Life in Washington

Many Washington Honors Semester students enjoy their experience so much that they move back after graduation, making D.C. one of the largest and most active centers of Hope alumni.

Living Independently

Washington Honors Semester participants can choose to either find their own independent housing arrangements or live with other Hope students in a program-arranged apartment complex. Students will gain the experience of commuting daily to work, shopping for groceries in an urban environment and preparing their own food.

During free time, enjoy the capital’s bustling nightlife or take advantage of many free museums and attractions. There is also a wide range of churches and denominations for worship.

Transportation

While in Washington, students will learn how to navigate the city using the Metro mass transit system, which is convenient, safe and inexpensive. One of the best and cheapest forms of transportation is walking, which is easy to do in a very compact capital city. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Washington, and there are many inexpensive flight options into the city. Students also have the option of keeping a personal car with them during the semester.
 

Expenses

Expenses for the semester consist primarily of tuition, transportation costs and personal expenses. Tuition to Hope College is the same rate as a regular semester on campus. Transportation costs include getting to Washington and use of the Metro system while in the city, which ranges from $30 to $50 per week. Some internships offer travel stipends.

Personal expenses in D.C. can vary quite broadly, although most students find them to be slightly higher than at Hope. For example, monthly rent is typically about $800 per student, which is billed to their Hope account if they are staying in the group housing arranged by the college. The cost of food varies depending on how extravagantly students choose to live, though they can save money by cooking for themselves. Similarly, some students may find it necessary to buy more professional clothing to wear for their internships, while others do not need to spend as much on their wardrobe.

Finally, participants also are required to pay a nonrefundable fee of $300 upon their acceptance into the program to guarantee their place in the program.

The financial expense is just one other aspect to consider and plan for when studying off-campus, although most alumni will say that their time in Washington was invaluable in every respect and more than worth the cost compared to a semester at Hope.

Approximate Costs

• Tuition: $17,495 (16 credits, billed to Hope account)
• Apartment/utilities: Approximately $4,100 (billed to Hope account)
• Food: $1,500 ($93.75 per week, out of pocket)
• Metro: FREE

TOTAL: Approximately $23,095