Unless you are part of the Private School Program in which tuition, school fees, and financial requirements were discussed with you and your family before coming to the U.S., school textbooks will be provided by your host family or by your local AFS structure. Your host family or your school will provide transportation to and from school. You are responsible for other expenses such as supplies for electives and extracurricular activities (like sports and clubs) and items like a school yearbook and tickets to the prom if you choose to purchase these items. We recommend that you discuss these costs with your parents before you leave home and budget your spending money accordingly.
While U.S. high schools all have a cafeteria where you can purchase food, your host family will most likely provide you with a lunch to take to school or ask you to make your own lunch with food that they provide. Some school cafeterias do not have a broad enough menu to accommodate medical or religious dietary restrictions. Since school lunches are relatively expensive compared to the cost of bringing lunch from home, if you choose to purchase your own lunch at school instead of taking a prepared lunch from home, you are responsible for paying for the lunch, not your host family.
Below are some examples of costs you may encounter while in school in the U.S:
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School Yearbook: $60 - $100
This book is a record of the school year with pictures of students, teachers, and events. Orders are generally taken in advance, so you might want to budget your money for it. These make nice mementos of your year to take back home. Also, make sure to find out when the yearbook is published as some are published and delivered to students in May while others may not be ready until August which would require your host family to pick it up and mail it to you.
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Prom: Cost varies greatly
The prom is a formal dance held near the end of the school year, primarily for those in the Junior and Senior (11th and 12th) grade levels. Students MUST have a ticket to enter the prom. Tickets range from $25 to $200 dollars. Sometimes the price of the ticket includes dinner before the dance, otherwise students go out to dinner or to a friend’s house to eat before the prom. Prom attire is generally formal (i.e. tuxedos, gowns/dresses, etc.) and can be purchased or sometimes rented.
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Graduation fees – About $25-$200
At the end of the school year, AFS year program students placed in the 12th grade MIGHT be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies (i.e., “walk across the stage”), even if they don’t receive a diploma from their host school. If you have permission from your school to participate and choose to do so, then you will be responsible for any graduation fees. Most high schools charge a fee for their “graduation package," which usually includes the cap and gown (either rented or purchased) and ceremony expenses. Depending on the school, costlier graduation packages might include additional items, such as regalia (stoles, cords, tassels etc.), a diploma (for students who are officially graduating), an official diploma cover, graduation photos, graduation invitations, graduation announcements, a senior yearbook, etc. Please note that the graduation cap and gown are the traditional clothing worn during the ceremony. Graduation is a formal affair and appropriate clothing is required.
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Athletics – About $50-$300 per sport
We encourage AFS participants to join a sport or athletic team throughout their exchange year. Some schools are highly competitive and have try-outs to decide who can participate where other athletic teams will allow most students play if they are willing to learn and put in effort. If you are interested in playing a sport, talk to your host family and visit the school's website to find out how you sign up, who the coach is and how to contact them, and the schedule of games/events. The cost for participation varies based on the school and the sport and its required uniform and materials. Participation in U.S. sports will also likely require a sports physical which is NOT covered by the AFS medical plan, so please budget accordingly. Many sports physicals are $70-100 and only need to be done once per year. To learn more about sports and extracurricular activities at U.S. schools, please read the article called "Extracurricular Activities."
Students and their parents may be expected to pay for fees associated with electives such as art supplies for an art class.
If you are a private or boarding school student your school may have additional fees or costs associated with academics, clubs, extracurricular activities, or other special school programming. Please contact your local AFS office to determine if your school has additional costs to consider during the program or refer to your private or boarding school student handbook. To learn more about how much money to bring or how to manage your money during your program, visit Money Matters.