically includes tuition, housing, pre-departure advising, orientation, on-side staff and 24/7 emergency support, cultural activities, and travel protection. Read more: Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants

While the length of your study abroad program varies based on your study abroad program provider, CIEE offers four different study abroad program durations:

• Semester Programs:  Fall or spring semester study abroad programs typically last 15-17 weeks.
• Summer Programs :  A single summer session lasts four weeks, but students can choose to enroll in one, two, or three consecutive sessions for a full summer abroad.
• January Programs :  January study abroad programs are typically between two and three weeks long.
• Open Campus Block Programs :  Open Campus Block programs allow students to design their own custom study abroad programs that last for six, 12, or up to 18 consecutive weeks.

If you’re wondering how to study abroad in college , follow these simple steps:

• Search our study abroad programs and find one that you love!
• Ensure program dates, expenses, financial aid, courses, etc. fit into your goals
• Connect with your campus study abroad office
• Start your application

Read more: How Does Studying Abroad Work?

There are countless benefits of studying abroad in college, from getting out of your comfort zone by connecting with new cultures and languages, to making new friends and gaining a new perspective on the world. Not to mention if you complete an internship abroad , you’ll boost your resume with real-world international work experience.

Read more: Benefits of Study Abroad

CIEE Study Abroad Reviews

"I absolutely loved the program - classes were structured well and the professors are amazing. CIEE is very supportive and also efficient with housing."

Ella S. | Spring 2022 | Seville, Spain

"CIEE Study Abroad is an incredible program providing the students to experience different culture and appreciate the opportunities to widely open their eyes."

Linda L. | Spring 2022 | Dublin, Ireland

"The classes were super personalized and my professors recommended so many things in Prague as well as took us on a variety of field trips that made Prague feel more like home."

Brynn C. | Spring 2022 | Prague, Czech Republic

"They genuinely care about every student and did everything they could to ensure the students enjoyed their time abroad."

Noel S. | Summer 2022 | Copenhagen, Denmark

"It was an amazing experience. I felt truly immersed in the culture and environment of my host country. I also made friendshops that will last a lifetime."

Emma S. | Summer 2022 | Monteverde, Costa Rica

CIEE School of Record: Tulane University

Tulane University serves as CIEE's School of Record for all CIEE Study College Abroad programs. Tulane University is one of the nation’s premier research universities with highly respected academic programs in many of the fastest-growing academic areas of interest for international study, including architecture, engineering, technology, public health, business, liberal arts, and world languages.

The university is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as by leading academic organizations in the areas of engineering, architecture, public health, and business.

Ready to Study Abroad?

Explore All Programs      Find Scholarships      Apply Today!

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Top Summer Travel Programs For College Students [Locations, Prices, & Reviews]

Table of contents.

More and more college students are spending their summers and gap years abroad. Why? Because traveling opens you up to fun experiences, other cultures, new friends, and learning opportunities! Summer travel programs for college students are the perfect way to broaden your horizons, especially since 74% of educators say that travel has a positive impact on student development. 

A lot of solo travelers travel to meet new people , and 71% of them have met someone who changed their life or gave them a new perspective. Travel solo , book with friends—either way, we can guarantee that you will meet new people like you! 

At Further Travel , we know how hard it can be to plan a trip, get friends together, and make an exciting itinerary. For over 10 years, we’ve helped thousands of college students travel by doing all the hard work for you! We offer a variety of programs that give you volunteering and teaching experience, while also having fun adventures in the world’s best travel destinations. 

Spend your summer between classes with us! Get some valuable volunteering experience, learn about other cultures, and make a real difference while meeting lifelong friends. 

Check out our top summer travel programs for college students below:

• Camp Maldives
• Camp Eurotrip
• Camp Vietnam & Cambodia
• Camp South Africa: Sports Coaching & English Teaching
• Camp South Africa: Animal Conservation
• Camp Bali: 10-Day Adventure
• Camp Bali: Island Hopper
• Camp Bali: 20-Day Explorer
• Camp Thailand: Ultimate Adventure
• Camp Thailand: 20-Day Island Explorer
• Camp Thailand: Camp Elephant
• Camp Thailand: 12-Day Adventure

College Student Summer Travel Programs: Spend Your Summer Abroad

Our summer travel programs for college students include rewarding volunteer work , from cleaning up the beach to planting trees! You will do amazing work while visiting a stunning destination abroad. We also value fun, which is why our summer programs are packed with exciting activities to do with your new camp friends. Check them out below!

Camp Maldives: Learn About Marine Conservation [From £1,999]

Running from May through August, Camp Maldives combines exploring beautiful tropical islands with making a difference in the community! Along with adventuring in the Maldives and getting immersed in their culture, you’ll work with Save The Beach to preserve local marine life. Get some community service experience under your belt with these activities:

• Beach cleanup
• Coral reef surveys
• Coral frame cleaning
• Coral health assessment
• Coral planting
• Tree planting

Further Travel is dedicated to sustainability and culture, and we also care about your enjoyment! That’s why you’ll take part in activities like a cooking class, snorkeling, surfing, visiting cultural landmarks, and a fishing trip with the locals.

When you spend your summer at Camp Maldives, you get the experience of a lifetime with the perfect mix of fun and making a difference. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matt Andy🍍 (@mattandy_53)

Camp Eurotrip: Seven Countries In 19 Days [From £2,499]

Ever dreamed of spending a summer touring Europe, partying in the best European clubs, and seeing some of the most famous landmarks? Look no further than Camp Eurotrip ! On this 19 day program available in June, you’ll visit seven different countries:

• France: Explore the streets of Paris, tour bars, engage in the City of Light’s nightlife, and check out must-see spots like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre.
• Netherlands: Check out Amsterdam’s traditional streets and architecture and visit the city’s best tourist destinations like the Heineken Factory, the Anne Frank House, and Rijksmuseum. If you’re looking for a thrill, head to Europe’s highest swing ‘Over The Edge!’
• Germany: Head to Berlin to try the best German beer and famous currywurst! Visit Berlin’s top attractions like the Reichstag Building and explore everything this diverse and vibrant city has to offer. 
• Czech Republic: In Prague, spend your time sightseeing and getting to know the amazing historical monuments and Gothic architecture. Plenty to explore, Prague offers some stunning views and even the largest club in Europe!
• Hungary: In Hungary, you’ll spend time in one of the trendiest cities in Europe—Budapest! See historical monuments, do some bar crawling, and SPArty at the city’s largest thermal bath. 
• Slovenia: With a unique heritage, Slovenia is home to two of our program destinations: Ljubljana and Lake Bled. Wander the river, Ljubljana Castle, and check out the thriving club scene. Prepare for a picturesque day at Lake Bled, hiking the mountains, riding a boat around the lake, and whizzing into the valley on a toboggan! 
• Italy: Visit both Venice and Rome, exploring some of the most iconic Italy destinations like the Colosseum and Doge’s Palace!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Camp EuroTrip (@campeurotrip)

Camp Eurotrip offers the summer party of a lifetime, where you’ll check off some of Europe’s best bucket list destinations while having fun with your friends! We hope to see you there.

Camp Vietnam & Cambodia: Give Back To A Local Community [From £1,899]

If you want to spend your summer making a real difference, Camp Vietnam & Cambodia is the place to be! Participate in community service activities like:

• Teaching English: You’ll teach English in Pagoda and at a local school in Hoi An. We’ll make sure you’re prepared with your Young Learner’s Qualification and lesson planning with camp reps. 
• Beach cleanup: Fight plastic pollution and help out the marine wildlife in Hoi An with a beach cleanup.
• Community development: Visit Angkor Kreav and complete community work to help out a community in need. Work includes teaching and construction.

Not only are you doing important work to help out communities abroad and getting valuable volunteering experience, you’ll also see amazing monuments and participate in cultural activities. You’ll get immersed in the culture at duck farms, natural landscapes, temples, pagodas, and Hang Mua Mountain. You’ll even visit the local fish market! 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Camp Vietnam✈️ (@campvietnam)

Camp Vietnam & Cambodia offers you the opportunity to help out in a community while also learning about other cultures and visiting an amazing travel destination. We hope you’ll spend your summer with us!

Camp South Africa: Volunteer Over The Summer

Our Camp South Africa travel programs are the perfect way to get some volunteering experience over the summer! Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and doing it abroad introduces you to different cultures, lets you check off a bucket list destination, and helps out communities in need. The skills you strengthen will help you post-college, as 19% of employees said volunteering abroad helped them improve their teamwork abilities. 

Check out our Camp South Africa volunteering programs!

Sports Coaching & English Teaching [From £1,449]

Interested in making a difference in a child’s life? If so, the Camp South Africa Sports Coaching & English Teaching program is the best way to spend your summer! 

At this program, you’ll spend five weeks with kids in South Africa, teaching them sports, Math, and English, or all three–it’s up to you! Schools in South Africa don’t include sports in their everyday curriculum, so you’ll be enhancing their education while having fun. You can teach a variety of sports including:

In fact, football is so popular in South Africa that you may find yourself learning a thing or two from the kids! Spend your summer between college classes getting some rewarding volunteering experience and meeting friends along the way. 

Animal Conservation [From £1,349]

Spend the summer helping out local wildlife, learning about conservation in South Africa, and making new friends (furry and not) with our Camp South Africa Animal Conservation program!

This summer program for college students is an amazing way to learn about animal conservation, help out at an animal reserve abroad, and see some amazing bucket list views! At the reserve, you’ll help out with conservation in a few different ways:

• Physical work
• Reserve maintenance
• Interactive lectures
• Feeding animals
• Caring for animals

On the weekend, you’re free to explore! Head into the beautiful city of Port Elizabeth with your new friends, or take part in some adventurous activities like canoeing, surfing, quad biking, and horseback riding! Maybe do some optional activities, like visiting the BayWorld Natural History Museum, seeing penguins at Cape Recife, visiting BayWest Mall, heading to Sardinia Bay Beach or Storms River Bridge, or skydiving! (Note: optional activities come at an additional cost and are subject to availability). 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Camp South Africa 🇿🇦 (@campsouthafrica)

Camp Bali: Community Service Abroad

Spend your summer in Camp Bali to complete rewarding community service work, learn about the culture of a country abroad, and work with an amazing group of people! Further Travel brings together like-minded people who love traveling sustainably and helping others. If this sounds like you, consider spending your summer at one of our Camp Bali programs!

10-Day Adventure [From £1,099]

Looking for a program shorter than our 3 week programs? Look no further than our Camp Bali 10-Day Adventure ! This all-in-one program running from June to August features monkey forests, temple visits, and a community service project. Over the 10 days, you’ll have these amazing experiences:

• Water activities: Take an authentic Indonesian surf lesson, board a boat for some white water rafting, and snorkel to explore the coral reefs!
• Cultural sightseeing: Make some friends with the monkeys at the monkey forest in Ubud, view the amazing rice fields, and visit these stunning temples: Tanalot, Ganuung Kavi, Tirta Empul, and Lempuyang!
• Community service: Spend 2 days completing a community service project in Ubud by renovating and painting kindergartens, schools, and temples to support local families.

Gain rewarding volunteering experience and meet some amazing people on our 10-Day Adventure. You might even be able to snag a selfie with a new friend!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ELLIE WOODS (@elliewds)

Island Hopper [From £1,599] 

The Camp Bali Island Hopper program is the perfect mix of teaching, community service, animal conservation, and exploring Balinese culture! This program gets you off the beaten track with one of the most diverse itineraries we have. You’ll make a difference by volunteering at a turtle conservation sanctuary and teaching at an Ubud learning center! You’ll also have plenty of time to bond with your new friends with these activities:

• Surf lessons
• Sunset yoga
• Monkey forest
• Waterfall tour
• Snorkelling
• Island hopping

And so much more! If you want a perfect mix of fun, making a difference, and getting to know local cultures, Camp Bali Island Hopper is the place to be this summer. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Camp Bali 📍🌎 (@campbali)

20-Day Explorer [From £1,499]

Jam packed with fun and rewarding volunteer projects, the Camp Bali 20-Day Explorer program lets you work with kids in need, help with turtle conservation, and see some amazing Bali hot spots! Spend 5 days total working with kids and teaching them English, and spend 3 days volunteering at a turtle conservation sanctuary. At the sanctuary, you’ll:

• Feed turtles
• Maintain sanctuary grounds
• Clean enclosures
• Support environmental education programs
• Repair educational displays
• Do beach cleanups

Apart from these incredibly rewarding projects, the 20-Day Explorer program has an itinerary that involves a wide variety of fun! Take surfing lessons, go white water rafting, visit Asia’s number one water park, and see cultural monuments like Tanalot Temple!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brooke🌴 (@brookemegantravels_)

Camp Thailand: Get Immersed In Culture

If you want to enhance your cultural experiences and learn about communities abroad, visit Camp Thailand this summer! Our programs offer the opportunity to experience new cultures, volunteer at elephant rescues, and work with kids in need. Whether you’re taking a gap year or looking for summer plans, Thailand is one of the best destinations, and you may be able to visit our recommended Best Thailand Beaches To Visit On A Gap Year ! 

Check out our programs below!

Ultimate Adventure [From £1,599]

The Camp Thailand Ultimate Adventure program is an all-in-one itinerary of one of the most beautiful tropical destinations on Earth. Available May through August, our most travel-oriented program in the country has everything you could ever want! You’ll visit all of these amazing Thailand destinations:

• Bangkok: Take some scenic IG pics on a river tour and visit some of the most iconic temples in the city.
• Singburi: Deemed the spiritual heart of Thailand, Singburi is home to the Lopburi Monkey Island, where you can admire these amazing animals in the wild. See some conventional aspects of Thai culture like the Big Buddha statue.
• Kanchanaburi: Visit the ‘instagrammable’ River Kwai Bridge and explore the 9 waterfalls of Erawan National Park!
• Hua Hin: Sample Muay Thai boxing at this seaside resort and head to Phraya Nakhon Cave! 
• Khao Sok: Visit Khao Sok National Park, spend the night in floating bungalows, venture on a boat safari tour, and kayak to take in the views of this beautiful destination. 
• Phuket: At this established Thai hot spot, spend your free time exploring the island with your camp friends. Then, go on a day tour where you’ll see the popular resort town of Patong Beach!
• Koh Phi Phi: At the Phi Phi islands, enjoy stunning beaches, exciting nightlife, and a hike up to Phi Phi Viewpoint.
• Krabi: Enjoy some optional activities like scuba diving, kayaking, or ziplining! See some of Thailand’s cultural hot spots like the Emerald Pools and Tiger Temple. 

(Note: optional activities come at an additional cost and are subject to availability). 

