Those participating in Alternative Breaks are required to fund their own trips. Costs for most trips will be charged to your student account. The only exceptions are weekend and single-day trips.
Through the generosity of donors, Alternative Breaks is able to offer a limited amount of partial fee waivers each year to offset trip costs for students. Fill out this online form to apply for a fee waiver.
Fees for a trip are based on a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process. Costs will decrease as a student’s EFC lowers.
The costs below are for Winter Break 2020 international trips. Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), winter break international trips for the 2020-2021 academic year will be shortened and moved to Spring Break in March. Costs and locations will be available in fall 2020. Fees will be charged to students' accounts in early March, on the Friday before trip departure.
EFC | Participant Cost | Trip Leader Cost |
0 | $600 | $500 |
1-5,486 | $800 | $700 |
5,487-9,000 | $1,000 | $900 |
9,001-24,000 | $1,200 | $1,100 |
24,001 and above; or no FAFSA on file |
$1,400 | $1,300 |
The costs below are for Spring Break 2020 trips. Fees are charged to students' accounts in early March, on the Friday before trip departure. Costs for 2021 trips will be available in August 2020.
EFC |
Bus Participant Cost |
Bus/Trip Leader Cost |
Plane Participant Cost |
Plane Trip Leader Cost |
0 |
$75 |
$25 |
$250 |
$200 |
1-5,486 |
$125 |
$75 |
$300 |
$250 |
5,487-9,000 |
$175 |
$125 |
$350 |
$300 |
9,001-24,000 |
$225 |
$175 |
$400 |
$350 |
24,001 and above; or no FAFSA on file |
$275 |
$225 |
$450 |
$400 |
The costs below were originally for the 2020 Summer Break trip, now cancelled due to COVID-19. Fees are typically charged to students' accounts in mid-May.
EFC | Participant Cost | Trip Leader Cost |
0 | $1,200 | $1,000 |
1-5,486 | $1,500 | $1,300 |
5,487-9,000 | $1,800 | $1,600 |
9,001-24,000 | $2,100 | $1,900 |
24,001 and above; or no FAFSA on file |
$2,400 | $2,200 |
Students who can no longer attend their Alternative Break and would like to request that they not be charged for their trip must adhere to the following policy. If a replacement can be found for their spot on a trip, they will not be charged unless there are unavoidable penalties (such as a ticket change fee). All students requesting a charge reversal must write a letter to the program coordinator of 200 words or less explaining why a reversal should be given. If approved, reversals will be given in the following manner:
Extenuating circumstances that prevent you from fully participating will be considered.
Should a refund request be declined, participants can appeal any refund decisions to the Alternative Breaks Executive Board. Appeals must be under 300 words and submitted to the AB Director.