USA High School Exchange Prices for New Zealand Students
Your Guide to USA Exchange Programs, Schools and Prices (NZD)
The cost of your USA high school exchange depends on the program you choose, how much you customise your experience, and how long you stay. Every program draws on our decades of experience running high school exchanges to the USA, deep knowledge of the American school system, and a wide network of trusted educators and host families. Wherever you are, at home in New Zealand or settling into life abroad, our team is there to support you every step of the way.
Explore our USA program options and prices below, then get in touch with our high school exchange specialists. We’ll answer your questions and help build a program that fits your budget and goals.
Classic High School
Program Prices
Classic + Area Choice
Upgrade Prices
SELECT SHORT STAYS
Program Prices
SELECT HIGH SCHOOL
Program Prices.jpeg)
USA Classic High School Exchange Program
Our Classic High School program is a traditional cultural exchange on a J-1 visa. Share the culture and daily customs of your caring host family. Attend the local high school and live the life of an American teenager. You cannot choose a school with this program, but you can request an area for an additional fee, which is charged only after your request is granted. These programs depart, usually in January or August – subject to your exchange location.
USA Classic High School
| Classic Program Length | Price NZD | 2026/27 Program Dates | 2026/27 Program Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Semester | $16,450 | Jan 2027 – Jun 2027 | NO MORE SPOTS |
| Academic Year | $17,790 | Aug 2027 – Jun 2028 | Mar 1, 2027 |
| Academic Semester | $16,590 | Aug 2027 – Jan 2028 | Mar 1, 2027 |
| Calendar Year | $20,390 | Jan 2028 – Dec 2028 | Sept 15, 2027 |
| Academic Semester | $16,590 | Jan 2028 – Jun 2028 | Sept 15, 2027 |
| Academic Year | $17,790 | Aug 2028 – Jun/Jul 2029 | Mar 1, 2028 |
| Academic Semester | $16,590 | Aug 2028 – Jan 2029 | Mar 1, 2028 |
Apply Early: Places are limited and deadlines may change, so we recommend applying early to secure your preferred program.
Program Dates: Start dates indicate approximate arrival periods. Confirmed travel dates will be provided in advance.
Flights, Surcharges & Changes: Program fees include a flight budget and a Flight Surcharge may apply, see Outbound Program Prices for details.
Flights follow partner-set schedules; early departures or personal travel changes incur a $300 fee (plus any airline charges).
Classic High School Program Fees 2026/27
What’s Included in the USA Classic High School Program
| Return economy airfares from your nearest capital city with a reputable carrier. |
| Travel to and from your host community at the beginning and the end of the program – this may be a domestic flight, bus or rail transfer. ** |
| Full comprehensive medical, hospital, health, accident, baggage, cancellation, personal liability & travel insurance. The policy can be viewed in full on the insurance page on our website. |
| Your own Southern Cross Cultural Exchange Program Coordinator to support you throughout your time away as necessary and required. |
| Application Support. |
| Online Pre-Departure Orientation. |
| Arrival Orientation meeting in your host country (may be in your host community). |
| Full board in a carefully selected host family. |
| Enrolment at your host school. In most destinations, students are not required to wear a school uniform. Additional costs will apply where required for uniforms, school cafeteria/canteen meals, books/materials, transport and excursions etc. |
| Southern Cross Cultural Exchange admin costs. |
| 24/7 emergency phone support. |
| Local Coordinator in your host community. |
| Certificate of Completion. |
Additional Costs Not Included in the Classic Program Price
| Personal spending money | NZ$500-600 per month |
| Vaccinations & Visa Applications | USA immigration fees, including Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee of USD$220 as well as Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee of USD$185, are charged as part of the visa application process by the USA immigration authority. Please note: Students must attend a face-to-face visa appointment at their closest US Authority in Auckland, NZ |
| Welcome Camp – available for Semester & Year arrivals in August/September | NZ$2,150 |
| School expenses | Books, school materials, transport to/from school/school trips |
| Additional luggage fees | As charged by the airlines |
| Optional excursions and tours | May be arranged by your host school or Local Coordinator once on program at an additional cost. |
Upgrade Your Classic Program: State, Region & City Requests
Want to live and study near the beach or in a city? Upgrade your USA Classic High School Exchange Program by requesting an extra feature. Area requests will be charged only after your request is granted. This option is not available for January programs, August./September arrivals only.