Camp Thailand is one of the best ways to spend your summer as a college student because of the amazing culture, historical landmarks, and new friendships!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Camp Thailand 🇹🇭🏝🐘 (@campthailand)

20-Day Island Explorer [From £1,549]

If you want to help out in local schools and learn all about elephant rescue while exploring the beautiful islands of Thailand, look no further than the Camp Thailand 20-Day Island Explorer program. This program combines volunteer work in schools with elephant conservation and exploring tropical islands! 

Experience a mud bath with a baby elephant and make sure to get that perfect elephant selfie! You’ll also sample Muay Thai boxing, enjoy a beach BBQ, take a boat tour to Monkey Beach, and visit the Emerald Pools.

For 6 days total, make a difference in the lives of kids in Thailand by teaching them English and getting them excited about school! We’ll make sure you’re prepared with lesson planning and your Young Learner’s Certification . 

Camp Elephant [From £1,449]

Camp Thailand Camp Elephant is the place to be if you want to spend time with rescued elephants and help out at elephant sanctuaries. Along with making friends with elephants, you’ll make lasting connections with kids in local schools and orphanages through your teaching. 

Along with traditional Thai cooking lessons, Muay Thai boxing lessons, yoga classes, and waterfall and water park visits, spend 5 days teaching English and visit 3 different elephant sanctuaries! You’ll get to walk alongside elephants in the jungle, take a mud bath, feed elephants, and learn about rescued elephants. 

Sonya shared her experience at Camp Thailand, telling us, “Camp Thailand has been the best experience of my life so far. It’s been different to what I had initially expected, but in a really good way… I decided to sign up for Camp Thailand because I wanted to work with the kids and work in the community – you definitely see the impact that your participation has first hand, which has been fantastic.”

If you want to brush up on your knowledge before you visit Camp Elephant, check out 10 Facts About Elephants In Thailand !

View this post on Instagram A post shared by brooke🧉 (@brookemegan_)

12-Day Adventure [From £999]

Party hard and meet the elephants on the Camp Thailand 12-Day Adventure program! This program is perfect for anyone looking for a shorter trip that still includes all that Thailand has to offer. This jam packed itinerary includes all of these activities:

• Elephant sanctuary visit
• Stunning beaches
• Phi Phi Viewpoint
• Emerald Pools
• Tiger Temple

See the greatest cultural monuments and spend an entire day with elephants—it’s the best of both worlds! 

Travel With Further Travel This Summer

Further Travel's summer programs are perfect for college students who still need a summer plan or are on a gap year. Planning a trip in college can be hard— that’s why we’re here! 

We’re committed to sustainability and being more environmentally friendly while traveling . Combined with volunteering, animal conservation, cultural awareness, and community, we offer a well-rounded and fun experience abroad. 

Want to learn more? Check out our FAQs ! 

If you’re interested in traveling with Further Travel this summer, email us or call 0161 222 3780. We can’t wait to see you at Camp!

FurtherTravel

Visiting a thai elephant conservation center in thailand: what to expect, 6 summer programmes with tangible impact, teaching summer internship programmes: make a difference with camp thailand, where to find the best volunteer abroad opportunities for students [2024 + 2025 guide], study abroad programmes with a twist: how to get paid, do good, and have fun, thailand island tour guide: travel hop with camp thailand, how to get into wildlife conservation on a volunteer trip, global wildlife conservation: everything you need to know about volunteering, life changing travel, bucket list experiences.

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Best College Student Volunteer Abroad Programs in 2024 & 2025

What are the reasons to volunteer abroad for college students? Well, to gain a well-rounded education, you need to leave the classroom. Beyond those four walls, you will find different perspectives, be inspired to learn about new cultures, languages and ways of thinking - all of which will shape your own mindset, ambitions and entire life.

The best part? You can earn academic credit for a super affordable price while volunteering abroad with IVHQ! This could quite literally save you thousands in tuition fees. So whether you are looking to boost your resume, graduate on time, or push yourself outside of your comfort zone, volunteering abroad is a decision that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life.

Whether you’re looking for summer volunteer programs for college students or winter break opportunities , there’s a powerful experience waiting for you. Volunteering abroad as a college student will have a profound impact not only on you, but also the community you’re based in. When you volunteer abroad with IVHQ, our local team will ensure you are matched to a placement which will allow you to make a valuable contribution to your host community, while you work alongside local people and other international volunteers. IVHQ offers international volunteer programs for college students in more than 40 countries worldwide . In each country, college students can participate on a diverse range of meaningful projects and with 300 project options in total, the opportunities are endless.

What’s more, we get that college students don’t tend to have a whole lot of money to spare. Our affordable volunteer programs are not only cheap, but they’re value for money . IVHQ volunteer programs start from as low as $20 per day including accommodation, making them affordable and accessible for volunteer college students.

What you need to know about volunteering abroad as a college student:

Why are service trips for college students important.

• How many students volunteer abroad with IVHQ?
• Six ways to incorporate volunteering into your studies

When can I volunteer abroad as a student?

• How to find the best service trips for college students?

Affordable international volunteer opportunities for college students in 2024 & 2025:

Ngo service trips for college students, teaching volunteer opportunities for college students, medical and healthcare volunteering for college students.

• Childcare project volunteer trips for college students
• Environment & Conservation service trips for college students

When we asked our volunteers how the experience of volunteering abroad impacted them, 83 percent said their sense of perspective had changed, while 94 percent agreed that volunteering abroad had made them more resilient. 44 percent strongly agreed that their career aspirations had changed for the better. To find out more about how volunteering abroad will impact you, read Why Should I Volunteer Abroad?

When volunteering overseas as an undergraduate, you can use your time abroad to complement your studies, grow your resume and gain hands-on experience in your chosen field. But more importantly, you’ll be using your break to make a positive difference in communities in need. Experiencing volunteer work abroad will make you more open-minded, improve your understanding of the world, let you experience cultural immersion firsthand, build your language skills and even change the course of your life!

As a college student arriving at your volunteer program, you will quickly forge a bond with the other international volunteers as you roll up your sleeves together and get stuck into your project, while traveling in your downtime and sharing plenty of laughs in between. Many of our college student volunteers travel independently, pushing them out of their comfort zone and growing their confidence. Remember, while you may be traveling solo , you will never actually be alone, and many of your fellow volunteers will become friends for life. You’ll also form strong connections with the local people you’ll be supporting and working with at your volunteer placement.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow your career and don’t think that volunteering is the right option for you, then consider an internship with our sister organization. Intern Abroad HQ provides flexible and affordable internship opportunities with clearly outlined learning objectives for professional development and service learning.

How many college students volunteer abroad with IVHQ?

In the last year alone, 5,000+ college students have volunteered abroad with IVHQ. This means you can set off knowing that you will have a meaningful travel experience, as you are immersed in the local culture and have the opportunity to spend your weekends exploring with like-minded students.

We take the hassle out of the process by arranging everything, as part of your fully hosted experience abroad. This includes your airport pick-up, accommodation, meals and orientation, and provide you with access to a volunteer travel expert and 24/7 in-country support. And yes, your parents can even give us a call to talk through the ins and outs of your volunteer abroad program and ask any questions.

Six ways to incorporate college volunteering into your studies…

• Use your experience as the basis/subject for independent study, or your thesis
• Use the program as an internship , or to boost your resume
• Use the program for an alternative break. Consider winter , spring or summer volunteer programs for college students
• Earn academic credit affordably while volunteering abroad, to help you graduate on time (and save you money in tuition fees!)
• Volunteer as a group with your student organization
• Use the program to satisfy community service hour requirements for a scholarship or membership

Volunteer trips for college students are available year-round; however, if you want to align a volunteer abroad program with your study break, you can take an alternative spring or winter break with IVHQ. An alternative break means you will be contributing to a meaningful project, meeting people from across the globe and exploring a new country! Check out our recommended programs for alternative winter breaks or alternative spring breaks .

We also have customized 1-week and 2-week alternative break programs available in Guatemala , Costa Rica , Peru and Romania . These programs incorporate the perfect mix of volunteering, cultural immersion and tourism activities and have been designed by our Groups specialists and local teams to ensure that you are making a positive impact in a short space of time. Whether you are looking to sign up as an individual or with a friend, you will not be alone on one of these small group tours. If you want to learn more about any of these alternative break programs and find out how to sign up, get in touch with our Groups team here .

Summer service trips for college students are another awesome option! Summer is 93 days long - that’s 2232 hours, or 133, 920 minutes. That’s a lot of opportunities to make a difference! How are you going to spend your next summer break?

How to find the best volunteer programs for college students

As with school, when it comes to volunteering abroad, research is important! You need to research the program and project you wish to volunteer on to ensure it’s going to be the right fit for you. We recommend that when choosing your volunteer project , you consider your skills and what is motivating you to volunteer abroad. Let this guide your research.

With 40+ countries and 300 volunteer projects to choose from, there’s an opportunity to suit all educational backgrounds with IVHQ. And remember, the more you know about the program, the better prepared you can be and the more meaningful your time abroad will be for both you and the community that you are immersed in.

We’ve highlighted some of our most popular international volunteer opportunities for college students, so keep reading to find the perfect program for you…

NGO Support projects are perfect for students looking to combine volunteer travel with an internship, as working for an NGO will look great on your academic transcript and resume. Potential employers will be more than impressed with your initiative, creativity and experience from volunteering abroad. You can head all over the world assisting NGOs in need in Puerto Rico , Nepal Cambodia , Italy - Rome and Romania , just to name a few destinations.

Volunteering as a student on an NGO Support project is the perfect opportunity to use your experience and knowledge gained from your studies to support and further establish an NGO’s goals and community reach. Your tasks can vary and are dependent on the unique skills that you bring to the table. These tasks can include administration, research, proposal writing, teaching English and IT.

Volunteering abroad has been one of the most important choices I have ever made in my life. It changed my life forever; I want to work with NGOs more in the future. People often ask, “Why work for free? You don’t get anything.’’ I respond with, “Try it yourself and you will realize that you get a LOT.” You get something that cannot be described in words. Marton Mengerink - Working with NGOs in Vietnam - Hanoi

• How much? Participate on NGO Support in Ecuador - Quito for USD$295 for one week
• What’s included? In Ecuador for example, breakfast and dinner are included in the Program Fee, as well as accommodation, airport pick-up and 24/7 in-country support
• Must haves… Laptop, copies of your resume, an open mind and a good work ethic

Education is universal and the scope for a volunteer’s influence goes far beyond the classroom. When volunteering on Teaching projects with IVHQ, you will have the opportunity to either teach independently or provide assistance and support to the local educator in traditional classrooms, community centers, special needs centers or on tutoring programs. The students you’ll be teaching are eager to participate and learn, whether it’s English, other curriculum, sports or arts and crafts.

Many IVHQ programs have Teaching projects, which means teaching volunteers have a wide range of destinations to choose from.

To a university student, teaching abroad can be a learning curve that generates greater confidence, independence and understanding. Supplement your university studies and get prepared for Teaching English abroad by signing up to an online TEFL Course .

My time was definitely appreciated and it made me feel happy to know my students learned something from me. This was my first time working as a teacher, it was amazing to see my students learn from me every day, and it made me realize that I am needed and I can actually do something to make changes. This was a great experience, and I will definitely do it again. Ruobing Pan - Teaching in Sri Lanka

• How much? You can Teach English in Ghana for as little as USD$380 for one week
• What’s included? In Ghana for example, airport pick-up, meals and accommodation, not to mention the 24/7 in-country support
• Must haves… Good attitude, ability to persevere and be patient
• Not compulsory, but helpful… TEFL Certification , available at a discounted rate through IVHQ

Volunteers taking part in Medical and Healthcare projects aid in treating and educating patients, providing basic checkups and treatment to members of the community. The communities where our volunteers assist are appreciative of the expertise, positivity and kindhearted nature of our volunteers.

Thousands of medical students turn to International Volunteer HQ to organize their medical electives abroad - not only will you have the opportunity to learn about medicine as a global entity and experience new cultures, healthcare systems and technologies, and see different conditions, you’ll be living and working alongside other international volunteers, and have the opportunity to travel with them during your free time.

For a medical group , volunteering abroad provides the ability to gain valuable experience and learning opportunities, and can even count towards course credit or service hour requirements!

As a group it was very easy to navigate IVHQ’s information to find the best fit for us. When we arrived in Guatemala, the on-site staff provided a unique volunteer experience for our group by setting up medical campaigns in different communities. Because of this, we were able to assist several community efforts while gaining multiple perspectives on the Guatemalan healthcare system, which was one of the major goals of our trip as an engineering healthcare student organization. While volunteering, I reaffirmed my passion for working with communities on improving healthcare; it was really inspiring to see the work the in-country team was doing. Erik Thomas - Leader of the University of Michigan - HEAL (Health Engineered for All Lives) Group in Guatemala

• How much? Participate on Medical Outreach in Peru - Lima for USD$315 for one week
• What’s included? In Lima for example, accommodation and meals are included in the Program Fee, as well as airport pick-up and 24/7 in-country support
• Must haves… You’ll need to be a pre-med, medical student, nursing student or qualified professional to participate on IVHQ’s Medical programs

Childcare volunteer programs for college students

Volunteers on Childcare projects provide assistance in a range of placements and environments, ranging from after-school programs, day care centers and community centers. As a university student, you have the opportunity to be involved with various duties to support the functioning of these centers, that will in turn assist in your personal and professional development.

Duties can include educational support, playing games, mentoring, providing attention, cooking, cleaning and assisting with general daily operations. Duties are dependent on the specific placement but the most important aspect is supplying the children with care, attention and love. So long as you come in with an open mind and heart, you will come out the other end with more than just experience for your resume.

I chose this particular project because the description mentioned something along the lines of how these kids/people really just need some love and attention. And for sure, that’s exactly what they needed. It was perfectly suited to what I was hoping to get out of it. It was genuinely worthwhile for the community. Because I personally care about those people now, I want them to have more volunteers spending time with them! Though it sounds cliche, I was inspired by the kids themselves. They’re so happy to see you and they genuinely appreciate you and your presence, even knowing you won’t stay. Volunteers just need to go in there and open themselves up; they won’t be disappointed. Laura Cook - Childcare in China

• How much? Get involved with Childcare in South Africa - Cape Town from just USD$275 for one week
• What’s included? In South Africa for example, accommodation and meals are included in the Program Fee, not to forget the airport pick up and 24/7 in-country support
• Must haves… A big heart, a brain full of songs to sing and kindness

Environment and Conservation volunteering for college students

IVHQ’s Environment and Conservation projects work with a range of different causes, ranging from Turtle Conservation in Bali to Marine Conservation in Madagascar. These projects will be right up your alley if you don’t mind mucking in, getting your hands dirty and being challenged. Duties and tasks vary majorly as it is dependent on seasons, the type of project you choose and the needs of the placement at the time.

