Program Costs & Scholarships
Finding Funding
Estimate Your Net Cost of Participation
Although TWC charges a program fee and a housing fee, the more relevant consideration is your “net” cost of attendance (the total you will owe your institution and/or TWC). You may find that a semester or summer with TWC is comparable in cost to what you’d pay for the same term on campus.
- Confirm your institution’s financial arrangement by speaking with your campus liaison and/or by contacting TWC. Many affiliated institutions ensure that their students do not pay tuition on campus and TWC fees, but arrangements vary at each institution.
- Explore whether your regular financial aid package can be applied toward TWC costs (or adjusted to account for any increased cost of attendance) and whether additional support is available at your college or university.
- Review TWC awards listed online or contact us for more information. Approximately 75% of U.S. students receive financial support through a state grant or private scholarship to help offset their cost of participation. There are awards for civic engagement, professional achievement, diversity, and membership in honors programs or societies, among many others.
- Apply. Your total cost may be impossible to determine until well after you are accepted, and sometimes may even be influenced by the internship offer that you select.
Please note, if you’re considering the Postgraduate Professional Development Program, you will not need to consult with your institution and will pay TWC’s fees directly.
Additional Resources
- Program Fees [2]
- Funding for U.S. Students [3]
- Funding for International Students [4]
- Financial Assistance Inquiry Form [5]
- Refund and Cancellation Policies [6]
Program Fees
Washington Center Fees for 2013
Please note that the costs to U.S. students are usually offset, in part or whole, by financial assistance from their institution, their state, The Washington Center and/or other sources.
The tuition for TWC’s programs is the same for U.S. and international students. The application fee for international students is $125 which covers the cost of sending the J-1 visa package. International students attending U.S. institutions who do not need a J-1 visa from TWC only pay $60 application fee.
International students must pay 50% of tuition fee as soon as they are accepted, and the remaining 50% before the start of the program. Please be sure to review the program refund policy and the housing refund policy.
Semester and Summer Term Programs
| Term | Application Fee (U.S.)1 |
Application Fee (International) |
Program Fee |
Housing Fee |
| Spring | $60 | $125 | $7,100 | $4,995 |
| Summer | $60 | $125 | $5,995 | $3,985 |
| Fall | $60 | $125 | $7,100 | $4,995 |
Fall Quarter and Summer Quarter Programs
| Term | Application Fee (U.S.) |
Application Fee (International) |
Program Fee |
Housing Fee |
| Summer | $60 | $125 | $5,995 | $3,985 |
| Fall | $60 | $125 | $5,995 | $3,985 |
International students attending the Postgraduate Professional Development Program pay $250 non-refundable deposit.
Postgraduate Professional Development Program
| Term | Deposit2 |
Program Fee |
Housing Fee |
| Spring | $250 | $4,315 | $4,995 |
| Summer | $250 | $3,415 | $3,985 |
| Fall | $250 | $4,315 | $4,995 |
1 Fees for 2014 will be published in September 2013.
2 There is no application fee for the PPDP. A deposit is due at the time of application. This deposit is applied toward the program fee and is only refunded if the applicant is not accepted into the program.
Additional Resources
Funding for U.S. Students
If you need financial assistance to make your semester or summer in Washington, D.C. possible, review the following scholarship opportunities available through The Washington Center. Feel free to contact us at info@twc.edu [7] if you have any questions.
Please note that scholarship recipients may be invited to special events and to take part in activities with donors and that most scholarships are not cumulative (meaning that you receive the largest award for which you qualify).
Also, some awards have an impact on internship placement options, so you may need to communicate the requirements of your scholarships with your advisor.
More information on:
State Scholarships
The following states or commonwealths provide assistance to qualifying students attending The Washington Center. For current eligibility criteria and amounts of assistance, feel free to confirm with TWC at info@twc.edu [7]. Support may be subject in some cases to final budget approval, and scholarships may not be available to all students from a given state who participate in The Washington Center's internship program. Please note that state funds are typically not be extended to students enrolling in our Postgraduate Professional Development or D.C.-London Internship Programs. Additionally, state-based awards that The Washington Center provides directly are not cumulative with other private scholarships offered through TWC.
AlabamaAnticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $5,600
- Summer term: $5,600
- Fall semester: $5,600
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend selected public institutions in the state, and they must be U.S. citizens who are also residents of Alabama. Students should speak with their liaisons for further details, as scholarships are limited. $1,000 of this total is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.
Arkansas
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $6,000 (public institutions) and $4,000 (private institutions)
- Summer term: $6,000 (public institutions) and $4,000 (private institutions)
- Fall semester: $6,000 (public institutions) and $4,000 (private institutions)
Eligibility & Rules
Students must be state residents and attend private or public four-year institutions in Arkansas.
Delaware
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Summer term: $8,000
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend Delaware State University. $3,000 of this award is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center. The number of scholarships is limited.
Florida
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $7,000
- Summer term: $6,500
- Fall semester: $7,000
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend four-year public institutions in Florida and receive at least six credits for their participation. Part of this financial assistance ($1,500 fall/spring and $1,000 summer) is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.
Iowa
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $1,200
- Summer term: $1,200
- Fall semester: $1,200
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend Iowa State University, the University of Iowa or the University of Northern Iowa. Funding is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.
Kentucky
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $5,500
- Summer term: $5,500
- Fall semester: $5,500
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend a four-year public institution in the state of Kentucky. $1,000 of this assistance is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.
MarylandThe Honorable Pete Rawlings Washington Center Scholarship Fund
The late Honorable Howard “Pete” Rawlings, member of the Maryland House of Delegates and chair the House Budget Committee, left many lasting legacies of his work, one of which is a scholarship program for selected Maryland students. This scholarship program began in 1999 and was named in Delegate Rawlings’ honor in 2006 for his extensive work on higher education and student civic engagement.
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $7,500 (public institutions) and $2,000 (private institutions)
- Summer term: $7,500 (public institutions) and $2,000 (private institutions)
- Fall semester: $7,500 (public institutions) and $2,000 (private institutions)
Eligibility & Rules
Students must be MD residents and attend four-year public or private colleges and universities or selected community colleges in Maryland. For awardees attending public institutions, $2,000 of this total is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center. $5,500 of this total may be applied to the Washington, D.C.-London Program.
Massachusetts
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $5,000
- Summer term: TBD (University of Massachusetts students can contact TWC about funding availability)
- Fall semester: $5,000
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend four-year public institutions in Massachusetts. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and must be residents of the Commonwealth. In the spring and fall semesters, $1,300 of this financial assistance is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.
Mississippi
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $7,500
- Summer term: $7,500
- Fall semester: $7,500
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend selected public institutions in Mississippi. Interested students should speak with their liaisons, as scholarships are limited.
New Jersey
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $1,000
- Summer term: $1,000
- Fall semester: $1,000
Eligibility & Rules
Students attending any institution in New Jersey may receive these awards. Students attending The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey are eligible, by arrangement with the university, to receive a $2,550 award for the semester and $1,700 for the summer term. All of the above awards are contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.
Ohio
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring Semester/Quarter: $2,000
- Summer Term/Quarter: $2,000
- Fall Semester/Quarter: $2,000
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend public or private four-year colleges and universities in the state of Ohio. This financial assistance is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.
Pennsylvania
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $4,500 (PASSHE institutions)
- Summer term: $5,000 (PASSHE institutions) and $2,000 (private and state-related institutions)
- Fall semester: $4,500 (PASSHE institutions)
Eligibility & Rules
Students must be state residents and attend PASSHE or private four-year colleges and universities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For those attending PASSHE institutions, $1,000 of the spring/fall and $1,500 of the summer award is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.
Tennessee
Anticipated award amounts for 2013:
- Spring semester: $6,250
- Summer term: $6,250
- Fall semester: $6,250
Eligibility & Rules
Students must attend Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee State University or The University of Memphis. Interested students should speak with their liaisons, as scholarships are limited.
