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Money Matters

Cost of Living Expenses: Off-campus living expenses for graduate students in Erie, Pennsylvania including rent, utilities (electricity, heat, etc.), food, and incidentals but excluding health insurance, books, and other University fees, is estimated at 9,000.00 dollars for the academic year.

Undergraduate students living in University housing and taking meals in the University's dining rooms can expect to pay just over 8200.00 for fall and spring semesters.

Temporary Housing Expenses: In the first days after your arrival, ISO can offer assistance with temporary housing by providing information about nearby hotels. It is prudent to plan for the funds that would allow you to stay several nights in a hotel (at about 65-75.00 a night) while you search for permanent housing.

Bringing Money with You from Home: Be sure to bring with you enough U.S. dollars, traveler's checks, a charge or debit card, or an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) card which will allow you to meet expenses until you open a bank account. It is suggested that you will need to have immediate access to enough money to cover at least your first month's expenses, which may include housing and transportation costs, textbooks, school supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses. Since many international students at Gannon live off-campus, keep in mind that in addition to the first month's rent, landlords almost always require you to pay the last month's rent, as well, along with a security deposit.

Changing Foreign Currency: If you are bringing home currency, remember that it is only with difficulty that you will be able to exchange it once you reach Erie. You might consider changing your home country currency into American dollars at your first port of entry.

Banking Services: You will discover many area credit unions and banks in downtown Erie near Gannon's campus. Both credit unions and banks offer a variety of services and you will be able to open an account for checking and savings without a Social Security number. Additional information about other banks and banking services will be available after your arrival.

Bringing Funds from Home/Transferring Funds from Home: You may being an unlimited amount of currency into the U.S., but please check with your home country government as to how much currency you may depart with. In order to transfer money electronically from your home banking institution to a U.S. banking institution, you will need to transfer the money through the bank designated by Gannon University or wait until after your arrival when you can set up a bank account locally. Remember to ask for transfer information at your home institution, and at the local bank when you set up your accounts.

Credit Cards: Most banks and finance companies that offer credit cards require a person to provide a Social Security number. (If you will not be employed in the U.S., you will not be eligible for a Social Security Number). Therefore, it is strongly suggested that you bring a credit card from your home country; however; since some businesses (online and locally) will not accept as payment a non-U.S. credit card, it is also suggested that you maintain a local bank account and use personal checks or an ATM/Debit card to draw out cash and use in place of your credit card. Without a Social Security number, you may be eligible for another kind of charge card It is possible to use a kind of charge card which allows you to "load" the card ahead of charging expenses. Ask your banker for more information.