News · 30 October 2026
Switzerland study abroad: cost and federal aid | BHMS
What a short program or a final year in Lucerne costs in dollars, what federal student aid does and does not cover abroad, and how it sets beside staying in the US.
Switzerland study abroad costs a US community college student CHF 3,300 (about $4,000) for 10 days in Lucerne in summer 2027, or CHF 41,700 (about $50,600) for a full final bachelor's year. You can't use federal student aid (FAFSA, Pell, federal loans) at BHMS, so settle the money question before you pick a date.
We converted every dollar amount below at 0.8248 Swiss francs per US dollar, the Federal Reserve rate of October 23, 2026.[4] The rate moves, so treat the dollar figures as a guide.
What does a Switzerland study abroad program cost?
There are two programs on this site, and their prices are far apart.
The 10-day Summer Abroad. It runs in Lucerne from June 28 to July 7, 2027. It costs CHF 3,300 per student (about $4,000). If 10 or more students come from the same college, the group rate is CHF 2,900 (about $3,500). You get shared accommodation, daily meals, workshops, excursions and up to 2 US academic credits, as long as your own college approves them. Apply by March 31, 2027. Then you pay a CHF 500 deposit (about $606) by May 1, 2027, which is non-refundable, and the balance by June 1, 2027. If you go on to a BHMS bachelor's, we credit what you paid toward BA tuition.
The final bachelor's year. If you hold an associate degree in Hotel Management, Business or Culinary Arts, you can go straight into the final BA semester. Year 3 is one 6-month academic semester followed by a 6-month internship. With the right credits, you could finish in as little as 12 months, though you may need an extra term. We review every transcript individually, and we can't promise that credits from another institution will be accepted. BHMS and Robert Gordon University (UK) award the degree.
| Year 3, 2027 fees | CHF | About in US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 31,800 | $38,600 |
| Operating expense plus application fee | 3,750 | $4,500 |
| Academic expense (tuition, operating expense, application fee) | 35,550 | $43,100 |
| Grand total with shared accommodation and meals | 41,700 | $50,600 |
The operating expense pays for your health and medical insurance, the internship placement service, your visa or B-permit and local tax, e-campus and internet, and airport pick-up if you're new. On the culinary track, add CHF 500 (about $606) for uniforms and knives.
Can you use FAFSA, Pell or federal loans to study abroad in Switzerland?
Not at BHMS. Federal student aid does reach some schools abroad, but the rules are narrow. The school generally has to be on the Department of Education's participating list. Even then, if you enroll directly in a foreign school, you can get loans only, and grants, Pell included, are closed to you.[2][3] You can't pay for BHMS with FAFSA, Pell or federal loans.
For the 10-day program, the credit comes through your own college. If you want to use any aid for it, ask your financial aid office how it treats the cost. That's their rule, not ours.
Non-EU students don't work part-time while they study at BHMS. You earn during the paid internship semester: CHF 2,404 gross per month from January 1, 2027 (about $2,915), before deductions for room, board and social insurance.
How does that compare with staying in the US?
Honestly, the US route is cheaper on tuition, and it keeps federal aid and home close by. Here are the 2025-26 averages. They cover tuition and fees only, with no housing or meals:[1]
| 2025-26 average | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|
| Public two-year college, in-district | $4,150 |
| Public four-year, in-state | $11,950 |
| Private nonprofit four-year | $45,000 |
Compare the BHMS academic expense of about $43,100 with these, not the $50,600 total, which also includes housing and meals. It sits close to the private nonprofit average and well above the public in-state one. An average isn't your bill, though. What counts is your own college's net price after aid. You can also compare time: how many more years a four-year route takes. Our comparison of finishing in Lucerne or at home walks through it.
What does this mean for you?
- You want to see Switzerland first. The 10-day program is the smaller commitment, and what you pay can count toward BA tuition later if you continue.
- You hold, or are close to, an associate degree in hotel management, business or culinary arts. You can start the final year in February, August or November only. The next starts are November 16, 2026, February 22, 2027 and August 16, 2027.
- You rely on federal aid. BHMS isn't the route to plan around, and the four-year route at home is the fairer comparison.
Next step
Take the 2-minute fit check to see which route suits you, then read the line-by-line 2027 fee tables. The Summer Abroad 2027 page has the day-by-day program.