For university students, this is ideal if you are studying toward a scientific or environmental-based degree. The hands-on experience is priceless and will look epic on your transcript! Available in destinations all over the world, you are seriously spoilt for choice.

I had the best six weeks of my life on this program. I made the most incredible friends from all over the world and had an amazing time. The program gave me more than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams. I learned so much about wildlife, conservation and ecology. The work is very enjoyable…just get completely stuck in!!! Brendan Comerford - Wildlife Conservation in Victoria Falls

• How much? Get your hands dirty on Wildlife Conservation in Victoria Falls from USD$1045 for two weeks
• What’s included? In Victoria Falls for example, accommodation, meals, program orientation, airport pick-up and 24/7 support are all included in the Program Fee
• Must haves… Maybe some gardening gloves, keen attitude to hard work and a camera to capture the epic landscapes and ‘Big 5’ animals.

All in all, volunteering for college students is a win-win! You’ll give back to a community that values your support, become more worldly, learn from the world’s best and tick adventure off your bucket list.

Haven’t seen anything here that sparks your interest? Don’t worry, we have plenty more projects to choose from. Have a look at our full range of available volunteer abroad projects .

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The 4 Best Guided Travel Companies for College Students

Written by rtc member, jordan mehan.

We’re all itching to travel, so what better way to pass the time than planning a trip for 2021. Check out some of the best guided travel companies for college students below to help kickstart your trip planning! 

1. EF Ultimate Break

Looking for something a bit more educational? EF, or Educational Tours, may be a great option for you. With EF, you can tour places such as England and France while learning about WWII or the STEM field. Perfect for history buffs or those looking to challenge their mind!

Between the wide selection of trips and the great travel deals, it’s no wonder that Contiki is many college students’ first choice when booking a guided travel experience. Right now they’re having a Great 2021 Escape Sale where you can save up to 25% on a 2021 European trip. Think Greek Island Hopping and cycling through the Scandavian cities!

3. Intrepid Travel

The travel experiences offered by Intrepid certainly live up to the name, as they are full o adventure and culture. Check out some of their most popular destinations , such as Vietnam, Morocco, and more to secure your spot for future travels. 

4. Bus2Alps

Already overseas and looking for a weekend trip? Bus2Alps is a great option. This travel company is popular amongst American study abroad students in Europe- and rightfully so. Traveling with Bus2Alps eliminates the stress of weekend trips while abroad; they take care of transportation and hostel bookings. Plus, they offer a variety of activities that range in prices, such as skiing  the Alps and wandering through downtown Dublin on a pub crawl .

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"On these programs, I repeatedly witness students maturing and gaining skills in self-reliance, collaboration, science, and critical thinking. In short, I watch students become leaders." Dr. M. Jackson, National Geographic Explorer

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Examine Earth processes, witness dramatic geological forces at work, and discuss the science of global climate change with local researchers.

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Get a firsthand look at new technologies that are being created to address challenges facing the world today.

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Set out on shoots to improve your photography or film skills, leveraging storytelling to illuminate the places you encounter.

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Delve into underwater ecosystems and better understand how the health of our oceans, seas, and shorelines impacts all life on Earth.

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On these programs, I repeatedly witness students maturing and gaining skills in self-reliance, collaboration, science, and critical thinking. In short, I watch students become leaders. Dr. M. Jackson, National Geographic Explorer

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Study Abroad

Travel provides rich learning experiences and memories that last a lifetime. YCP's Study Abroad program can match you to a travel opportunity that helps you become immersed in a new culture, network with people working internationally in your field, and see the world.

Education Meets Exploration

From short-term trips to full-semester excursions, our Spartans have been around the globe. Previous Study Abroad experiences have taken York College students to Italy, Morocco, India, Germany, Costa Rica, England, France, Thailand, Greece, and dozens of other countries. 

No matter where you go, you'll return with broadened perspectives and a newfound set of cross-cultural skills that will serve you well as a person and a professional.

Ways to Study Abroad

YCP offers a variety of Study Abroad options and trip lengths to accommodate your schedule, budget, and desired experience.

Short-Term (Faculty-Led)

Short-term faculty-led study abroad programs.

Each year, YCP faculty offer short-term Study Abroad trips to different destinations around the world. These faculty-led experiences can be found in a range of disciplines, and many are part of three-credit YCP courses.

Can Study Abroad count as a Constellation course?

Three-credit courses with a Study Abroad component that have been approved as a high impact practice and innovation (HIPI) course may count in any Constellation in the GenNext curriculum, depending on a student’s major. Students should consult with their academic advisor to make the determination if the course can count for their Constellation.

How much does Study Abroad cost?

Trip costs vary by program and are not included in YCP tuition. Faculty-led programs typically involve just a few weeks of travel, and are an excellent introduction to studying abroad.

Semester-Long

Semester-long study abroad programs.

YCP offers a range of opportunities for students to study abroad for a semester or even a year. We offer three kinds of semester-long programs: direct exchange programs, affiliate programs, and third-party provider programs.

Direct Exchange Study Abroad Programs

Direct exchange programs are partnerships that allow universities and colleges to exchange students between institutions for a semester or an entire academic year. Students pay tuition to YCP and housing to the host university. They also pay their own travel costs.

Because students can use federal, state, and merit aid toward tuition for exchange programs, these programs often have lower overall costs. However, exchange programs have fewer planned excursions or on-site services and customized support. Students should be prepared for an independent experience that requires flexibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, and willingness to adapt to unfamiliar teaching styles and living arrangements.

Students have access to most courses that the university offers in a wide range of academic disciplines. Many courses will be offered in English; however, students may be required to take courses in the local language with native speakers of that language, depending on the program. Exchange programs offer the opportunity to get deeply involved in the local culture and community. 

Integrated Semester and Affiliate Programs

YCP also partners with several international institutions and study abroad organizations that offer semester programs across the globe. These programs can be approved for YCP credit for major, minor, or elective requirements. 

• Integrated semester programs  offer study abroad opportunities designed especially with certain majors in mind. Many of the courses have already been mapped onto the YCP curriculum. While any student can participate in these programs, these particular locations were targeted for specific majors.  
• Affiliate programs  are at institutions with which YCP has a partnership. Their programs can be approved for YCP credit for major, minor, or elective requirements. 

Students can use federal and state financial aid toward these programs and are responsible for all travel costs. Tuition and housing are paid directly to the institution or organization. 

Provider Programs

In addition to direct exchange and affiliate programs, YCP partners with several third-party study abroad organizations to offer a wide range of study abroad destinations. These programs can be approved for YCP credit for major, minor, or elective requirements. 

Provider programs are a good fit for students who want to study abroad with students from other colleges and universities all over the United States. Study abroad providers offer during the application process and have on-site staff to support students when abroad. Students can use federal and state financial aid toward these programs and are responsible for all travel costs. Tuition and housing are paid directly to the institution or organization. 

In all cases, the Study Abroad experience requires that students take initiative and work closely with YCP's Study Abroad staff and their academic advisors to find a program and coursework that fits well with their York College academic requirements.

Summer and January Intersession Programs

In addition to our faculty-led Study Abroad programs, YCP also partners with several study abroad organizations to offer international summer and January intersession programs. These programs can be approved for YCP credit for major, minor, or elective requirements.

Students can use federal and state financial aid toward provider programs. Tuition and housing are paid directly to the program or university.  Students are responsible for all travel costs.

Summer and intersession programs are a good fit for students who may not have the flexibility in their schedules to study abroad for an entire semester. Students should first check with their advisors and the Study Abroad Center before signing up for any international coursework for which they intend to transfer credits to YCP.

International Internships

In addition to more traditional Study Abroad programs, YCP students may seek out an international internship through YCP, one of our affiliate programs, or another external program or institution. Tuition, fees, and housing are paid directly to the institution or organization. Students are responsible for all travel costs.

Students must first discuss international internships with their advisors and the Study Abroad Center to make sure the internship meets the requirements for their major, including the required number of hours of work and any YCP credit hours that need to be taken. All international internships should be registered with the Study Abroad Center, and students must complete the YCP application process to participate.

Programs by Academic Area

In order to help students find the best programs for their majors, minors, and programs of study, we have also organized many of our Study Abroad opportunities by academic area. 

To learn more, explore our available Study Abroad programs .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest personal benefit to study abroad.

Studying and traveling internationally provides students with opportunities for tremendous personal growth. Perhaps the most celebrated benefit of Study Abroad is the way it builds self-awareness and forges identity. 

Students who complete Study Abroad programs often return with increased self-confidence, maturity, and intercultural development. The experience of being a 'foreigner' teaches us how other cultures approach everyday tasks and challenges, which in turn helps us to develop a broader understanding of the U.S., personally and globally.

How will Study Abroad help my career?

The experience of learning and living in a new environment not only gives students unique opportunities to grow their skills, but also influences how they learn in future situations. Students return from study abroad with new perspectives. Those who are studying foreign language enhance their skills, and all students benefit from greater intercultural competencies and global awareness. 

Students who study abroad learn: 

• Cross-cultural communication
• Analytical skills
• Understanding of cultural contexts
• Flexibility
• How to deal constructively with differences

These skills are valued by both employers and professional or graduate schools. 

How do I start planning for Study Abroad?

The first step in planning your Study Abroad experience is to consider your own goals. Ask yourself the following questions to determine what kind of travel is feasible and in your best interest.

• What do I want out of my Study Abroad experience, personally and academically? 
• How can Study Abroad fit into my program of study?
• How long do I want to spend traveling? Do I want a short-term, summer, semester, or year-long program?
• Which countries am I interested in visiting? 
• What is my budget? What funding opportunities are available to me for Study Abroad? 

Once you've given those questions some thought, meet with your academic advisor. They can help you make a plan for integrating Study Abroad into your York College degree program, and provide guidance about academic requirements.

You can also start browsing available Study Abroad programs to see what interests you.

Experiencing Study Abroad

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Volunteering, Studying Abroad Bring New Perspectives for York College Students

York College Students Spend Part of Summer 2023 Engaged in International Learning

Study Abroad Center and Global Learning Lounge Humanities, Room 209

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Which college degrees are best? How AI is throwing a wrench in the debate.

The rise of artificial intelligence technology, including chatgpt, is looming large over college-goers while challenging popular assumptions about the value of some degrees..

Josephine Perl knows from experience that most college students pursuing humanities degrees inevitably get asked a version of the same question: What will you do to make a living?

It’s an inquiry the 20-year-old philosophy major at Boston University said especially troubles students like her since the launch of ChatGPT. Some predict the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot will decrease the worth of the refined language skills of workers with humanities degrees, credentials that have been declining for the past decade.

As AI has begun to reshape the job market, the types of jobs that could be most impacted by its rise to prominence are slowly becoming more apparent. Though research into the topic is nascent, there are indications that the career prospects for workers in communications and computer coding could be relatively more endangered than other professions.

For now, conclusions about which fields will be hardest hit by bots remain speculative.

“I suspect we’re going to be going through some sort of sea change,” said Manav Raj, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania who has studied ChatGPT’s effects on the workforce. "It’s hard for me to tell you exactly what those skills are that will maintain value.” 

The uncertainty is looming large over college-goers while challenging popular assumptions about the value of some degrees. The federal government at the same time is gearing up to slap fresh regulations on colleges to ensure students get their money’s worth.

The discourse will surely endure as students return to campuses this fall. But Perl, the philosophy major in Boston, hasn’t been deterred by what she calls the “hype” around AI. She’s been writing novels since she was 11 and hopes to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. She feels compelled to go after her dreams of becoming a novelist and wants to write the kind of young adult fiction she read as a kid – a skill she thinks AI won't be capable of simulating. 

Other philosophy students she knows are banking on going to law school. She considers that option at times, especially as a student who relies on scholarships to pay tuition.

“Some people are more concerned with being able to make a living," she said.

Are computer science degrees still a safe bet? 

The debate over which college degrees will translate into the highest-paying jobs has persisted for decades, particularly as enrollment in higher education became more widespread in the latter half of the last century. 

In recent decades, the skyrocketing cost of college and a crisis over student loan debt have forced students and families to consider more carefully which programs will give them the best results. This fall, the number of undergraduates studying computer and information sciences surpassed the number of humanities majors after years of the techies trailing behind. 

Six-figure median annual incomes aren’t uncommon for computer science majors who become software developers. New data published Thursday by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center also shows student retention in computer science programs was rising in the fall of 2022 when ChatGPT was introduced. 

Yet in the past year, chatter on social media has brimmed with anxiety-filled pondering over whether advancements in AI could render programming degrees useless. Some of that fear is understandable, said Todd Thibodeaux, the president of the tech trade group CompTIA, which tracks industry trends. 

He doesn’t think radical shifts in the industry will happen quite as quickly as some fear. But the brisk evolution of marketable skills will force students to be pickier about which colleges they attend, he said.

“Don’t go to a school where they’re using books that were written five years ago,” he said. 

All the hand-wringing hasn’t fazed Arpita Pandey, a 19-year-old computer science major at the University of California, San Diego. She chose the career path out of a lust for a stable job. There’s a familiarity to the profession, too. Her dad has been a software developer for more than two decades. Like her sister, who also studied computer science, Pandey plans to pursue a master’s degree to make herself more competitive in the job market. 

“Having entry-level coding experience isn’t really cutting it anymore,” she said. “We’ve had to start picking up new skills that AI can’t beat us at.” 

A lifeline for the liberal arts?

Even billionaire Mark Cuban, who made his fortune selling his technology companies in the early days of the internet, has waded into the discourse. The mogul has long argued that, in the coming decades, AI will bolster employers' desirability for students who study the humanities. In February, Cuban doubled down on that prediction. 

“I said this years ago and I’ll say it again, in an AI world, being trained in those liberal arts can be very valuable,” he wrote on X . 

College programs in the humanities – which includes subjects such as English and philosophy – have been in crisis for years. Since 2012, the number of students in those majors has declined precipitously , from roughly 240,000 to less than 180,000 a decade later, according to federal data. 

“There’s obviously a lot of cause for concern,” said Robert Townsend, the co-director of a project at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences that keeps tabs on the drop in humanities majors. 

Data indicates that students at four-year colleges who graduate with humanities degrees earn more on average than workers with just a high school diploma. And despite the often-opaque cost, undergraduate degrees typically set young people on the path to higher earnings over their lifetimes. (Whether other types of college degrees are worth the expense is a trickier subject.)

But return on investment is a complicated notion. Whether students and their parents ultimately feel they've spent their college funds wisely depends on many variables, including which school they attended and how much financial aid they received. 

Dennis Ahlburg, an economist and former Texas college president who wrote a book on the humanities crisis, tends to agree with the billionaire entrepreneur. More than anything, Ahlburg said, businesses value good workers who can think critically. 