Additional Resources
Pillar Awards
Pillar Awards for Civic Engagement, Leadership & Professional Achievement Awards
Civic Engagement AwardProvides $1,000 in financial assistance for housing. Recipients are chosen competitively on the basis of their academic performance and record of involvement and leadership in relevant settings (college or university, community, etc.) as reflected on their application, including their resume and transcript. Students are encouraged to specify interest in the award on the application and priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline for their term. This scholarship is not available to participants of the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.
William Burke Leadership Award
Provides for unrestricted grants of varying amounts from $500-$4,000. Recipients are chosen competitively on the basis of their academic performance and record of involvement and leadership in relevant settings (college or university, community, etc.) as reflected on their application, including their resume and transcript. Students may be required to provide additional documentation to demonstrate financial need and priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline. Limited availability to students in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.
Professional Achievement Award
Provides competitively awarded grants ranging from $1,000-$2,500 to students who have demonstrated a commitment to career advancement as evidenced by membership in professional organizations and honors societies, completion of previous internships, or prior work experience. Students also may be selected based upon potential for professional success as reflected in their academic performance and extracurricular involvement. Limited availability to students in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.
Additional Resources
Honors Scholarships
Association of College Honor Societies Scholarship (ACHS)
This award provides $1,000 housing scholarships to students in national honor societies that are members of the Association of College Honor Societies [14]. A limited number of scholarships per society are awarded each year. Applicants must submit documentation verifying membership. Examples include a copy of a membership certificate or letter from the local chapter or national office or an email from the local chapter representative. Postgraduate Professional Development Program participants are eligible to apply. Priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline.
National Collegiate Honors Council Scholarship
This award provides $2,000 housing scholarships to students who are in honors programs or colleges that are members of the National Collegiate Honors Council [15]. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year. Applicants must submit a letter from their honors director confirming that their membership is in good standing. Priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline.
Pi Sigma Alpha Washington Internship Scholarship This award provides a $2,500 housing scholarship for at least one student chosen by Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society, for its Washington Internship Scholarship award. Students apply directly to Pi Sigma Alpha for this scholarship by April 15. For an application form and more information, visit Pi Sigma Alpha [16].
Additional Resources
Diversity & Minority Scholarships
TWC Diversity Leaders AwardProvides $3,000 in financial assistance for housing. Applicants must be able to contribute to the diversity of our students and of Diversity Leaders awardees. Recipients are chosen competitively on the basis of their academic performance and record of involvement and leadership in relevant settings (college or university, community, etc.) as reflected on their application, including their resume and transcript. Preference is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline for their term, and applicants should specify interest in the award on their application. U.S. citizenship or permanent U.S. residency is required. This scholarship is not available to participants of the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.
CFGU/TWC Internship Initiative for Muslim-American Students Muslim American students are eligible to be considered for partial program/housing scholarships during the summer term through a partnership established between TWC and the Center for Global Understanding (CFGU). Students are selected by CFGU and also participate in special supplemental programming (called the CFGU Public Affairs Series) arranged by the organization throughout the summer. Students may visit the CFGU website [17] for additional information about the programming and to read profiles of past participants. Interested applicants should use TWC’s online application and specify interest in the initiative on the application. Selected students will receive a minimum of $1,000 from CFGU and $1,000 from TWC for a total of $2,000 toward the invoice for program and housing fees. Many past students have received larger awards (from states, TWC, and other private sources). Undergraduate and postgraduate students are equally encouraged to apply, but only U.S. citizens are eligible to receive CFGU funds. Some placement restrictions are involved. Please contact Sara Clement at sara.clement@twc.edu [18] with questions.
Additional Resources
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
The Washington Center Scholarship for Students with DisabilitiesFunded by the AT&T Foundation and HSC Foundation, these awards provide housing assistance in varying amounts to competitively selected students who self-identify as having a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Scholarships tend to be $5,000 in the summer term. Priority consideration is given to undergraduate students; however, Postgraduate Professional Development Program applicants may be considered.
Kessler Foundation ScholarshipsA limited number of full scholarships will also be competitively awarded to students who attend New Jersey institutions and self-identify as having a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For this award, students may be asked for a brief personal statement. Students interested in the Kessler Scholarship who attend a New Jersey institution are encouraged to email us at info@twc.edu [7] for more information.
