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Chicago Program: Arts, Entrepreneurship, & Urban Studies

Chicago, Illinois

Cost

The total amount students must pay to participate in an off-campus study program varies from college to college, as does the availability of financial aid for off-campus study.  These campus policies are often based on the specific curricular goals established at each college.  Depending on the policies of a student’s home college, charges for off-campus study may be based upon the program’s cost, or may be based upon the college’s own tuition.  Additionally, some colleges may assess special fees for off-campus study.

As a result, students should check with their Off-Campus Study Office and their Financial Aid Office to confirm how their college charges students for off-campus study programs, what additional campus fees may apply, and how financial aid may be used toward the cost of their program.

Fall 2012 & Spring 2013

Category of student Educational Costs* Program Fee
(Includes housing, field trips, some instructional materials, and local transportation)
Campus tuition charges and/or fees*

Full semester program

Students from non-affiliated colleges $16,600* $3,000 Varies (see below)*
Students from affiliated colleges $15,700* $3,000 Varies (see below)*
Students from ACM colleges $14,900* $3,000 Varies (see below)*
*Many colleges assess additional fees or charge students full home college tuition instead of the ACM Educational Costs.  This typically relates to expenses for academic support services and the awarding of academic credit and/or financial aid.  Please consult your Financial Aid office or Off-Campus Study office for more details about your college's policies, and to find out what you will be charged for the program.

Spring trimester program

Students from non-affiliated colleges $11,700* $2,000 Varies (see below)*
Students from affiliated colleges $11,100* $2,000 Varies (see below)*
Students from ACM colleges $10,500* $2,000 Varies (see below)*
*Many colleges assess additional fees or charge students full home college tuition instead of the ACM Educational Costs.  This typically relates to expenses for academic support services and the awarding of academic credit and/or financial aid.  Please consult your Financial Aid office or Off-Campus Study office for more details about your college's policies, and to find out what you will be charged for the program.

In addition to the costs listed above, there are additional expenses prior to departure and during the time in Chicago that students should make sure to budget for accordingly. The figures provided below are estimates given by past students and vary depending on your lifestyle and budget.

Click here for printable cost sheets.

Additional expenses

Estimated amount to budget

(Fall or spring semester)

Estimated amount to budget

(Spring quarter/trimester)

Meals $1,000 $750
Travel to/from Chicago
Varies Varies
Materials and supplies
$50 $50
Cultural events/entertainment
$200 $150
Miscellaneous $300 $175

Note: Upon acceptance to the program, students will be required to pay a $600 deposit.  The first $400 will be applied toward the program fee, and the remaining $200 will be a housing security deposit, refundable to students after completion of the progam.

Scholarship Information

Though ACM does not offer scholarships for their off-campus study programs, we encourage students to seek outside scholarship funding to help finance their experience.  For a variety of links to outside scholarship sources for off-campus study, please go to the scholarship information page.

Program credit

All students who complete an ACM off-campus study program receive a grade report which lists their courses, credits, and grades.  Most colleges accept this grade report as an official academic document.  If a college requires an official academic transcript, ACM can arrange to have a transcript issued through Beloit College for a $350 processing fee.  To request an official transcript, students must make a formal request through ACM.

Refund Policy

Please refer to the ACM Program Payment Policies sheet for information concerning cancellation and refund policies.

Chicago Program: Arts, Entrepreneurship, & Urban Studies

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Audrey Savage I think one the biggest takeaways I got from the BES program was the internship component. I got used to commuting in the city, and my internship gave me a good idea of a typical office environment and the stress related with each employee’s role in the organization. This was an experience that I could not have had at my college, and I am happy with the Chicago Programs for giving me that experience.

—Audrey Savage, Chicago Business, Entrepreneurship, & Society, Fall 2009

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Who we are

The Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) is a consortium of independent, liberal arts colleges in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado.