First Year Abroad in Monteverde
Put your global education first! See Monteverde and start college at the same time on CIEE’s First Year Abroad program. Earn college credit during a 12-week semester, taking classes from a wide range of subject areas. Immerse yourself in the local Costa Rican culture by engaging in activities and excursions with first-year peers and other CIEE study abroad students.
Design your own experience by staying in Monteverde for the duration of your program, or by studying in multiple locations via our fall + spring combinations. Along the way, you’ll develop skills and knowledge you simply can’t get in a U.S. classroom. Broaden your horizons, create relationships that last a lifetime, and return home to complete your college degree with a newfound confidence.
Extend your international experience by combining this program with a second semester in the same location or in Kyoto to complete a full academic year abroad.
Please note: students will be required to return to the U.S. during the break between semesters due to visa restrictions.
Unique Experiences
Unique Experiences
Experience the beauty of Costa Rica’s rainforests, connect with the welcoming local community, and engage in sustainable and eco-conscious practices
College Credits
Stay on track with your 4-year graduation requirements and earn up to 13 credits per semester
Lifelong Skills and Friendships
Jump right into independence, far away from home, and bond with other U.S. and international students
The Destination
Live on the edge of the world-famous Costa Rican cloud forest in Monteverde, where you'll learn about sustainable economic development, environmental engineering, and other science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-related topics. Since the 1960s, the San Luis de Monteverde region of Costa Rica has been at the forefront of field study in environmental protection and began attracting scientists that marveled at its incredible biodiversity.
Monteverde lies along the continental divide at the crest of the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain chain in the northwestern region of Costa Rica, which is blanketed by a cool, wet cloud forest extending into the Atlantic lowlands. The cloud forest provides a striking contrast to the deciduous forest on the Pacific side.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was established in 1972 to protect the entire ridge above Monteverde and down into the Peñas Blancas Valley. As a result of its unique history and geography, Monteverde is a stunning home to exotic flora, fauna, and wildlife and sustainability projects, including agriculture, energy production, water conservation, forest management, and biodiversity conservation.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with marginalized identities might encounter in Monteverde.
Students may study in Monteverde for one 12-week semester (fall or spring) or two 12-week semesters (fall and spring).
Excursions & Activities
Ample activities and day-trips will be offered to immerse you in Costa Rica's culture and heritage. Each semester typically includes five day-trips or one overnight and three day-trips.
- Visit a coffee plantation seeking to make production more sustainable with the environment and enjoy a coffee tasting
- Explore a sustainable farm, where wastes from specific process are reused or managed by another production process (e.g., permaculture mixed with fish rearing), to learn about elements of circular economy
- Participate in a reforestation program within a biological corridor, either by planting trees, helping in the tree nursery, or by collecting data on growth and carbon storage
Please note this list of activities is based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to both adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when revising itineraries is always to enhance your experience. Every activity is designed to provide you with a deep immersion in your topic, local culture and sights.
Housing & Meals
Housing
Residence Halls: Students live in dormitories surrounded by Monteverde's Cloud Forest in double, triple, or quad rooms shared with other CIEE students. Rooms have shared or en-suite bathrooms, shared desks, and shared closets.
Housing is on a first-come, first-served basis. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we’ll let you know before you arrive.
Meals
All students receive three simple but hearty meals per day on campus. Accommodation for vegan and vegetarian diets is available.
Academics
First Year Abroad offers foundational college courses taught by CIEE local instructors to start your four-year college degree. We combine rigorous intro-level academic courses with unforgettable experiences outside the classroom to create a curriculum fostering academic, intercultural, and professional skills that help you succeed in college and the world beyond.
Our curriculum includes general education courses from major disciplines that offer you college credits to stay on track. Choose lecture and lab courses from the Arts and Humanities, World Language, Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Social Sciences, as well as courses specifically designed to help you develop organizational, writing and study skills to thrive in college.
Course Information
For information about how these courses will be transferred back to Dean College, please refer to the course equivalency chart.
Visual and Performing Arts
Social Sciences
Languages and Cultural Studies
Literature, Linguistics, and Writing
Biological and Physical Sciences
Psychology
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Interested in an academic year program? CIEE offers exciting customizable First Year Abroad (FYA) programs in select locations. Talk to your Enrollment Coordinator if you're interested in any of these combinations, and please note that visa and departure requirements may vary depending on your chosen program combination.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Academic Year 2025 12 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Spring 2026 12 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Spring 2025 12 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $16,800 |
| Program Fall 2025 12 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Academic year 2025-2026 50 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Fall 2024 12 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $16,800 |
| Program Academic year 2024-2025 26 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, you will pay your CIEE program fee (fee varies by location) and Dean College tuition and fees ($2,900 total for all locations) directly to Dean College.
Federal financial aid and state aid (Massachusetts residents only) is available through Dean College. Students applying for need-based financial aid from Dean College must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using the FAFSA School Code for Dean College: 002144.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Program Fee = $16,800*
Total Fees = $16,800Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
*CIEE Fees: $13,900; Dean College Fees: $2,900
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Program Fee = $16,800*
Total Fees = $16,800Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
*CIEE Fees: $13,900; Dean College Fees: $2,900
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Get Started
1
Start a CIEE FYA Application
You’re one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! You need to apply and be accepted by both CIEE and Dean College to join FYA. Don’t worry! We’ll help you through the process!
2
Complete the Dean College FYA Application
You will receive an email with a unique link to your personalized Dean College application after completing your CIEE FYA application.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to the FYA program.