It's hard for families to anticipate which degrees will pay off, he acknowledged – especially when the sticker prices can vary so widely. The advice he gave his 18-year-old son, who is headed off to college soon, was to study something he’s passionate about. 

“Life is often a hell of a long stretch to be doing something that you hate,” he said. 

Biden plans more college oversight

As the agonizing over AI continues, the Biden administration is preparing to implement regulations to hold colleges more accountable for providing degrees that set students up for success. The policies , which would force schools to provide more detailed information to students about whether certain programs are a wise investment, are commonly referred to as "gainful employment" and "financial value transparency" regulations .

A Supreme Court decision handed down last week weakening federal government agencies could jeopardize those rules, however, by making them more vulnerable to court challenges. The policies went into effect this month, though colleges will have until October to implement the reporting requirements.

Read more: Supreme Court curbs power of federal regulators, overturning 40-year precedent

By that time Katie Priest, a philosophy and communications major at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, will be in her senior year. A lot has changed for Priest since ChatGPT was first launched in November 2022. The app's arrival left her terrified about whether she had set herself on the right career path. 

“It was like the end of the world,” she said. But doing some research on AI with one of her professors calmed her nerves, leading her to conclude it won’t be able to fully replace her or others hoping to teach philosophy at the college level.

She hasn't fully escaped the technology's implications, though. Her mom relies on a crafting blog as an extra source of income, she said, and ever since Google introduced new AI features in May, web traffic to the site has plummeted. So has the money her mom was making from it.

Zachary Schermele covers education and breaking news for   USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele .

Best College Student Credit Cards of June 2024

Best credit cards for college students in 2024, best overall: bank of america® unlimited cash rewards credit card for students, bank of america® unlimited cash rewards credit card for students.

After making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

Why we chose it: The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of $200 (after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days) and earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Rewards never expire, and there’s an introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, which is not very common among student credit cards.

• Generous rewards rate on all purchases
• No annual fee
• Intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
• No bonus rewards categories to maximize earnings
• Charges 3% foreign transaction fee
• Requires credit history to get approved

Best for Rotating Category Rewards: Discover it® Student Cash Back

Discover it® student cash back.

Discover matches all the cash back rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and adds it to your rewards account within two billing periods.

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Student Cash Back earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in activated, quarterly bonus categories that change throughout the year (then 1% cash back). Cardholders will also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Read our Discover it® Student Cash Back review .

• No credit score required to apply
• Earn 5% cash back in common bonus categories like gas and groceries (on up to $1,500 activated bonus category spending each quarter, then 1%)
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
• Earns just 1% back on regular, non-bonus category purchases
• Activation required for bonus rewards
• No traditional welcome bonus

Best for Earning Cash Back: Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital one quicksilver student cash rewards credit card.

On CreditCards.com's secure site

Earn a one-time $50 cash bonus when you spend $100 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Why we chose it: We chose the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card as the best option for earning cash back due to its flat rewards rate of 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. A $50 cash bonus is available for students who charge at least $100 in purchases on their card within three months of account opening. Cardholders will also enjoy 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases, and have their Uber One membership fee covered each month through November 14, 2024.

• Unlimited flat rewards rate
• Uber benefits included
• Fair credit required
• No introductory APR offer
• Small welcome bonus

Best for Travel: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

Bank of america® travel rewards credit card for students.

25,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening – which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases

Why we chose it: While the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students doesn’t come with all the premium perks of top travel credit cards , it lets students ease into earning travel rewards with an easy-to-manage rewards program and no annual fee. In fact, cardholders earn 1.5 points per $1 spent, and rewards can be redeemed for travel and dining statement credits after these purchases are charged to the card.

• Unlimited rewards rate and generous bonus offer
• Introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
• No travel benefits or protections
• Requires credit history for approval

Best for Dining and Entertainment: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital one savorone student cash rewards credit card.

Earn a one-time $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Why we chose it: We chose the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card due to its exceptional rewards rate of unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores. Cardholders also earn 1% on all other purchases. This makes the card ideal for students who spend a lot in these categories and want to maximize cash back with no annual fee.

• Generous rewards in popular categories
• Requires fair credit
• No intro APR

Best Secured Card for Students: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover it® secured credit card.

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is the best secured card for students rebuilding credit or establishing credit for the first time. There’s no annual fee required, and cardholders can get started with a refundable deposit of just $200. Purchases at restaurants and gas stations earn 2% cash back rewards, while other purchases earn 1%. Then, get a dollar-for-dollar match of cash back earned at the end of your first year. Read our Discover it® Secured Credit Card review .

• Earns cash back rewards for spending
• No credit score required
• Collateral deposit required
• Bonus rewards limited to restaurants and gas
• Lower rewards rate than many other Discover cards

Best Chase Credit Card for Students: Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card

Chase freedom rise℠ credit card.

Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account.

Why we chose it: The Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card is for students and people new to building credit. It offers a flat rate of 1.5% cash back on all purchases and the chance to qualify for a higher credit limit in as little as six months. There’s no annual fee, and a $25 statement credit is offered for enrolling in automatic payments.

• Competitive rewards
• Low approval requirements
• No introductory APR
• No welcome bonus

Best for Simplicity: Discover it® Student Chrome

Discover it® student chrome.

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Student Chrome card keeps things simple with an easy-to-understand rewards rate, no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Users earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each quarter, then 1% back on additional purchases in those categories. They also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Applicants can even get approved with no credit history and no credit score. Read our Discover it® Student Chrome review .

• Bonus rewards caps apply
• Earns just 1% back on regular purchases
• Year-end match instead of welcome bonus

Best for Customized Rewards: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students

Bank of america® customized cash rewards credit card for students.

Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening

Why we chose it: The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students is unique because it lets college students pick the category in which they earn the most cash back. Essentially, this card earns 3% cash back in a top category of choice and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. A spending cap of $2,500 each quarter per category applies, then earn unlimited 1% back. It also earns 1% cash back on all other purchases. There’s no annual fee and an APR offer applies to new purchases and balance transfers.

• Rewards can be customized
• Introductory APR offer
• Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee

Best Intro APR Offer for Students: BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students

Bankamericard® credit card for students.

0% for 18 billing cycles. Applies to purchases and to any balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account

Why we chose it: Students who are willing to forgo rewards to get 0% APR for 18 billing cycles should consider the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students. There’s no annual fee, and the card comes with a long introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers (when made within the first 60 days). A balance transfer fee does apply, but is lower than some other cards at 3% (no minimum).

• Lengthy introductory APR offer
• Competitive 3% balance transfer fee
• Credit history required for approval

Best for Rebuilding Credit: Self – Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card

Self – credit builder account with secured visa® credit card.

Why we chose it: This secured card was designed for people working to rebuild credit and uses your progress on payments with a Credit Builder Account to help build your credit. Your credit history will soon reflect both revolving and installment credit accounts.

• Customizable credit limit based on your deposit
• Build credit mix with a secured credit card and Credit Builder Account
• Available to those with no credit history and those with bad or poor credit
• Must make three on-time monthly payments to your Self Credit Builder Account
• Credit Builder Account involves a finance charge (see self.inc/pricing)
• No rewards or other useful perks

Best for Online Shopping: Amazon Prime Store Card

Amazon store card.

Why we chose it: As a store credit card you can only use at Amazon, this card may be easier to qualify for than the Amazon Visa card. Still, it offers great perks, such as an immediate $10 Amazon gift card upon approval, 5% cash back (with a Prime membership) on Amazon purchases or 0% promotion financing on larger purchases.

• Earn 5% cash back (with Prime membership) and 0% APR financing on Amazon purchases
• Get an extra 5% to 15% back on select items
• You can only use this card on Amazon.com
• Not designed specifically for students
• Credit limits can be low

A Closer Look at the Best Credit Cards for Students

Best overall: bank of america unlimited cash rewards credit card for students.

Why we love this card: While the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students requires a credit history to get approved, it is easily the most rewarding student credit card for most individuals today. New users can start off earning $200 after they spend $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening, and all purchases earn a flat rewards rate of 1.5% cash back. The card’s introductory APR offer for purchases and balance transfers also makes it an excellent choice for paying down large purchases or consolidating balances, which could be useful for college students who are struggling with debt or dealing with cash flow issues.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students is for college students who have some credit history already and want the chance to earn cash back for their spending while building credit for the future. Students who want to avoid paying interest for a limited time will also benefit from this card.

Other cards to consider: Students can consider different cards in this ranking based on the rewards they can earn and how earning rates align with their normal spending habits. The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is worth checking out because it offers the same cash back rewards rate on all spending, whereas the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers bonus rewards in categories that change every three months.

Why we love this card: The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is a good option for people who want to be strategic with their rewards, earning 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in activated, quarterly bonus categories that change every three months (then 1% back) and 1% cash back on other purchases. While bonus categories change over time, they typically include popular options like Amazon purchases, gas, restaurants and wholesale clubs throughout the year. Discover will also double all rewards earned in the first 12 months through its Cashback Match program.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is best for people who want to maximize rewards throughout the year by using their card for strategic purchases. Bonus rewards do have to be “activated” online or through the Discover app each quarter, so this card is also for people who don’t mind keeping up with changing categories and activating their bonus regularly.

Other cards to consider: Plenty of student cash back credit cards don’t require activation of bonus rewards or make members keep up with changing categories. Some alternative cards to consider include the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, just to name a few.

Why we love this card: We like the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card because it doesn’t charge an annual fee and lets users earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all their purchases. A welcome bonus of $50 is also available for students who charge at least $100 in purchases on their card within three months of account opening. Several additional perks are part of the deal, including Uber benefits that offer 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases as well as a complimentary Uber One membership through November 10, 2024.

Who should have this in their wallet: This student credit card is great for young people who want to earn cash back rewards with no annual fee and build credit in the process. There are no foreign transaction fees, making the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card a particularly good choice for students who might travel outside the United States.

Other cards to consider: The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students is also worth considering since it has an identical rewards rate for all purchases with no annual fee. Another card worth considering is the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, which offers a flat rewards rate on all spending plus bonus rewards on dining, entertainment, grocery and streaming services purchases.

Best for Travel: Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

Why we love this card: The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students starts students off with 25,000 online bonus points when they spend $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening. That’s on top of the 1.5 points per $1 spent that applies to all purchases. An introductory APR offer also applies, which can make this card good for paying down new purchases or consolidating debt for a limited time. Rewards are redeemable for travel and dining statement credits, so this card’s rewards program should also be easy to use.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is for college students who want to earn points for travel that they can redeem however they want. Essentially, this card lets you use earned points to cover some or all of your charged travel and dining expenses after the fact (at a rate of one cent per point).

Other cards to consider: Several other student credit cards offer statement credits as an option for rewards, which can be useful for people who want the utmost flexibility. For example, the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students also offers this redemption option, as does the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Why we love this card: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card stands out among the best student credit cards due to its exceptional rewards rate in the categories where many students spend frequently. This card earns 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (with an exclusion on superstores like Target and Walmart), plus 1% back on everything else. A $50 welcome bonus is also offered for students who charge at least $100 in purchases within three months of account opening.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is best for students who spend a lot at grocery stores, dining out, entertainment purchases and streaming subscriptions like Hulu, Netflix and Disney+. Students who frequently rideshare can also benefit from this card since it comes with 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases as well as complimentary Uber One monthly membership fees through November 10, 2024.

Other cards to consider: If you want to earn bonus rewards in various categories versus a flat rewards rate on all your spending, make sure to look into the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students. This student credit card lets you pick the category you earn the most in every quarter, with no annual fee required.

Why we love this card: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is geared toward students or anyone who wants to build their credit. It’s a great choice for people who have potentially made credit mistakes in the past or have no existing credit history. There’s no annual fee required, and users can begin building credit with a minimum security deposit of at least $200. Users also earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at restaurants and gas stations each quarter (then 1% back), as well as 1% cash back on other purchases. Discover will also double any rewards earned in the first year through its Cashback Match program.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is for students who have poor credit or no credit score at all. Discover reports payments and balances to the three credit bureaus, like other cards on this list, helping to boost your credit history over time. Discover also allows you to get your security deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured card in as little as seven months with on-time payments.

Other cards to consider: Some student credit cards are easier than others to qualify for, which is important when you have poor credit or very limited credit history. Other cards in this ranking that have the lowest requirements to get approved include the Chase Freedom Rise and the Discover it® Student Chrome.

Best Chase Credit Card for Students: Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card

Why we love this card: We like the Chase Freedom Rise because of its flat rewards rate of 1.5% cash back and the fact that it’s geared toward students and people new to credit. There’s no annual fee and a $25 statement credit is available to people who enroll in automatic payments. The Chase Freedom Rise also has more perks than one might think, including purchase protection against damage or theft, extended warranties, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and three months of DoorDash DashPass membership.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is for people who want to earn cash back rewards and build credit while working toward a higher credit limit. While the Chase Freedom Rise is easier to get approved for than some other student cards, Chase says you can boost your approval odds even more if you open a Chase checking account and deposit at least $250 before you apply.

Other cards to consider: Several other student credit cards offer a flat rate of 1.5% cash back or 1.5 points per $1 spent with no annual fee required. If you want a similar rewards rate, check out the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students and the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Why we love this card: The Discover it® Student Chrome is a good card for students because it doesn’t even require applicants to have a credit score to get approved. Cardholders earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each quarter (then 1% back), as well as 1% cash back on other spending. Like with other cash back cards from Discover, the issuer doubles all rewards earned in the first year through its Cashback Match program.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Discover it® Student Chrome is for college students who want to start earning rewards and building credit with responsible use. There are no credit score requirements to get approved, making this an ideal first credit card for college students.

Other cards to consider: Several other credit cards in our ranking don’t require a credit score for approval, including the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and the Discover it® Student Cash Back. Both of these cards also earn cash back rewards with no annual fee.

Best for Customized Rewards: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students

Why we love this card: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students earns 3% cash back in a top category of choice and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, on up to $2,500 in spending each quarter (after that, a 1% cash back rate applies). Cardholders also earn 1% cash back on other purchases. Categories available for 3% cash back in include gas and EV charging stations, online shopping, cable, internet, phone plans and streaming, dining, travel, drug stores and pharmacies, or home improvement and furnishings. New cardmembers can also earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards for Students is for anyone who wants to customize their rewards based on planned purchases throughout the year. The card even lets users change their top bonus category every calendar month through the online account management page or the Bank of America mobile app.

Other cards to consider: The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is another student credit card that offers bonus rewards on different types of purchases throughout the year, although the categories are preselected and not customizable. If you like the idea of getting an introductory APR offer and earning cash back on spending, other student credit cards worth checking out include the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students and the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students.