Southern Cross Cultural Exchange students participating in an August Year or Semester Classic Program to the USA can pay an additional fee to guarantee a city, metro, state, regional or top school location. These guarantees are subject to availability and will be confirmed upon receipt of payment.
Applications must be submitted by December 15 prior to the departure year.
Please note, eligibility criteria applies for Area Requests:
- B average or higher
- No allergies (dogs, cats, nuts etc.)
- No dietary restrictions
- No pre-existing medical conditions
State Request Pricing (NZD)
| State | Price (NZD) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,200 |
| California | $4,300 |
| Colorado | $2,200 |
| Florida | $4,300 |
| Georgia | $2,200 |
| Illinois | $2,200 |
| Indiana | $2,200 |
| Michigan | $2,200 |
| Minnesota | $2,200 |
| Nevada | $2,200 |
| North Carolina | $2,200 |
| State | Price (NZD) |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $2,200 |
| Oklahoma | $2,200 |
| Oregon | $4,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,200 |
| South Carolina | $2,200 |
| Tennessee | $2,200 |
| Texas | $2,200 |
| Virginia | $2,200 |
| Washington | $4,300 |
| Wisconsin | $2,200 |
Region Request Pricing (NZD)
| Region | Price (NZD) | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Central | $1,600 | Includes: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming |
| Great Lakes | $1,600 | Includes: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin |
| West | $1,100 | Includes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming |
| North East | $1,600 | Includes: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin |
| Region | Price (NZD) | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| East | $1,100 | Includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin |
| Mountain States | $1,600 | Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming |
| Pacific Coast | $2,200 | Includes: California, Oregon and Washington |
| Warm States | $2,200 | Includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas. |
City Request Pricing (NZD)
| City | Price (NZD) |
|---|---|
| Chicago, Illinois | $5,400 |
| College Station, Texas | $3,200 |
| Columbus, Ohio | $3,200 |
| Corpus Christi, Texas | $3,200 |
| Dallas, Texas | $3,200 |
| Grand Rapids, Michigan | $3,200 |
| Houston, Texas | $3,200 |
| Indianapolis, Indiana | $3,200 |
| City | Price (NZD) |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin | $3,200 |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | $3,200 |
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | $3,200 |
| San Antonio, Texas | $3,200 |
| St Louis, Missouri | $3,200 |
| Traverse City, Michigan | $3,200 |
| Metro City (50K+) | $3,200 |
USA Short Stay High School Programs – Prices for NZ Students
| Short Stay Program | Price | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Short Stay 4 Week Program (flexible dates**) | NZ$13,950 | At least 3 months prior to your preferred arrival dates |
| Short Stay 8 Week Program (flexible dates**) | NZ$18,450 | At least 3 months prior to your preferred arrival dates |
** Students select their preferred weekend arrival between October and April, when schools are best able to accommodate visiting students.
