Most eligible students should be college juniors or seniors, although in special circumstances sophomores will also be considered. Students must be in good standing at their college/university. Preference is given to students with a minimum 3.5 GPA.
A Program Applicable to All Majors
You do not need to be a political science major to apply. Current and future leaders are active in a variety of fields. Experience gained in the Washington Semester Program is valuable for any major or career choice. Students in the program have included majors in engineering, biology, journalism, business, French, English, international relations, women's studies, the fine arts, history and accounting.
Enrollment in the Program
Accepted students enroll at the University of South Carolina in Columbia for the semester they are participating in the Washington Semester Program.
If you are interested in applying to the Washington Semester Program, you should talk to your academic advisor(s) to determine how the Washington Semester Program's academic credit will apply to your individual undergraduate program.
Tuition and Anticipated Expenses in Washington, D.C.
It is hard to know what exact expenses to anticipate, since it differs from student to student. In general, typical expenses associated with the semester are tuition and the program fee.
All students will enroll at USC Columbia and pay the USC semester tuition rate. The USC Board of Trustees establishes the tuition for the upcoming year in July of each year.
The program fee varies from fall and spring semesters, so make sure to attend an information session and learn about the semester you are interested in. Be prepared to budget approximately $8,000 - $9,000 for the program fee, which can be paid in installments or all at once. Upon your acceptance into the program, a $1,000 deposit is due, which goes towards the program fee.
What's Included:
- This fee includes housing for the entire semester. Other amenities include a fitness center, monthly cleaning service, all utilities, high-speed internet, fully furnished units, in-unit laundry, linens, kitchen supplies, 24/7 security, package delivery services and more. You can check out our housing in D.C. at the Meridian Mt. Vernon Triangle.
- It also includes most program and course enrichment activities (this may be weekend excursions, course trips to the museum or theater, group dinners, networking events, etc.)
As a student in the Honors College for the program, all participants will pay the Honors College fee, as well as other standard USC fees.
Program Funding
Scholarships are available to help offset the cost of participating in the Washington Semester Program.
There are two opportunities to apply for funding. An early-bird application is available before students apply to and are accepted into the program. Students who are accepted into the program may also apply for any remaining scholarship funds during a second funding cycle. Scholarship applicants must be a current student at USC or another South Carolina institution.
Spring 2027 Scholarship Timeline
- September 9: Early-Bird Scholarship Deadline
- September 15: Early-Bird Scholarship Notification
- September 20: Washington Semester Program Application Deadline
- October 4: Deadline for selected WSP participants to apply for a program scholarship.
Note: The early-bird scholarship deadline allows students the opportunity to learn about their funding eligibility before completing the program application process. To be considered for admission to the program, students must still complete a Washington Semester Program application after submitting a scholarship application.