Best Intro APR Offer for Students: BankAmericard Credit Card for Students

Why we love this card: The BankAmericard Credit Card for Students stands out due to its incredible intro APR offer, which is a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening for 18 billing cycles (followed by a variable APR of 16.24% to 26.24%). The card’s 3% balance transfer fee is also competitive, making this card a good option for students who need to consolidate and pay down high-interest debt from other cards.

Who should have this in their wallet: The BankAmericard Credit Card for Students is for college students who are currently in debt and want a way to pay it down with a low intro APR for a limited time. Students who need to pay for large purchases and want time to pay their balances down without interest should also consider this card.

Other cards to consider: Some student credit cards offer intro APRs and rewards for spending, although you’ll get the intro APR for a shorter period of time. The best student credit cards that fall into this category include the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students.

Why we love this card: The Secured Self Visa Credit Card is a companion product to Self’s Credit Builder Account. A Self Credit Builder Account adds each month’s payment to a bank account. You get your money back, minus a finance charge, at the end of the payment term with the goal of helping you build credit. There are also early payoff options available.

Who should have this in their wallet: If you’re considering a Credit Builder Account to improve your credit score, this secured card effectively lets you add a credit card and loan to your credit history at the same time while reporting to all three credit bureaus.

Other cards to consider: The Secured Self Visa Credit Card isn’t perfect, and one of the main drawbacks is that you need to get a Credit Builder Account in good standing from Self Financial as one of the eligibility requirements to qualify. You might consider an alternative like the Discover it Secured Credit Card if you want a secured card that doesn’t require signing up for a credit builder account.

Why we love this card: This card offers a great rate of cash back on every Amazon purchase, so long as you have a Prime membership. Given that Amazon already offers many perks for students who purchase Prime, this card can help you earn a lot of cash back during your college years.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is a great fit for students who rely on Amazon to have items delivered to the dorms. If you have a Prime membership before getting this card, you’ll find the Amazon Store Card to be rewarding.

Other cards to consider: If you tend to avoid online shopping or don’t have Amazon Prime, consider some alternatives. For example, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, which offers a flat rate of cash back on all purchases, online or offline.

Who Should Apply for a Student Credit Card?

Student credit cards are for college students who are attending traditional colleges and universities, community colleges, trade schools and other institutions of higher education. However, some cards have additional requirements for students to become eligible, and most require you to list specific information about your college experience on your credit card application. For example, applications typically ask you to list the school you attend, your year in college and your expected graduation date.

Also be aware that you aren’t required to have a job to get most student credit cards, but you do need to show a source of income. If you are over the age of 21, you can list household income on your credit card application, including the income of a spouse or partner who lives with you. If you’re under the age of 21, however, you can only include income you earn and money you have regular access to on your application (e.g. recurring allowances deposited into your own bank account by parents).

Why Do College Students Need a Credit Card?

College students can benefit in many ways from having a credit card, although some depend on the student’s unique needs and where they are in their journey toward building credit.

• Building credit for the future: Credit card issuers report payments and balances to the three credit bureaus each month, which helps students establish credit they’ll need later in life. Of course, college students should expect good results if they pay their credit card bills on time each month and keep their balances in check. When it comes to building a good credit score, most experts recommend keeping credit utilization below 30% of available credit limits at all times, or under 10% for the best possible results.
• Covering emergency expenses: Having a credit card in college can come in handy when emergency expenses arise, whether we’re talking about unexpected car repairs, surprise bills for medical care or something else.
• Earning rewards: The ability to earn rewards is another reason for college students to get a credit card for spending, especially since they’re going to make a certain number of purchases each month anyway. College students can redeem their rewards for options like statement credits and gift cards, which is better than paying with cash or debit and getting nothing in return.
• Learning positive credit habits: Having a credit card also helps college students ease into using credit and learning positive habits they’ll need in the future. For example, credit cards help people learn to track their spending and make bill payments based on a due date each month.

How Do I Choose the Best Student Credit Card For Me?

Student credit cards vary greatly, so choosing one means thinking about what you want and need the most. Here are the main factors to consider as you make your pick.

Eligibility Requirements

Look at the best student credit cards on this list and you’ll find that some don’t require applicants to have any credit history at all, while others require some credit history and at least a “fair” credit score. Knowing the eligibility requirements for cards you’re considering can help you figure out which ones you qualify for and where you’re most likely to get approved.

Also note that some student credit cards allow you to get pre-approved online before you apply. While getting pre-approved doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the card in the end, taking this step can help you gauge your approval odds without a hard inquiry on your credit report.

Rewards Rates

Most top student credit cards offer rewards, but earning rates are still highly unique and vary between cards. Decide whether you want to earn a flat rate of rewards on all purchases, bonus rewards in certain categories or bonus cash back in different categories throughout the year. This will go a long way toward helping you find the right card for you.

Redemption Options

Make sure you understand how you can redeem rewards, and that you can see yourself using the available options with ease. Fortunately, most student credit cards offer flexible options like cash back, statement credits or even gift cards.

Interest Rates

Finally, research the interest rates different cards charge and when these rates apply. If your card has an introductory APR offer, you’ll want to know how long that lasts and whether it applies to balance transfers, purchases or both. At that point, you can create a plan to utilize the intro APR while also paying off your charges or transferred debts completely before the introductory period is over. If a card you’re considering comes with 0% APR for 15 months, for example, be sure to only charge or transfer amounts you can pay off during that time.

If the cards you’re considering don’t have an introductory APR, you’ll want to have a plan to pay your balance off in full each month. Otherwise, high credit card interest rates will make everything you buy cost more over time.

Pros and Cons of Student Credit Cards

• Easier to qualify as a college student
• Build your credit
• Typically have better features and fewer fees than non-student cards intended for building credit
• Only available to eligible students
• Reward rates typically lower than non-student cards
• Student cards lack the premium features of higher-end credit cards

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Other Credit Card Options for Students

Flat rate cash back cards.

Citi Double Cash® Card: The Citi Double Cash offers 2% cash back on every purchase, 1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay off the card balance. That’s among the best flat-rate cash back rates available, making it a good option for students who want simplicity.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a good choice for your first Chase card, earning a minimum of 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Once you’re ready for more advanced credit card points and approaches, the Chase credit ecosystem can provide additional options.

Fewer-Fee Credit Building Credit Cards

Capital One Platinum Credit Card: This card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees and is intended for building credit. There’s also CreditWise from Capital One, which lets you monitor how your credit score changes over time for free.

Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card: The Petal 2 card is intended to help people build credit and comes with no annual fee. On top of that, it offers 1% to 1.5% in cash back on select purchases.

Store Credit Cards

Target Circle Card: This card offers a 5% discount on Target purchases, plus other benefits, like a 10% off coupon on your card anniversary, extra time to make a return, and free shipping for Target.com purchases. If your campus is near a Target’s supply of everyday household goods, clothing and even food items, this card is a solid choice.

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®: A competitor to the Target Circle Card, this card earns 5% cash back on Walmart.com and Walmart app purchases but just 2% cash back on in-store purchases at Walmart. However, you’ll also get 2% cash back on travel and restaurants as well as 2% cash back at Walmart and Murphy USA fuel stations and 1% on other purchases. If your college campus is closer to a Walmart than a Target, consider this card.

The information about the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.

What Do You Do With Your Student Credit Card After Graduation?

Most student credit cards ask for your year of college and the year you plan to graduate when you apply, so the card issuer has an idea of when you’ll be done with college and are no longer a student. Each issuer handles this shift differently, though.

For example, Discover will automatically upgrade you from a student credit card to a non-student version of the same credit card after graduation. If you have the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card, you would automatically get moved to a standard card after graduation, like the Discover it® Cash Back Card.

If your student credit card isn’t automatically changed to a non-student card when you earn your degree, you have several options. You can:

• Keep using it . You’ll usually have the option to just continue using your card to earn rewards and build credit. At some point in the future, you may reassess your plans and get a different card based on your current credit score and goals.
• Apply for a different credit card . You can just apply for a new credit card you want, which can make sense if your credit score has improved and you’re able to qualify for the b e st rewards credit cards on the market today.
• Call your card issuer to request a product change . You may want to call your card issuer to find out what your options are. It’s possible they’ll keep your line of credit open but let you move to a different card product altogether.

You might be tempted to cancel your student credit card once your student status ends, but you should reconsider doing this until you have plenty of credit history under your belt. Closing a credit card can reduce the average length of your credit history overnight, and this factor makes up 15% of your FICO credit score. Since your student credit card is likely your oldest form of credit, you should try to keep the account active and open for as long as you can.

Newsweek writer TJ Porter contributed to this post.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best credit card for college students.

The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students is one of the best college student credit cards due to its introductory APR offer, welcome bonus and generous rewards earning rate. This card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus a $200 cash rewards bonus for people who spend $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening.

What Credit Score Do I Need for a Student Credit Card?

Eligibility requirements for student cards vary. Some don’t require a credit score or any credit history to get approved, whereas others require fair credit or even good credit.

Why Are Credit Limits for Student Credit Cards So Low?

Student credit card limits tend to be low since these cards are geared to college students with limited credit experience and income. However, credit limits can increase over time with responsible use.

Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, First Century Bank, N.A., or SouthState Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. See Self.inc for details.

Card eligibility requirements include having an active Credit Builder Account in good standing, making 3 on time payments, having $100 or more in savings progress. Requirements are subject to change.

Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., SouthState Bank, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.

The post Best College Student Credit Cards of June 2024 first appeared on Newsweek Vault .

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Top Scholarships for Current College Students in July 2024

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

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Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

One of the biggest misconceptions about scholarships is that they are only for high school students. In fact, there are numerous lucrative scholarship opportunities that current college students can apply for.

These scholarships for college students can help you pay for tuition, room, board, fees, and other expenses like books and laptops. If you are able to win scholarships as a college student you can lessen the amount of student loans that you need to take out. This can literally pay off after you graduate as you will have a lower student loan burden.

Whether you are pursuing a STEM degree, studying the humanities, or haven’t quite decided, this list is full of great opportunities for college students. Let’s dive in!

Why choose Scholarships360

We helped over 4 million students find scholarships in 2023

We've spent over 4,000 hours reviewing 3,000 scholarship programs

13+ years of experience helping students make smart education decisions

The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
• The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
• The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
• There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high… Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education. Show Less

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

TikTok Diploma Frame Giveaway This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360 and Church Hill Classics

Have you thought about how you will display that diploma that you're working so hard to earn? We are happy to share that we have… Show More

Have you thought about how you will display that diploma that you're working so hard to earn? We are happy to share that we have the answer! Scholarships360 is excited to announce our new TikTok Diploma Frame Giveaway! In partnership with Church Hill Classics, we are giving away custom diploma frames (in the form of $250 gift certificates) to two lucky students! To apply to win a diploma frame, simply follow these steps: Follow the Diploma Frame TikTok account Follow the Scholarships360 TikTok account Like Scholarships360's pinned "Diploma Frame TikTok Giveaway" post and comment how you will make the most of your high school, career/technical, or college degree! We look forward to reading your comments! Show Less

Ascent’s $10,000 Summer Scholarship Giveaway This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Ascent Funding

As you soak up the summer vibes and look ahead to the next school year, it's never too early to start thinking about your internship… Show More

As you soak up the summer vibes and look ahead to the next school year, it's never too early to start thinking about your internship or job! Whether you're figuring out what interests you, checking out career resources, or picking up skills for your dream job, we want to know: Do you have what you need to enter the next phase of life, post-graduation? Ascent is committed to your long-term success and is giving away $10,000 to one lucky winner for sharing your feedback and ideas on what you need to build the skills and confidence to thrive in the workplace. To apply, complete these three easy steps below: Step 1: Visit the “Summer of Success Scholarship” to complete a quick survey and contact form. Step 2: Follow @ascentfunding on Instagram and like the post. Step 3: Tag 3 friends below that would benefit from this scholarship! Be sure to end your comment with #AscentSponsored. Disclaimer: Deadline to apply for Ascent’s $10,000 scholarship prize (1) is September 2nd at 8:59AM PT. To apply and see official rules, visit the “Summer of Success Scholarship” link here: AscentFunding.com/Scholarships. Show Less

FIRE First Amendment Scholarship Competition This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

Are you a high school senior or undergraduate student interested in freedom of speech and the First Amendment? Consider applying to the Foundation for Individual… Show More

Are you a high school senior or undergraduate student interested in freedom of speech and the First Amendment? Consider applying to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s First Amendment Scholarship Competition! To apply, students should respond to the prompt below in an essay of 500 to 700 words. About the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression FIRE’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought—the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them. FIRE recognizes the importance of young people being involved in the free speech movement. The FIRE Student Network (FSN) is a coalition of students who appreciate the importance of advancing civil liberties on their campuses. FIRE’s team makes sure that FSN members have the information and resources they need to organize policy reform campaigns, coordinate on-campus FIRE and activism events, write articles for student and mainstream publications, and much more. Show Less

Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year!

“Jump for Joy” InstaScholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

When you’re not searching for scholarships, what do you like to do for fun? Do you dance? Play sports? Watch movies? Here at Scholarships360, we… Show More

When you’re not searching for scholarships, what do you like to do for fun? Do you dance? Play sports? Watch movies? Here at Scholarships360, we know how important it is to follow your passions. That’s why we’re offering a $500 scholarship to one student who tells us what makes them jump for joy! Whether it’s spending time with your friends, reading a good book, or jamming out to music, we want to know what brings a smile to your face. To apply for this scholarship, simply follow these steps: 1. Follow us on Instagram. 2. Like the “Jump for Joy” InstaScholarship post pinned at the top of our grid. 3. Drop a thoughtful comment on the post about something that brings you joy. Extra consideration will be given to students who mention at least one friend in their comment! Show Less

“Scholar Dollars” Essay Scholarship for Black Students This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

In offering the “Scholar Dollars” Essay Scholarship for Black Students, we want to help offset the cost of attending college for Black students. Open to… Show More

In offering the “Scholar Dollars” Essay Scholarship for Black Students, we want to help offset the cost of attending college for Black students. Open to high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 and 2025) and undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year, this scholarship aims to lighten your financial worry and allow you to take fewer loans. Remember, scholarships are essentially “free money” that need not be paid back. This scholarship, specifically, aims to help out a Black student who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application, and wish you much success on your academic journey!  Show Less

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500… Show More

Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women aims to help women cover the costs of pursuing their dreams. Whether that dream is starting a business, learning a foreign language, or attending college on the path to fulfilling your dream, the scholarship will cover those costs and make your journey a little easier. No matter your goals, we want to help out a woman who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. In order to apply, simply write an essay about how the $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women will help you fulfill your dreams. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We encourage you to apply and look forward to reading your essay. Good luck! Show Less

“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Do you like figuring out solutions to difficult problems? Well, if you’re a current or aspiring STEM major, we have one for you! Our $500… Show More

Do you like figuring out solutions to difficult problems? Well, if you’re a current or aspiring STEM major, we have one for you! Our $500 “Tuition Solution” Scholarship is meant for high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 or 2025), as well as undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year who are looking for ways to fund their postsecondary education in STEM. In order to apply, you must write an essay about how your passion for STEM started and how the scholarship will help you fulfill your dreams. No matter which STEM field ignites your interest, we look forward to reading your essays. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. Apply today - it’s time to cell-e-brate you! Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

“A Helping Hand” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult… Show More

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult for students coming from low-income backgrounds or for those who demonstrate financial need. This is where our “A Helping Hand” Scholarship comes in! We're offering a $500 scholarship to help out a low-income student who is passionate about their higher education journey and is actively looking for ways to fund it. This award is open to high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 and 2025), as well as undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year. In order to apply, students should submit an essay detailing how winning the scholarship would help you fulfill your dreams. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

At Scholarships360, our mission is to help students find and fund their postsecondary education. We know that students have a variety of educational and career… Show More

At Scholarships360, our mission is to help students find and fund their postsecondary education. We know that students have a variety of educational and career interests and aspirations. That is why we are offering the “Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship. This scholarship aims to support all current postsecondary students, regardless of the type of education they are pursuing. Thus, no matter your own unique educational path, we hope you apply for this $500 scholarship. In order to apply for the “Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship, students must submit an essay about their career ambitions. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

$2,500 ScholarshipPoints Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by ScholarshipPoints

Easy $2,500 scholarship from ScholarshipPoints open to all students.

“Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Community college, also known as two-year college, is a golden opportunity for the right student. These schools offer an affordable education to a diverse range… Show More

Community college, also known as two-year college, is a golden opportunity for the right student. These schools offer an affordable education to a diverse range of students in a wide range of majors. If starting your postsecondary education at a community college is right for you, we have a scholarship just for you! The “Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship aims to financially support community college students who are passionate about their higher education journeys and actively looking for ways to fund it. In order to apply for the “Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship, students must submit an essay explaining how earning their degree at community college will help them achieve their educational and career goals. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application!  Show Less

“Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

The U.S. is home to over 2,000 four-year universities offering bachelor’s degrees. However, attending such universities can sometimes come with hefty costs that can deter… Show More

The U.S. is home to over 2,000 four-year universities offering bachelor’s degrees. However, attending such universities can sometimes come with hefty costs that can deter students from attending. If you’re in a situation similar to this, we may just have the perfect scholarship opportunity for you: the “Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship! With this scholarship, we aim to help out a lucky undergraduate student (enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year) who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. The scholarship is open to any U.S. citizen who is enrolled as an undergraduate at a four-year university in the U.S. during the 2023-24 academic year. In order to apply, submit an essay explaining how earning your bachelor’s degree will help you achieve your educational and career goals. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

$2,000 Niche “No Essay” College Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Easy scholarship from Niche open to all high school, college, and graduate students.

Sharing is Caring Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Did you know you can win a $1,000 scholarship just by sharing Scholarships360 with your friends? The Sharing is Caring Scholarship is open to all… Show More

Did you know you can win a $1,000 scholarship just by sharing Scholarships360 with your friends? The Sharing is Caring Scholarship is open to all Scholarships360 users who refer their friends to Scholarships360. The more people you refer, the higher your chances of winning! To apply, just send your personal referral link to your friends. For every person who creates a Scholarships360 account using your personal referral link, you’ll gain an entry to the Sharing is Caring Scholarship. Get started by visiting the Scholarships360 Referral Center! Show Less

$1,000 Stress-Free Scholarship Giveaway

The $1,000 Stress-Free Scholarship Giveaway is an easy scholarship open to college and graduate students! Applicant must be at least 18 years old and a… Show More

The $1,000 Stress-Free Scholarship Giveaway is an easy scholarship open to college and graduate students! Applicant must be at least 18 years old and a legal resident of the United States or the District of Columbia or DACA student. Learn more and see Official Rules at AscentFunding.com/Scholarships. Show Less

Top 10 scholarships for college students overall

We went through all our scholarships for college students and hand-selected the opportunities below based on three criteria:

• The scholarship is from a well-known organization that has been offering the opportunity for several years
• The award amount is substantial
• The eligibility information is not too narrow, so many students can apply

Here are our picks for the overall top 10 scholarships for current college students

• Earnest More Than a Scholarship – For students enrolled in a Title IV undergrad program. Worth $5,000
• Collegiate Inventors Competition – For college students who submit an original invention. Worth up to $10,000
• Generation Google Scholarship  – For HS seniors, college, and grad students who plan to study computer science or engineering. Worth $10,000. Preference given to women and ethnic minorities
• Ayn Rand Institute Novel Essay Contest (Atlas Shrugged) – For students who submit an essay about the novel Atlas Shrugged. Worth $25,000
• New Heights Scholarship – For high school seniors or college students who respond to a short prompt about their career goals. Worth $1,000
• Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize In Ethics – For college upperclassmen who write an essay about ethics. Worth $10,000
• Stokes Scholarship Programs – For students pursuing fields relevant to work in the CIA. Worth $25,000
• Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest – For high school and college students who submit a greeting card of their own creation. Worth $10,000
• Dream.US Opportunity Scholarship – For undocumented high school seniors and college freshmen who live in a state whose public universities do not admit undocumented students
• NSHSS James W. Lewis Collegiate Global Leader Scholarship  – For college students who show leadership skills and a commitment to diversity. Worth $5,000

Top 3 scholarships for Black college students

• Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest  – For Black high school seniors or college students, worth $8,000
• Scholar Dollars Essay Scholarship for Black Students  – For Black high school upperclassmen, college students, and graduate students. Worth $500

Top 3 scholarships for Hispanic college students

• La Unidad Latina Foundation National Scholarship  – For Latino/Hispanic undergrads with a minimum 2.8 GPA. Worth $1,000
• El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship  – For undergraduate and graduate students attending Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the US. Worth $5,000
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund  – For Hispanic students who will be enrolled at a 4-year college or grad school the following year. Worth up to $5,000. Approximately 10,000 awards granted per year

Top 3 scholarships for women in college

• Navisite’s Next Steminist Scholarship Program  – For women who are HS seniors or college students and submit a 60-second video about their dream STEM career. Worth $10,000
• More Women Leading Scholarship  – For women in undergrad who identify as leaders and respond to a prompt about leadership. Worth $1,000
• Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship  – For HS seniors and college undergrads who identify as female and are pursuing STEM. Worth $10,000

Top 3 STEM scholarships for college students

• Barry Goldwater Scholarship – F or college students pursuing a research career in STEM. Worth $7,500
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Scholarships  – For high school seniors and above who are Hispanic and pursuing a STEM degree. Worth $25,000

College scholarships by grade level

Whether you are a college freshman or a transfer student, we have specific guides to help you find and apply for scholarships:

• College Freshmen
• Community College Students
• College Sophomores
• College Juniors
• Transfer Students
• College Seniors

How to win scholarships as a college student

Here are a few tips for finding and winning scholarships and financial aid as a current college student.

Apply for need-based financial aid

Don’t forget about need-based financial aid, which includes Pell Grants , Federal SEOG Grants , and work study . To apply for need-based financial aid from the government or from your college, you will need to apply for financial aid.

The two major financial aid applications that students will come across are the FAFSA and the CSS Profile . These applications serve to assess your financial need. Both of these applications have specific deadlines, so make sure that you get everything in on time!

Additionally, financial aid is only offered on an annual basis, so you will need to reapply for financial aid in subsequent college years.

Apply to many scholarships to increase your odds of winning

A key part of any scholarship strategy should be applying to a broad array of scholarship opportunities. The more you apply to, the more you can win! Remember, this can take the form of video scholarships , local opportunities , and scholarships based on your major or your background .

Check your college’s financial aid office for scholarships

Your college’s financial aid office should be your first stop for college scholarships since they may be able to offer other forms of aid as well (like grants or work study programs). If you are not currently on campus, you can consult their website and reach out to a representative via email.

Look for departmental scholarships

Many colleges, such as the University of South Carolina , offer scholarships to current students on a departmental basis. Students who show particular promise in one field of study may be eligible to receive funding from their department for their additional years of schooling. You can try consulting your professors, your advisor, or the chair of the department you’re majoring in to see what opportunities are out there.

Study abroad scholarships

If you plan on studying abroad, you may be eligible for scholarships! There are many places to look for study abroad scholarships. These include your school’s study abroad department, the organization running the program you’re enrolling in, and our very own list of scholarships for students who are studying abroad ! As studying abroad can often end up being expensive for students, it’s a good idea to pursue these options to reduce your costs. 

If you win a scholarship, check to see if you must re-apply each year

Certain scholarships may require students to maintain a certain GPA, or provide proof of enrollment each year. Check the details of any scholarship you win to see if these rules apply.

Don’t forget local scholarships

Local scholarships are often some of the best bets for students looking to fund their higher education. Many local organizations, like Boy Scouts, Elks Clubs, and religious institutions, run scholarship programs or can put you in touch with other local opportunities. These can work out very well for students because they are typically more niche than national scholarships. This means they receive far fewer applications and each applicant has a higher chance of winning.

If you are involved in extracurriculars in your community or in the community of your college, including volunteer work and community service, be sure to inquire whether the programs run any scholarship funds and find out what the application process entails.

Look into fellowships

Programs such as summer fellowships can be a great way to help cut down on college costs while gaining valuable expertise in your field of interest. Fellowships can be part-time or full-time and adjust to your needs in case you want to study or work another job on top of them.

Additional financial tips for college students

As a college student, one great way to lessen the financial burden is to apply for scholarships. But remember, there are other ways to cut down on your costs! Whether you are looking for affordable housing , wondering how to make some money on the side , or just looking to reduce your spending , we’ve got you covered.

You can check out our guide on how to find online tutoring jobs , our guide to work-study , and our guide on how to make money in general as a college student .

It’s also important to begin building a good financial history when you are in school. One great way to do this is to apply for your first credit card . We can help you choose the best option for students who are just beginning to open credit.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to get a scholarship while in college, how do you find scholarships for college, which college scholarships are easy to get, do college transfer students get scholarships, can i get a full ride scholarship while in college, what is the average scholarship amount, explore these other scholarship categories.

• Top easy scholarships
• No essay scholarships
• Scholarships for college freshmen
• Top scholarships for college sophomores
• Top law school scholarships

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• Best overall
• Most comfortable
• Best for travel
• Most stylish
• Best minimalist
• Most spacious
• Best gym bag
• Best storage
• Best for taller students
• Best budget
• Best sporty
• Best expandable
• Best for outdoors
• Best convertible

The 14 best backpacks for college students, tested and reviewed

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As any college student knows, your backpack is the most important accessory you'll wear all year. We tested the best backpacks for college students on their ability to carry a day's worth class essentials neatly and comfortably. Naturally, we also looked for the best-looking ergonomic designs — our favorites look sleek and polished, even when filled to their brim.

We found the overall best backpack for college students to be The North Face Recon Backpack . Men's style editor Amir Ismael especially liked its ultra-supportive straps, chest and back clips that distribute weight evenly, as well as its defined pockets for your laptop, books, water bottle, and phone. For something a little more fashionable yet still as functional, I love the popular Dagne Dover Dakota for the plush straps, luxe look, and neat removable compartments.

You can also save 30% off our favorite convertible backpack during Lo & Sons' Independence Day Sale .

The top 5 best backpacks for college students we tested:

The legendary North Face Recon is comfortable, durable, and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Beyond the sustainability factor, it’s a great college bag because of its padded laptop and tablet sleeves and side pockets. It also has an outer, small pocket that’s at the perfect spot to quickly grab something like a sweater or snacks.

It’s perfect for a student who’s carrying a 15-inch laptop with a nice load of books and random accessories, like headphones, a water bottle, beauty products, and assorted highlighters.

The easily recognizable neoprene bag has a stylish, luxe look on the outside and clever compartments on the inside. It comes in three sizes and nine colors.

Students can utilize this bag's padded 15-inch laptop compartment along with its two side pockets. It has a 25 liter main compartment, containing two mesh slots and extra outer pockets for storing smaller items.

Best overall: The North Face Recon Backpack

When searching for the best backpacks for college students, we look for durability, functionality, and style. Undoubtedly, The North Face Recon Backpack is the perfect combination of everything you need.

It features a medium-size main compartment with a laptop sleeve, a front mesh pocket filled with practical separations for all of your smaller devices and writing utensils, and two water bottle pockets on the sides. One of the best features of this backpack is the chest and back clips meant to alleviate back pain when carrying heavier loads, and the shoulder straps are well padded as well for optimal support. We also include the Recon in our guide to the best backpacks for students , as it makes a great confidence-boosting gift for pupils heading off to a new school. In terms of style, its minimal design and array of colorways make this a versatile choice for those who use a backpack for work or when traveling in addition to on campus.

Most comfortable: Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L

Patagonia is one of our favorite B-corp retail companies and we appreciate it's eco-conscious approach to outdoor gear. What we love most about its Refugio backpack is how plush the padding feels on the shoulders and its sternum strap that balances heavy cargo, preventing extra pressure on the spine.

The Refugio's recycled nylon structure makes a great candidate for the best college backpacks because of its high-quality feel, protective laptop and tablet sleeve, and side pockets. It also has a small outer pocket that's in the perfect spot for quickly grabbing something like a sweater or snacks.

Best for travel: JanSport Main Campus FX

JanSport's Main Campus FX is a top rated travel backpack . It's perfect for a college student who's carrying a 15-inch laptop with a heavy load of books and random accessories like headphones, a water bottle, beauty products, and assorted writing utensils. The padded straps make carrying its weight a bit breezier. Its dedicated laptop pocket is nicely padded, and there are two other full-size compartments, making room for anything and everything. It also has a keychain in the front pocket to keep your dorm or apartment keys handy. JanSport's Right Pack is also a helpful but downgraded option that's probably best for the techie who has gone paperless.

The Main Campus FX is great for students when they're in school and even after they graduate. Not only is it built perfectly for carrying books and laptops, but it's also versatile, making it easy to use for everything from classes to road trips to the gym.

Most stylish: Dagne Dover The Dakota

If you like a minimalistic design with ample space and clever compartments, this neoprene bag will be your saving grace. The Dakota comes in three sizes, all of which are water-resistant, shock-absorbent, and complete with sleek straps. Inside, there are pockets galore, so no space is wasted. The laptop compartment in the large version fits a 16-inch laptop, which is bigger than the average college device. The main compartment holds up to 20 liters and has a mesh tablet pocket, five medium-sized pockets, and a convenient detachable pouch. Two exterior pockets can carry your water bottle and a stash of snacks. 

