Do You Get Paid to Host an Exchange Student?

When speaking with families from across the United States, we often get asked, “Will I get paid to host an exchange student?”

While there are some types of international exchange student organizations that compensate host families, people who host through the Academic Year in America (AYA) program are volunteers and do not receive monetary compensation, as altruism and goodwill are key components of this important public diplomacy initiative.

Additionally, federal program regulations prohibit organizations from compensating host families, due to the potential to alter the dynamics of the exchange experience by creating a potentially transactional relationship. However, there’s a tax deduction for the host family and our students arrive in the United States fully insured. They also have their own spending money for personal expenses and school related expenses. 

Welcoming an exchange student into your life has a world of benefits and may result in unexpected rewards for your family and community:

1. Authentic Cultural Exchange

The goal of the program is to have a genuine cultural exchange. Your exchange student becomes a member of your family. Not only do they take part in your family’s activities and celebrations, but they also share their customs and traditions with you. Unlike a paid experience, this results in a truly immersive experience and an enriching relationship that builds long-lasting connections.

2. Exchange of Ideas

Hosting an exchange student and welcoming them into your family is not a transactional relationship. It encourages the exchange of ideas, values, and traditions through respectful dialogue, and paves the path to shared experiences at home and within the community. These interactions provide valuable insights into your differences while fostering an appreciation for your similarities. 

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3. Making a Difference

You can’t put a price on changing a young person’s life. Hosting an international exchange student is about wanting to make a difference while being a citizen ambassador for the United States. Your generosity has the potential to favorably influence the way that an international young person sees Americans and the world at large. Students return to their home country with a newfound appreciation for the U.S and its people. These experiences have the potential to shape the way they interact with the world going forward. By bringing the world to your doorstep, you have the opportunity to make a profound impact on the world by fostering a new generation of thoughtful, compassionate global citizens.

[My host family has] taught me not only how to be more tolerant, a better decision maker and a more optimistic person, they have also taught me how to open up my heart and mind to new opportunities, explore and create. As my host mom put it, ‘The whole world is in front of you; you can do anything.’

Milica, AYA Exchange Student from Montenegro

4. Positive Global Diplomacy

The bond that develops between an exchange student and their host family has the power to influence the world at large. American families open their homes and hearts to these young students who come from distant corners of the world. While you are not being compensated financially, your hospitality can leave a lasting impression and shape their perspective of the United States and vice versa. By sharing your everyday experiences with the students and accepting them as part of your lives, you are contributing towards a peaceful global community. 

5. Helping Dreams Come True

Students have different reasons for joining an exchange program, but all have a desire to learn about American culture, improve their language skills and learn about themselves and the world. They have dreams of being a high school student in the U.S. and want to experience the American way of life. You, as a host family, have a unique opportunity to provide the care, understanding and patience that a young person needs to enjoy a successful and fulfilling academic year. Hosting offers a wonderful and incredible opportunity to engage in a mutually enriching experience that transcends monetary benefits. It’s a rewarding opportunity to broaden your worldview and build global connections and close friendships that often last a lifetime.

6. A Transformative Family Experience

Host families frequently find that hosting an exchange student doesn’t just impact the life of the student— it profoundly affects their own lives as well. They often share that the experience broadens their global perspective, ignites curiosity in their children, strengthens family bonds, and cultivates a deeper sense of gratitude and appreciation for each other and their own lives. Through hosting, they gain a unique opportunity to see life through the fresh eyes of an exchange student, which brings new insights and enriches their everyday experiences.

My sons have learned about the world, different cultures, and languages. The have learned to be flexible, give of themselves more, and that relationships are what matters. When asked how many siblings he has, my youngest tells people he has 8 brothers and 2 sisters.

AYA Host Parent

Here at Academic Year in America (AYA), we place high school exchange students from over 50 countries with volunteer host families across the United States. Whether you want to host for a full academic year, a semester, or for a few short weeks to help a student transition into life in the U.S., there’s no time like the present to give your family and community the world.

Interested in hosting an exchange student for the upcoming school year? The life you change may be your own!