Financial circumstances, family expectations, identity, and life experiences can all shape whether going abroad feels within reach. Your gift helps expand access to study abroad, giving more students the opportunity to participate in transformative international learning.
Rising behind the USAC host institution in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Stellenbosch Mountain reflects the different paths students take toward studying abroad. From gentle slopes to rugged terrain, no two routes to the top are quite the same. Students bring their own circumstances, challenges and milestones to the journey, too, and access can help more of them take that first step.
Scholarship support helped Marlene turn two years of planning into a semester studying graphic design in Seoul.
Marlene dreamed of studying abroad since her first year of college, but for nearly two years, she tried to figure out how to make it financially possible. A first-generation Mexican American graphic design student at Augustana College, she applied for scholarships, wrote countless essays, attended interviews, and nearly gave up more than once.
By the time she left for Seoul in Spring 2025, Marlene had received more than $18,000 in scholarship funding, including the USAC Access Partner Scholarship. The trip brought plenty of firsts. Her flight to Korea was her first time on an airplane and her first time outside the United States.
Living in Seoul gave Marlene the chance to study graphic design at Kookmin University, navigate life in a new country, and experience opportunities she had not had growing up.
As she reflected, “Being able to try many things out of your comfort zone is a privilege.”
Identity, family, finances, responsibilities and life experience can all shape what it takes to go abroad. Ami, Laura, Ricardo, and Rabiah show why there is no single version of the experience, and no single type of student who belongs in it.
Rabiah arrived in Alicante aware of how being a Black Muslim woman could shape her experience abroad. From finding halal food and local mosques to building a life in her new city, her time in Spain left her more committed to showing up confidently as herself.
Ricardo once saw study abroad as something that might be out of reach. As a first-generation college student, he worked through the financial side and ultimately earned three scholarships totaling $9,000 to study in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The funding helped cover both his program and travel costs.
For Laura, spending a summer in Viterbo, Italy, wasn’t about fitting the image of a “typical” study abroad student. Living with a host mom gave her the chance to practice Italian, share in everyday routines and find meaning in a slower, more personal way of experiencing life abroad.
Ami rarely saw people like himself represented in study abroad. As a Black, queer, trans, and first-generation student, his time in Chiang Mai, Thailand, gave him space to embrace his identity and see himself reflected in international education.
USAC is excited to announce the launch of two new scholarships, with awards ranging from $750 to $5,000.
Through these scholarships, USAC is supporting students who need financial assistance the most, opening the door to life-changing study abroad experiences for even more students.
At University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), we believe international education is for everyone. As a nonprofit organization, we work to provide affordable, authentic and accessible study abroad opportunities that help more students make going abroad a reality.
That commitment is at the heart of ELEVATE USAC, a yearlong advocacy and fundraising initiative highlighting the value of study abroad. Through student stories and opportunities to give, ELEVATE brings that impact to life and highlights what international education can make possible. From building confidence to pursuing new academic and career opportunities, study abroad broadens perspectives, opens doors, and prepares students to become engaged global citizens.
© 2026 USAC | USAC®, University Studies Abroad Consortium®, and Your Gateway to the World® are registered trademarks of USAC.