We can confidently say this luxury backpack fits everything you'd ever need: a laptop, tablet, textbooks, water bottle, notebook, snacks, and a spare pair of shoes. On the outside, it looks chic and simple, but inside, it gives you all the power to be your most organized self. It even has a nearly-invisible slip pocket by the handle where you can keep small items like a snack or headphones. 

One of our favorite features is the luggage handle sleeve that allows you to slide the backpack onto any carry-on you're wheeling around. Read more in our full Dagne Dover Dakota backpack review .

Best minimalist: Vera Bradley Campus Backpack

For the college student with a maturing style and an appreciation for a spacious bag, this may be a great stylistic and functional choice. It has a gently padded 15-inch laptop compartment along with two side pockets for a water bottle. It has a sizable 25-liter main compartment containing two mesh slip pockets and outer pockets to store smaller items. It zips smoothly, has comfortable straps ergonomically designed for women, and a luggage handle on the back.

This is one of the best college backpacks that combines utility with a minimalistic look. The small brand tag is monochromatic and located on the side, so it blends in with the rest of the backpack. Once you open its pockets, you get a pop of paisley pattern and personality.

Most spacious: L.L. Bean Comfort Carry Pack

This backpack is all about functionality, protecting your laptop, and basic storage. The Comfort Carry Pack has a spacious 30-liter capacity, but not an extravagance of pockets. There's a main compartment with a laptop pocket as well as a second compartment with an organizer for pencils. Made with a chest belt, hip belt, and padded straps, this is a great choice for going between school and other activities. The bungee cords on the front are also a perfect place to store one last bulky item, like a jacket or sweatshirt.

Best gym bag: Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0

Lululemon's lightweight Everyday Backpack does exactly what a college backpack needs to do without too many frills. The wider-set bag has a 23-liter capacity and a padded laptop pocket that fits a 16-inch device. It's made with a water-repellent fabric, two side pockets for water bottles, inner mesh pockets, and a small outer pocket. It has a luggage sleeve and the minimalistic logo doesn't scream "I love Lululemon." While not made of the thickest material, the popular fitness brand's Everyday Backpack is designed with exactly what a college student needs. The sleek shape and neutral colorways also mean it can go with lots of different looks, making this one of the best backpacks for college students who tote around their workout clothes with their textbooks.

Best storage: Carhartt Medium Pack + 3 Can Insulated Cooler

The Carhartt Medium Pack, bundled with the three-can insulated cooler, might be one of the best college backpacks for hauling books and lunch. The backpack is made from Cordura, an incredibly durable ripstop material that's also been treated to be water-repellent. The outside of the bag features a mesh pocket for a water bottle, a Hook-n-Haul system for adding extra items like the insulated cooler, and air-mesh shoulder padding. The inside of the bag has plenty of practical storage compartments. From the 15-inch laptop sleeve to the fleece-lined eyewear compartment, you can keep all of your belongings organized and easily accessible. 

"My favorite feature is the attached cooler. It can fit up to three 12-ounce cans, but it's also the perfect spot to keep snacks or a lunch for days when you have a packed schedule of classes. And when you're not on campus, it's perfect for hiking, trips to the beach, or anywhere else you'd want to enjoy a cold drink while on the go. It's also easily removable if you prefer to carry the backpack without it." — Amir Ismael, style editor

Best for taller students: Herschel Little America Backpack

The Herschel Little America backpack is a classic carryall with a deceiving name. With its spacious 25 liters and nicely padded laptop compartment, the pack is made to help you carry everything you need for school while sporting a timeless style. The main compartment is like a huge pit where you can fit a lot of things: books, snacks, tech, and more. It also has two small side pockets on the inside. Little America is easily expandable and easily collapsible. The single outer pocket is perfect for storing quick things you may need throughout your day.

The backside is thoroughly padded for comfortable carrying. Though, personally, we think this backpack works best on taller people since it's 19.25 inches long. On an average-height woman, the bag is a bit overwhelming on a shorter back.

Best budget: Carhartt 25L Classic Laptop Backpack

We've tested the now-retired Carhartt Classic Work Pack, but thankfully, the 25 L Classic Laptop Backpack is an excellent upgrade. It's water-repellent, durable, and accommodates a medium-size cargo load. Thanks to its front zippered pocket with key ring clip and separated mesh slots for your phone, notebooks, or pens, you won't lose any of your smaller items at the bottom of the bag.

It has a dedicated 15-inch laptop sleeve at the back of the main compartment, and this new model even comes with side pockets of water bottle storage. You can get it in the classic brown colorway that the Michigan-made workwear brand is recognized for.

Best sporty: The North Face Borealis Backpack

The North Face is known for making durable and high-quality gear and the Borealis Backpack, one of the brand's most classic styles, is no different.

The 28-liter size fits just about everything you need for class and then some. It has the standard features: a nicely padded laptop pocket, a spacious main compartment, side pockets for water bottles, a small fleece-lined outer pocket, and a bigger outer pocket with pockets and places for pens. It's built with a chest and hip belt, making it useful for hikes too.

There's also a small but thoughtful feature to appreciate: U-pull zippers that make unzipping any of its pockets 10 times easier. The Borealis Backpack may not have a bunch of hidden compartments in the niftiest spaces, but it does what it needs to with quality materials made to last a long while. And for the same price, the Women's Borealis is specifically designed to fit a slighter build.

Best expandable: Fjällräven Kånken Laptop 15"

I see this backpack all the time on my college campus, and here's why: The compact rectangular design can be expanded, making it especially versatile. The sleek look makes this a functional piece as well as a nice addition to almost any outfit. It has three pockets: a laptop pocket, main compartment, and outer pouch. The laptop pocket is well padded and the zipper is tucked away in the back. The straps are nice and soft, though oriented differently than the typical backpack, and it has two side pouches that can be used to store a water bottle and possibly even an umbrella. Read more about its upgraded version in our full Fjällräven Tree Kånken review . 

Best for outdoors: Eddie Bauer Adventurer Backpack 2.0

We tested Eddie Bauer's previous Adventurer backpack, but their 2.0 version is even better. It stands out as one of the best backpacks for college students because of its versatility and durability. They aren't kidding when they say this backpack is for adventures — it has a hydration-compatible compartment and two water bottle pockets for your next hike to campus. As for its functionality, this backpack has a unique side access 17" laptop pocket and small fleece-lined front pockets for your smaller items. This water-repellent bag is built to battle with you all through college and after. 

Best convertible: Lo & Sons The Rowledge

Sometimes a tote is more convenient to access your belongings at a moment's notice, but the one-shoulder design is bound to cause more discomfort than two straps. Instead of deciding between the two, the Rowledge combines them into one convertible laptop bag.

"I was successfully able to fit two bags worth of stuff into the Rowledge , and its convertible style came in handy on a crowded train. As more and more people filed in, I had to remove my bag from my back and hold it by my side. I was able to secure the backpack straps within the travel sleeve and firmly grip my bag via the handbag handles. The conversion was so easy that I didn't even realize I walked onto the train with a backpack and exited with a handbag," says Francesca Rea, former Story Production Manager. Read more in our full Lo & Sons Rowledge Backpack review . 

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SAVE Lawsuits: What Student Loan Borrowers Face Now

Eliza Haverstock is NerdWallet's higher education writer, where she covers all aspects of college affordability and student loans. Previously, she reported on billionaires and investing for Forbes in New York, and she also covered private markets for PitchBook in Seattle. Eliza got started at her college newspaper at the University of Virginia and interned for Bloomberg, where she spent a summer writing a feature story about plastic straws. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Cecilia Clark is a writer and spokesperson on the education team. She covers student loan refinance and manages product reviews and roundups. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer and developed communications strategies for cybersecurity firms. Cecilia has also worked in post-secondary education, elevator operations management and sales and military nuclear command control, maintenance management and public affairs.

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Update, July 1:

On Sunday, a federal judge reportedly granted a stay in one of the lawsuits, allowing reduced SAVE payments to proceed as planned starting in July. It's unclear how this will affect SAVE borrowers, who are slated for an indefinite payment pause.

Update, June 28:

On Friday, the Education Department extended a payment pause, also know as an administrative forbearance , to all 3 million SAVE borrowers who don't have $0 monthly payments. Affected borrowers will be notified in the coming days.

The department also said it will close online applications for income-driven repayment and loan consolidation for 4-6 weeks. Borrowers can still apply for these programs through their servicers with a paper or PDF application.

Two federal judges derailed portions of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan on Monday, June 24, days before reduced payments were slated to go into effect for millions of borrowers.

A Missouri judge ruled that the Education Department could not continue forgiving small principal student loan balances in just 10 years under the SAVE plan. And in Kansas, a judge blocked the department from rolling out the final components of the SAVE plan as scheduled on July 1 that would have cut monthly bills in half for borrowers with undergraduate loans only, among other benefits.

“We strongly disagree with the Kansas and Missouri District Court rulings, which block components of the SAVE Plan that help student loan borrowers have affordable monthly payments and stay out of default. The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the SAVE Plan,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.

SAVE, which debuted in August, offers lower payments and more benefits than other income-driven repayment (IDR) plans . It forgives remaining debt in as little as 10 years for those with an original principal balance of $12,000 or less instead of 20 or 25 years on other IDR plans. It waives any interest left over after borrowers make their assigned monthly payments, preventing ballooning student loan balances. Those earning less than $67,500 as a family of four, or less than $32,800 as an individual, even qualify for $0 payments.

About 8 million borrowers are enrolled in SAVE, representing 1 in 5 borrowers with outstanding federal student loans. Of the 8 million SAVE borrowers, 4.6 million have a low enough income to qualify for $0 payments.

How the rulings impact SAVE borrowers

The most immediate impact of the Kansas court order: As many as 3.4 million borrowers who owe payments under SAVE won’t see smaller bills starting in July. The Education Department was gearing up to shrink monthly payments for borrowers with only undergraduate loans, from 10% of their discretionary income to 5%. (Borrowers with both undergraduate and graduate loans would have seen payments calculated at a weighted average between 5% and 10%.)

Other SAVE provisions slated to go into effect July 1 won’t happen as scheduled, either. That includes automatic SAVE enrollment for borrowers who are at least 75 days behind on payments, which could reduce default rates. Another provision would have given borrowers automatic credit toward SAVE forgiveness for most past periods of forbearance and deferment.

The Missouri ruling blocks borrowers with lower principal balances from getting accelerated forgiveness going forward. Since February, the department has already approved about $5.5 billion worth of student debt forgiveness for 414,000 SAVE borrowers.

Previous waves of SAVE forgiveness are likely safe, says Mike Pierce, executive director and co-founder of the Student Borrower Protection Center, a nonprofit organization that advocates for student debt relief. The court order does not impact the 20- or 25-year forgiveness timeline for SAVE borrowers who took out amounts of debt greater than $12,000.

“I would not expect, no matter where this goes, for people who are now debt-free to have to worry about the government coming back to them and saying, ‘No, actually, the court says we got it wrong, so you have to pay your bills now,’” Pierce says. “But for everybody else, people who are relying on these lower monthly payments, that's very much in peril.”

Student loan servicers recently notified some borrowers about a July administrative forbearance due to SAVE plan changes. Most likely, that July forbearance will continue as planned and payments will resume in August, though servicers are still waiting on official Education Department direction, says Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance. If you have questions about the July forbearance, wait a few days before contacting your servicer.

“I would encourage borrowers to hold off and wait until we get more information about how the government is going to proceed here, because if they call today and say, ‘Hey, what's happening in August?’ I don't think anyone's going to have an answer,” Buchanan says.

What could happen next with the SAVE lawsuits

The dual court orders were both preliminary injunctions, which means they are not yet final rulings.

“The court has not made a decision about whether or not the SAVE plan is legal, so the states asked the court to temporarily pause the full SAVE regulations while the court considers whether or not the actions by the administration were lawful,” explains Pierce.

Next, the Justice Department will decide whether it will appeal these injunctions and ask an appellate court to review them or litigate the cases in front of these judges and try to prove that the SAVE plan is legal.

In either case, it’s unlikely that SAVE borrowers will be impacted by further legal updates in the “very near-term,” Pierce says. “It's possible the administration is going to fight tooth and nail to roll back these injunctions. We'll know more in the coming days, but as of right now, assuming these cases stay in front of these trial court judges, we're talking about months here.”

The future of the SAVE plan remains uncertain. In the meantime, SAVE continues to stand in its current form, minus the forgiveness portion. Borrowers enrolled in the plan should continue to make payments as usual, and borrowers who aren’t yet on SAVE can still sign up.

“While we continue to review these rulings, the SAVE plan still means lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers — including more than 4 million borrowers who owe no payments at all, and protections for borrowers facing runaway interest when they are making their monthly payments,” Education Secretary Cardona said.

On a similar note...

Most of RI's colleges were ranked top in the country. Which ones made the cut?

Of the 2,400 schools considered, only 745 made the cut.

• Six of the seven RI schools that listed had scores of 4 out of 5 or better
• Johnson & Wales, Rhode Island College did not make it

A new analysis by the news website Money.com put seven of Rhode Island's 10 four-year colleges and universities in its "best college" designation.

It probably comes as no surprise that Ivy League Brown University took the top honors in the state with the highest rating, which was awarded to 53 other colleges and universities. The one- to five-star ratings put three other Rhode Island institutions right behind Brown, with 4.5 stars, and two received four-star ratings.

Only one of the institutions that ranked received three stars.

The best schools, ordered by ratings

Brown University topped the list in Rhode Island with a score of five stars, the maximum score. Only 54 schools received the highest rating.

Bryant University , Providence College and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) were all tied, with 4.5 stars.

Salve Regina University and the University of Rhode Island tied with four stars each.

Roger Williams University had the lowest score in the state of the schools that were ranked, with 3 stars.

To learn about acceptance rates at Rhode Island's colleges and university, read former report Amy Russo's deep dive.

How were the 'best' colleges picked?

The Money list isn't a "best of," but rather a ranking of 745 colleges that met some basic criteria (listed below). Colleges were then given a rating of two to five stars.

• The report considered 2,400 four-year colleges and universities, public and private.
• Three of Rhode Island's four-year colleges did not make the list .

Those 745 schools were picked after they met these criteria:

• Having at least 500 undergraduate students or 150 freshmen
• "Sufficient, reliable data to be analyzed"
• Not being in financial distress
• Having a graduation rate "at or above the median for its institutional category" or score in the top 25% of graduation rates

Some of the data points below conflict with each other. Two federal sources, the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics' College Navigator , offered some differing graduation rates and net costs of attending. In some instances, Money's report also provided a differing set of figures.