Requirements for both awards
- Complete and submit a TWC application [19] by the regular deadline [20].
- Self-identify as a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA defines a person with a disability as:
- a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or
- a person that has a record of such impairment, or
- a person that is regarded as having such impairment
- Provide a letter from your campus disability services office, a vocational rehabilitation office or a physician treating you for your disability confirming the fact that you have a disability.
- These awards are available only to U.S. citizens.
Additional Resources
Other Private Awards
Verizon Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Scholarships
Provides a minimum of $2,500 toward TWC program or housing fees to students who are pursuing degrees in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). To receive the award, students must be interning in positions related to science policy. Students enrolled in the Professional Development Program participants are not eligible. U.S. citizenship is required.
Mitsui USA Scholarship Fund
The Mitsui USA Scholarship Fund will provide (5) $1,000 scholarships designated for college students in the United States who are interested in international affairs or other related fields of study; or to international students from other parts of the globe. These students will be enrolled in The Washington Center’s ten-week summer term internship program and/or the fifteen-week spring or fall semester.
Motorola Solutions Foundation Public Safety and Law Enforcement Internship Scholarship Award
Provides a minimum of $2,500 toward TWC program or housing fees to students. To receive the award, students must intern in a position related to public safety or law enforcement. Students enrolled in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program are not eligible. U.S. citizenship is required.
Samuel Rose Scholarship
This scholarship provides for grants of varying amounts ($500-$3,000) to a diverse group of students who would not otherwise be able to participate in TWC programs. Funding is available to students who are majoring in fields related to the arts or the environment, and support may also go to students from Baltimore, attending Dickinson College, or participating in TWC through an institution in South Florida. The Sam Rose Scholarship typically is not cumulative with other TWC financial assistance, but it may be applied toward the program or housing fee invoice. This award is not available to students in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.
Additional Resources
Funding for International Students
Scholarships for International Students
The Washington Center raises scholarship money from a number of governments, private companies and foundations to help students afford the cost of the program. Additionally, we offer a number of competitive awards for international students. These scholarship opportunities are listed below.
We encourage you to seek guidance from your university campus liaison or our staff to make sure the cost of the program is affordable to you. Feel free to contact us at internationalinfo@twc.edu [22] if you have any questions.
Scholarships Offered in Collaboration with our Partners
American Councils for International Education/U.S.-CAEF
Every fall, the American Councils for International Education (ACCELS) provides six fully funded scholarships to students participating in our academic internship program from Central Asia who are graduates of either the Kazakhstan Institute for Management, Economics and Strategic Research (KIMEP) or the American University of Central Asia through a fellowship awarded by the U.S.-Central Asia Education Foundation (U.S.-CAEF). The program is designed to provide meaningful academic and work experiences relevant to the students’ academic background.
Belgium Initiatives
The Flemish Minister for Education, Youth, Equal Opportunities and Brussels Affairs provides twelve 7,500 Euros scholarships for eligible students from the region of Flanders from Artevelde University College Ghent, Ghent University, Hasselt University, Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Howest, University College West Flanders.
Canada Initiatives
Competitive scholarships from the following provinces are available for eligible students: New Brunswick (through Business New Brunswick, Intergovernmental Affairs and SEED), Quebec (through the Ministry of International Relations), Alberta (through Alberta Enterprise & Advanced Education), Saskatchewan (through the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Education). To qualify for funding, students have to attend school in the province as well as be a resident of that province.
Mitsui USA Scholarship Fund
The Mitsui USA Scholarship Fund will provide (5) $1,000 scholarships designated for college students in the United States who are interested in international affairs or other related fields of study; or to international students from other parts of the globe. These students will be enrolled in The Washington Center’s ten-week summer term internship program and/or the fifteen-week spring or fall semester.
The Washington Center Awards
Civic Engagement Award
These awards provide $1,000 in financial assistance for housing. Recipients are chosen competitively on the basis of their academic performance and record of involvement and leadership in relevant settings (college or university, community, etc.) as reflected on their application, including their resume and transcript. Students are encouraged to specify interest in the award on the application and priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline for their term. This scholarship is not available to participants of the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.