What’s Included in the USA Short Stay Program
| Return economy airfares from your nearest capital city with a reputable carrier. |
| Travel to and from your host community at the beginning and the end of the program – this may be a domestic flight, bus or rail transfer. ** |
| Full comprehensive medical, hospital, health, accident, baggage, cancellation, personal liability & travel insurance. The policy can be viewed in full on the insurance page on our website. |
| Your own Southern Cross Cultural Exchange Program Coordinator to support you throughout your time away as necessary and required. |
| Application Support. |
| Online Pre-Departure Orientation. |
| Arrival Orientation meeting in your host country (may be in your host community). |
| Full board in a carefully selected host family. |
| Enrolment at your host school. In most destinations, students are not required to wear a school uniform. Additional costs will apply where required for uniforms, school cafeteria/canteen meals, books/materials, transport and excursions etc. |
| Southern Cross Cultural Exchange admin costs. |
| 24/7 emergency phone support. |
| Local Coordinator in your host community. |
| Certificate of Completion. |
Additional Costs for the USA Short Stay Program
| Personal spending money | AU$400-500 per month |
| Vaccinations & Visa Applications | USA immigration fees including Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee of USD$220 as well as Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee of USD$185 are charged as part of the visa application process by the USA immigration authority. Please note: Students must attend a face-to-face visa appointment at their closest US Authority in Perth, Melbourne or Sydney |
| School expenses | Books, school materials, transport to/from school/school trips |
| Additional luggage fees | As charged by the airlines |
| Optional excursions & tours | May be arranged by your host school or Local Coordinator once on program at an additional cost. |
USA Select High School Exchange Program – Choose Your School
With our USA Select High School program, you can customise your exchange based on your academic and personal goals. It starts with what you want to gain from the experience – a favourite subject, sport or artistic activity, or the city you want to live in! You can choose the Select school that is the perfect match, or we can help you decide which high school is right for you.
The price of your USA Select program will depend on the school you choose as well as currency exchange rates between Australia and the USA. You’ll study on an F-1 visa, giving you similar rights and privileges as American students including the possibility of earning a US high school diploma if you study in Grade 12.
Not sure about next steps? Start with our most popular schools
To help you start planning for your exchange, we’ve listed great schools, but there are many more to choose from – just ask! We’ll answer all your questions and provide a personalized quote for your USA Select High School Exchange.
The fees listed below are not inclusive of the school and accommodation fees.
Please contact us for a detailed quote.
USA Select Program Fees (NZD)
Program fees include the SCCE Management Fee, Insurance, Application Fee, and the selected school’s Accommodation and Tuition fees (see button below for details).
| Select Program Fees | Academic Semester | Academic Year |
|---|---|---|
| SCCE Management Fee | NZ$5,995 | NZ$5,995 |
| Insurance | US$545 | US$1050 |
| Application Fee | US$250 | US$250 |
| Tuition & Accommodation | Price per school | Please see below |
Below is a selection of popular US schools. For the full list of available options, please refer to the USA SELECT School Accommodation & Tuition Fees.
For SELECT USA High schools available, please book a call with our team.
What’s Included in the USA Select High School Program
| Return economy airfares from your nearest capital city with a reputable carrier. |
| Travel to and from your host community at the beginning and the end of the program – this may be a domestic flight, bus or rail transfer. ** |
| Full comprehensive medical, hospital, health, accident, baggage, cancellation, personal liability & travel insurance. The policy can be viewed in full on the insurance page on our website. |
| Your own Southern Cross Cultural Exchange Program Coordinator to support you throughout your time away as necessary and required. |
| Application Support. |
| Online Pre-Departure Orientation. |
| Arrival Orientation meeting in your host country (may be in your host community). |
| Full board in a carefully selected host family. |
| Enrolment at your host school. In most destinations, students are not required to wear a school uniform. Additional costs will apply where required for uniforms, school cafeteria/canteen meals, books/materials, transport and excursions etc. |
| Southern Cross Cultural Exchange admin costs. |
| 24/7 emergency phone support. |
| Local Coordinator in your host community. |
| Certificate of Completion. |
Additional Costs for the USA Select High School Program
| School & Accommodation fee | Please note, school and accommodation prices will be provided in in USD. Please Book a call with our team to discuss your preferred school/prices. |
| Program management fee | NZ$5,995 |
| Insurance fee | Year: US$1,050 Semester: US$545 |
| Personal spending money | NZ$400-500 per month |
| Application fee | US$250 – US$600 (Subject to the choice of school) |
| Vaccinations | Personal expense |
| School expenses | Books, school materials, transport to/from school/school trips |
| Flight surcharge | Budgeted flight cost is NZ$3,500 and the surcharge is the amount beyond this at the time of booking flights. |
| Additional luggage fees | As charged by the airlines |
| Optional excursions and tours | May be arranged by your host school or Local Coordinator once on program at an additional cost. |