Brown University

Brown, the private Ivy League university in Providence , received a five-star rating, with high marks for its graduation rate and "an unusual amount of academic freedom."

• Brown's graduation rate is 96% (U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard ) or 97% ( National Center for Education Statistics ).
• Median earnings were $93,000.
• The average annual cost (after scholarships and financial aid are accounted for) was $27,000 (Scorecard) or $26,608 ( National Center for Education Statistics ).
• Student population: 11,189

Bryant University

Bryant University in Smithfield got a special call-out in the Money report, with its 4.5-star rating. The report made an example of the private university partly because of the methodology's emphasis on outcomes.

Bryant got high marks for:

• Requiring students to pair a business degree with arts or science minors, or vice versa
• Recent Bryant graduates make more money than their peers from similar schools. Median earnings were $90,000 per the Scorecard.
• Bryant was in the top 1% on a recent study on return on investment (over a career) conducted by Georgetown University.
• The graduation rate was either 82% or 84% .
• The cost was about $40,000.
• Student population: 3,536

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

The Rhode Island School of Design got dinged for its cost , "one of the highest estimated net prices of a degree of all the colleges Money rated," but also had better median earnings than other arts-focused schools, at $65,000. Money also mentioned the museum . It received a 4.5-star rating.

"Notable alumni include "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, filmmaker Gus Van Sant and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky," according to Money. "In addition to receiving an excellent art education on campus, RISD upperclassmen can enroll in classes at neighboring Brown University for free, as long as the courses are applicable toward their RISD graduation requirements."

• RISD's graduation rate is 90% or 88%.
• Median earnings were $68,000.
• The average annual cost was $46,000 or $42,106.
• Student population: 2,620

Providence College

Providence College in Providence and administered by the Roman Catholic Dominican Friars ( lending their name to the sports teams) gets dinged because some students "express some mixed feelings about the college's Development of Western Civilization requirement" but gets lauded for small average class size (19 people). It received a 4.5-star rating.

• Providence College's graduation rate is 84% or 88%.
• Median earnings were $87,000.
• The average annual cost was $42,000 or $46,645.
• Student population: 4,473

Salve Regina University

With a four-star rating, Salve Regina University in Newport received no profile on Money 's report.

The private Roman Catholic university, founded in 1934, boasts an 80-acre campus and more than 60 degree programs.

• Salve Regina University's graduation rate is 75%.
• Median earnings were $73,000.
• The average annual cost was $36,000 or $37,794.
• Student population: 2,800

University of Rhode Island

With a four-star rating, the state-run University of Rhode Island in Kingston did not receive a profile in the report.

• University of Rhode Island's graduation rate is 71%.
• Median earnings were $70,000.
• The average annual cost was $20,000 or $20,964.
• Student population: 17,473

Roger Williams University

With a three-star rating, the private Roger Williams University in Bristol did not receive a profile in Money. The school was founded in 1956 and is on a 140-acre campus.

• Roger Williams University's graduation rate is 63% or 67%.
• The average annual cost was $40,000 or $37,936.
• Student population: 4,397

Which schools didn't make the list

Johnson & Wales University , Providence: Neither of the two Johnson & Wales campuses (Providence and Charlotte, North Carolina) made the list.

• The National Center for Education Statistics puts the graduation rate at 58% within eight years of matriculation , while the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard puts it at 65% over the same period.
• The average annual cost is either $32,000 (after accounting for scholarships), per the Scorecard or $33,480 per the N ational Center for Education Statistics .
• The median earnings were $43,000 a year per the Scorecard..
• Student population: 4,566

Rhode Island College , Providence: The four-year state school did not make the list. Why it did not make the list is not clear, it is likely partially because of its graduation rate, 56% or 46%. Graduation rates were one of the explicit factors that separated the 745 schools from an initial list of 2,400.

• Graduation rate: 56% or 46%
• Median earnings: $56,000
• Average annual cost: $13,000 or $11,549
• Student population: 5,787

New England Institute of Technology , East Greenwich: The private nonprofit technical university was founded in 1940 by Ernest G. Earle as a trade school. It has been awarding bachelor's degrees since 1995 .

• The graduation rate was 65% (Scorecard) or 57% ( National Center for Education Statistics ).
• The average annual cost is either $35,000 or $36,714.
• The median earnings were $49,000.
• Student population: 1,895

Naval War College, Newport: Other prestigious military schools, including West Point, do not appear on the list. Its 2023 enrollment was 525. It does not appear on either the Scorecard or the N ational Center fo r Education Statistics .

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a  Providence Journal subscription .  Here's our latest offer .

Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at  [email protected]  or follow him on Twitter  @WheelerReporter

Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing

SOLVING THE NURSING SHORTAGE

The Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing is committed to serving educational needs, supporting lifelong learning and advancing excellence in regional and global healthcare.

Nursing Programs

How to Apply

High-Quality Education

The Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing offers a comprehensive nursing education program, ensuring that students receive top-notch instruction and training to excel in their future nursing careers.

Undergraduate Programs

Our undergraduate programs offer a transformative educational experience, preparing students to excel in the dynamic field of nursing. With a comprehensive curriculum, hands-on clinical experience, and cutting-edge simulation labs, our programs provide a solid foundation in nursing theory and practice.

Graduate Programs

Our graduate programs offer advanced education and specialized training for aspiring nursing leaders and practitioners with a focus on innovation, research, and clinical expertise.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for nurses seeking to advance their clinical expertise and leadership skills. Through a blend of rigorous coursework, hands-on practicum experiences, and faculty mentorship, our DNP program prepares nurses to lead in the complex healthcare landscape.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

The college provides access to modern facilities and resources, including advanced simulation labs and clinical settings, to give students hands-on experience and skills development in a supportive environment.

Simulation Centers

“Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing Among Best BSN Programs ”

U.S. News & World Report

Commitment to Community Health

With a dedication to serving the community, the college emphasizes the importance of compassionate care, health promotion, and addressing healthcare disparities, instilling in students a sense of social responsibility and empathy.

Health Clinic

College of nursing NEWS

How’s That 2023 Resolution Going?

By now you’ve started the road to The New You 2023 with great enthusiasm, and kudos if you’re still on the journey. But for many of us, mid-January brings a realization that the New Year’s Resolution to lose weight, go veggie, quit smoking, quit swearing, fill in your resolution here, may not be as easy as it seemed in December.

Texas Children’s CNO Urges New Grads to Prioritize Self-Care, Change Health Care

Hundreds crowded the Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston for the Fall 2022 Commencement Ceremony and Pinning for the UH College of Nursing.

Examining Moral Courage in the Operating Room

Danielle Quintana, certified perioperative nurse and assistant clinical professor at the University of Houston College of Nursing, has conducted the first concept analysis on surgical conscience among perioperative nurses, those charged with overseeing surgical safety and sterile fields, or asepsis (the absence of bacteria, viruses and other organisms), inside hospital operating rooms.

Accreditations and Affiliations

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Houston are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. CCNE accreditation ensures that the college's nursing programs meet or exceed established standards of quality and excellence in nursing education.

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Yury Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Centre (Zvezdny Gorodok - Star Town) (7 hours)

• Add to wishlist

The Yuri A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center is a Russian training facility responsible for training cosmonauts for their space missions. It is in Star City of Moscow Oblast, a name which may refer to the facility itself or to its grounds. (Read more about Yury Gagarin Cosmonauts training center )

The secret Star City was built to train Soviet cosmonauts, including Yuri Gagarin, the 1st man in space. Many other famous Russian cosmonauts trained here with Gagarin: German Titov, Valentina Tereshkova, the first female cosmonaut, and Alexei Leonov, the first cosmonaut to exit the spaceship into space . The best facilities were built for them: the world’s largest centrifuge and hydro laboratory. Many cosmonauts from other countries (USA, Japan, Germany and many others) also have trained here together with Soviet Russian cosmonauts. On this Star (Space) City Tour you will see:

• Models of Soyuz Soviet spacecraft 
• World's largest centrifuge with an 18-meter radius 
• Hydro laboratory, with the model of the International Space Station in water, which allows to simulate the weightlessness and many more

Important info

Ask a travel expert.

• Professional English-speaking guide assistance. Other languages upon request (additional charge may apply)
• Roundtrip transportation to and from your central hotel (Comfortable car/minivan with A/C)
• Fully private tour to ensure a personalized experience
• Entrance fee to Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (territory)
• Entrance fee to Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre Museum
• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Food  / Drinks
• Personal expenses
• Gratuities to guide/driver (optional)

The tour price already includes all the taxes & fees, you will not see any of them later during the checkout.

Adult pricing applies to all travelers

IMPORTANT! To book the tours please provide us with the copy of your passport (scan of page with photo) and the following information (for all the travellers):

1. Surname / Names (as in passport) 2. Passport number 3. Passport expiry date 4. Date of birth 5. Place of birth (country, city, state) 6. Place of current residence (country, city, state) 7. Citizenship 8. Place of work 9. Position held 

This information is required to get access to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, as per their security policy.

If it took Gagarin 1 year to get prepared, now it takes 7 years to become a cosmonaut, and 50 days to pass  security  check for foreign visitors.

Due to the security policy of the Centre, the guided tours are to be arranged in 50 days before the tour date. Last-minute arrangements are not available. 

Departure: from your Moscow hotel

Return: to your Moscow hotel (or any other place in Moscow that you choose)

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Our flexible payment options allow you to pay 20% of a deposit first and the remaining 80% in 14 days prior to your tour date - payment can be done both online or over the phone. This gives you the peace of mind knowing your spaces are booked on the tours and that you do not miss out on making the most of your time in Russia.

Also you get 5% discount and get the best, top-rated and most experienced and knowledgeable hand-picked tour guide appointed on a priority basis. In our experience, exceptional travel experiences are almost always delivered by exceptional people. With that in mind, we utilize a comprehensive approach to select and employ the best tour guides only. Multilingual and well travelled, each possesses deep insight into the diverse attractions and cultural patterns throughout the region. With us guides undergo a rigorous selection process, achieving outstanding knowledge of local culture and language. Rest assured that the best tour guides only will be working on the tours to give you excellent opportunity to explore the best of the sights during both short and long-term stay in Russia.

Once you complete your reservation, we will send you a booking confirmation email. As the day of the tour approaches, our logistics team will provide you with all relevant information for your tour.

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Health | Florida’s top nursing schools turn away…

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Health | central florida under heat advisory monday with 112-degree ‘feels-like’ temps forecast, subscriber only, health | florida’s top nursing schools turn away students amid ongoing nurse shortage, facing a projected 59,000 nurse shortage by 2035, florida has focused on expanding high-quality nursing programs.

Yet it’s still not enough to end a nursing shortage that is predicted to leave Florida with 21,000 unfilled jobs this year and more in the future.

A 2021 report from the Florida Hospital Association and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida projected that Florida would face a 59,000-nurse shortage by 2035 amid an aging and growing population.

Florida, the report said, needs to increase sharply the number of nursing school graduates.

Currently, high-quality Florida nursing programs — among them the University of Central Florida’s College of Nursing — turn away qualified applicants because of a lack of capacity. The state also has the lowest first-time pass rate on the national nursing licensing exam, called NCLEX, fueled by poor-performing schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, the average Florida nursing program had about 217 qualified applicants but could only accommodate 148 according to a report by the Florida Center for Nursing, a state center headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

The center found 76% of Florida students passed the NCLEX-RN exam on their first try in 2023, compared to about 88% nationwide.

Nursing education leaders say the key to solving this issue is to further increase funding and enrollment at high-quality, accredited schools, where passing rates often exceed the national average, and come down harder on for-profit and non-accredited schools, which are more likely to produce graduates unprepared to join the workforce. Last quarter, at some of those schools, not a single graduate passed the nursing exam on their first attempt.

Florida has invested hundreds of millions of dollars over the past two years to expand state school nursing programs.

The College of Central Florida, UCF, Seminole State College of Florida, Polk State College and Lake-Sumter College all had 100% first-time pass rates in the most recent quarter, according to the State Board of Nursing. Valencia College’s graduates had an 89% pass rate.

The 2021 report, and its warning of a shortage of nearly 60,000 nurses, pushed schools to increase their class sizes, said Mary Lou Sole, dean of UCF’s College of Nursing.

“It was a call to action,” Sole said.

UCF has increased enrollment in its nursing school by about 100 students and will take about 150 more once it moves to the newly constructed Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona in 2025, funded in part by $43 million from the state. The nursing school has also added about 40 faculty and staff using state funding over the last two years, Sole added.

But like several other state schools, it turned away qualified applicants during the most recent admissions cycle. Still an admission rate of 84% of qualified applicants for this fall was “the highest we’ve ever had,” Sole noted.

At Lake-Sumter, a push to “aggressively” increase enrollment means the school has not rejected qualified applicants recently, said Christine Ramos, the college’s associate vice president of health professions.

“In the last several years, we’ve been committed to really trying to recover from the COVID era and increase our seating capacity,” she added.

Lake-Sumter in June received $400,000 from the Florida Department of Education through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Grant program, matched by $400,000 in donations from local hospital partners. The funding will go towards equipment and support the school’s RN to BSN program, which aims to increase the number of BSN graduates in local hospitals by helping nurses with associate’s degrees get their bachelor’s while working.

Central Florida’s private nursing schools are growing as well. AdventHealth University, a private, non-profit school with above average NCLEX passing rates, is expanding its Orlando campus and adding a nursing school in Tampa. It aims to double its student enrollment by 2026.

Nursing students like Emily Thompson, a senior at AdventHealth University, are grateful to enter such a program.

Thompson spent the first part of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit, cared for by nurses. For almost as long as she can remember, she’s wanted to pay that forward.

“I just remember from a young age that I wanted to be that person for someone else,” Thompson said. “I wanted to be the person that made someone’s experience just a little better and brighter while they’re in the hospital.”

Thompson will graduate with her bachelor of science in nursing in December. Once she passes the licensing exam, she plans to work as a nurse at AdventHealth Orlando, the flagship hospital of the national hospital system, which currently lists more than 60 open nursing jobs in Orlando on its website.

One of the factors limiting growth at state nursing schools is a lack of faculty, said Nancy Gasper, dean of nursing at Seminole State College of Florida.

Nurses working in hospitals or medical practices make more money, on average, than those who turn to teaching.

“It’s hard for nurses to leave the bedside and take a hit to their compensation to become educators. So I think there needs to also be a relook at those scales to see if there’s a way to level the compensation playing field,” Gasper said.

Seminole’s associate in science degree in nursing program typically turns away from 60 to 100 qualified applicants per semester, she added.

Central Florida’s growing population makes it hard for nursing schools to keep up with demand.

“We are going to continue to all work really hard to address the need, but the numbers of hospitals and hospital systems keeps growing,” Sole said.

[email protected]

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