Professional Achievement Award
Competitively awarded, this newly announced scholarship provides grants ranging from $1,500-$2,500 to students who have demonstrated a commitment to career advancement as evidenced by membership in professional organizations and honors societies, completion of previous internships, or prior work experience. Students also may be selected based upon potential for professional success as reflected in their academic performance and extracurricular involvement.
William Burke Leadership Award
This scholarship provides for unrestricted grants of varying amounts of up to $4,000. Recipients are chosen competitively on the basis of their academic performance and record of involvement and leadership in relevant settings (college or university, community, etc.) as reflected on their application, including their resume and transcript. Students may be required to provide additional documentation to demonstrate financial need and priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline. Limited availability to students in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.
Additional Funded Programs for International Students
The Ford Motor Company Global Scholars Program
Read about our internship program available to college students from Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa and the United States, during the fall semester.
Learn more [23]
Governors Internship Program
Learn about this internship program available to nominated Mexican college students and young professionals from selected states, during the fall and spring semesters.
Learn more [24]
Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program
Explore our internship program available to college students from Brazil, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.
Learn more [25]
U.S.-Panama Innovation & Competitiveness Initiative
Discover our internship program available only to Panamanian college students.
Learn more [26]
Additional Resources
Financial Assistance Inquiry Form
Not a student? Sign up for our alumni [27]or university [28] contacts email list.
Refund & Cancellation Policies
Washington, D.C. Program Fee Refund and Cancellation Policy
Washington Center staff does extensive work on your behalf prior to your arrival in Washington, D.C. This necessitates a commitment by you to adhere to The Washington Center refund policy. When you sign the policy agreement on your application, you are making a financial commitment to The Washington Center, and you are indicating that you have read and understand the refund and cancellation policies.
Financial assistance is contingent on successful completion of the program. Cancellation, dismissal, withdrawal or failure to successfully complete the program voids all forms of financial assistance, and any financial assistance provided to the student plus any outstanding fees are due and payable to TWC.
The Washington Center grants refunds and/or will assess a charge for program fees under certain circumstances as specified in Table A. The initial application fee or postgraduate program deposit is not refundable.
- All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing. A request for a program fee refund should be submitted to Enrollment Services at enrollment@twc.edu [30].
- TWC will not release grades for any student with an outstanding balance.
- All interns are governed by the Student Code of Conduct. Students dismissed from the program (and thus from the housing facilities) after due process procedures have been followed receive no refund for program or housing fees.
| If you Notify TWC of Cancellation |
Refund/Fee Assessed |
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Washington, D.C. Housing Fee Refund and Cancellation Policy
Upon acceptance to The Washington Center, you will be given information about submitting a Housing Reservation Contract. This contract must be submitted along with your $300 Housing Security Deposit six (6) weeks prior to your scheduled check-in date. The deposit will hold your space in housing. Once the contract has been submitted, the Housing Security Deposit will be forfeited if you cancel your housing. Additional fees may be assessed as outlined in Table B.
If a student’s financial assistance requires that he/she live in TWC housing, cancellation of housing will result in a loss of that assistance and the student’s bill will be adjusted accordingly. To cancel a housing reservation, a student must submit notification, in writing, to housing@twc.edu [31]. No cancellations will be taken by phone or in person by a member of TWC staff. The Washington Center does grant partial refunds on housing under certain circumstances as specified in Table B.
| Cancellation Date | Fee |
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Payment
The Washington Center requires that all TWC invoices be paid in full by the due date noted on your invoice. Students with an outstanding balance may not check into Washington Center housing, or begin their internship unless prior alternative arrangements have been made with The Washington Center’s finance office. Email finance at finance@twc.edu [32] or call 202-238-7900 to discuss payment to TWC.
The Washington Center is often flexible with payment dates for students who are waiting for financial aid to be disbursed at their home campus. Some students participating in the program will have their program and/or housing fee fully or partially paid by their home institutions. In those cases, students would contact the college or university awarding their credit to cover their costs.
Additional Resources
- How to Apply [33]
- Resources [34]
