Founded in 1542 by the Spanish, San Miguel de Allende continues as a center for the arts and as a significant site of Mexico's past from ancient times to the 20th century. The campus is a large Spanish-style complex located near the center of the city. The hacienda was built in the 1700s by a local Spanish nobleman and landowner. Beautiful plazas, fountains, and gardens give this campus a very romantic atmosphere. The Instituto Allende provides host families for all American students enrolled each semester.
Host families provide two meals per day for their students.
Students taking the archaeology course during the summer months also have the option of contracting with a nearby hotel for housing. The Insituto Allende also has a cafe for students wanting simple items for lunch. San Miguel de Allende has numerous restaurants that specialize in Mexican, Italian and American cuisine. The cost for the Fall and Spring semesters varies according to tuition and economic factors, but will include tuition, room, two meals per day, round-trip airfare and fees at the Instituto Allende. Each semester the International Studies Committee selects Ouachita students to study at The Insituto Allende.