Studying in the USA may seem expensive, but Danish students have strong opportunities for financing their studies in the USA through SU and SU loans. With support from SU, you can finance all or part of your education abroad. Through SU, you can receive a combination of grants (SU grant) and student loans that can cover a large portion – and in many cases the entire cost – of your studies. The funding can be used for:

• Tuition fees
• Housing and living expenses
• Insurance and books
• Travel expenses, including flights to and from the USA

How much support you can receive depends on the type of study, level, and school. Many universities in the USA are approved for SU support, but it is always a good idea to check this before applying. After applying through Calistudies, we will help you with the entire application process for SU and SU loans.

How Much Can I Receive from SU?

Danish students have strong opportunities to finance their studies abroad through Statens Uddannelsesstøtte (SU). If you are admitted to an approved program in the USA, you can generally receive Statens Uddannelsesstøtte in the same way as if you were studying in Denmark.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, a student living away from home can receive around 7,000 DKK per month in Statens Uddannelsesstøtte (SU). This corresponds to approximately 84,000 DKK per year in support for living expenses during your studies.

SU is paid as a grant, which means you normally do not have to repay the money.

SU Loans

In addition to regular SU, you can also choose to take out an SU loan to receive additional financial support during your studies.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, students can borrow around 3,500–3,700 DKK per month through SU loans. This can provide up to approximately 40,000–45,000 DKK extra per year to cover living expenses.

SU loans generally have low interest rates and flexible repayment terms, making them a popular financing option among students.

Tuition Fee Support

When studying in the USA, you can also apply for an overseas grant through the Statens Uddannelsesstøtte system. The overseas grant can be used to pay tuition fees at the university. The amount depends on the program and the equivalent Danish education, but in many cases, the grant can cover a significant portion of the tuition fees.

This means that many Danish students can combine:

• SU for living expenses
• SU Loans
• Overseas grant for tuition fees

to finance their studies in the USA.

Short Summary

For many Danish students, financing their studies in the USA can therefore consist of a combination of:

• SU for living expenses
• SU Loans
• Overseas grant for tuition fees
• potential scholarships from universities in the USA

Together, these options make studying in the USA far more realistic than many might think.

You can calculate exactly how much you can receive on SU’s website.

SU and Community College in the USA

Danish students can in many cases receive Statens Uddannelsesstøtte (SU) for studies at a community college in the USA, if the program is approved as higher education and meets the requirements of the SU system. This especially applies to programs such as an Associate Degree, which corresponds to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. Many students choose to start at a community college and later transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree. In such cases, SU can often continue as long as the program remains approved.

It is important to check whether both the school and the study program are approved for Statens Uddannelsesstøtte (SU) before applying. Many American community colleges meet these requirements and can therefore be a flexible and more affordable starting point for Danish students who want to study in the USA.

Scholarships

In addition to Statens Uddannelsesstøtte (SU), there are also scholarships from American schools as well as Danish foundations, associations, and organizations. Some scholarships are awarded for special talents in areas such as sports or music, while others are granted based on academic performance. Be sure to apply well in advance to increase your chances.

See which schools offer scholarships on the respective school presentation page.