Study abroad at Spokane

Spokane (fondly known as 'The Lilac City' and 'Hoopfest Capital of the World') is the second-largest city in Washington State and the economic, cultural, and medical capital of the Inland Northwest, situated along the Spokane River with its dramatic series of cascading urban waterfalls (Spokane Falls - the second-largest urban waterfall in the United States), home to Spokane International Airport (GEG). Celebrated for the historic 100-acre Riverfront Park (site of the 1974 World's Fair / Expo '74, featuring the iconic Pavilion, Looff Carousel, and Numerica SkyRide cable car soaring over the falls), the 40-mile paved Spokane River Centennial Trail, zero state personal income tax (0%), and its booming regional economy in healthcare and biotechnology (University District Health Peninsula), aerospace components manufacturing, clean energy, and agribusiness. Spokane is home to prestigious private and public higher education institutions: Gonzaga University (established in 1887, top-ranked private Jesuit university enrolling over 7,500 students on a beautiful 152-acre campus along the north bank of the Spokane River crowned by the twin spires of St. Aloysius Church). Gonzaga is nationally celebrated for the School of Engineering and Applied Science (ABET-accredited, leading in Civil, Mechanical, and Computer Engineering), School of Business Administration (AACSB-accredited, ranked in the US Top 25 for Accounting and Finance), School of Law, and legendary NCAA Division I basketball program, alongside Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane (Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy), Eastern Washington University (Spokane University District Campus), and Whitworth University. Degrees are taught 100% in English with prestigious US accreditations. International students benefit from an exceptionally affordable cost of living compared to Seattle, generous Gonzaga International Merit Scholarships ($12,000 to $25,000/year), low student-to-faculty ratios (11:1), STA transit, and direct US F-1 / I-20 Student Visa support with 3-year STEM OPT work extensions.

Tuition fees in Spokane for international undergraduate students at Gonzaga University range between $51,500 and $53,800 per academic year for School of Engineering, Computer Science, and School of Business Administration (with Gonzaga awarding generous automatic International Merit Scholarships discounting $12,000 to $25,000/year from tuition for qualified applicants based on high school GPA, bringing net tuition down to approx. $26,500–$39,500/year). At Eastern Washington University (Spokane campus) and Whitworth University, undergraduate tuition ranges from $26,000 to $49,000 per year (with competitive international awards). Postgraduate Master's degrees range from $16,000 to $28,000 per year. Modern on-campus university residences (Gonzaga: Coughlin Hall, Dillon Hall, Goller Hall, Madonna Hall, Kennedy Apartments - fully furnished student suites with high-speed Wi-Fi, utilities, and Zag dining plans) cost between $750 and $1,150 per month (inclusive of meal plans), while off-campus student apartments in Logan Neighborhood, Gonzaga District, and Downtown Spokane range from $500 to $850 per month for private rooms in shared houses. General monthly living expenses range between $750 and $1,200 (significantly more economical than Seattle).

International students require a US F-1 Student Visa. Upon academic admission and verification of financial documentation (bank statement certifying first-year tuition and living expenses minus scholarship awards approx. $28,000), the Center for Global Engagement (Gonzaga CGE) issues the official Form I-20. The student pays the SEVIS I-901 fee, completes the DS-160 online visa application, and attends the F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate. STEM graduates qualify for a 24-month OPT extension (total 36 months of US employment authorization across Washington State engineering/tech companies and nationwide).