Well, before you give up, take a look at the web site created by the International Study and Travel Center at the University of Minnesota. It's an extremely well-designed and organized site that can lead you directly to scholarships and grants that can make your study abroad dream come true.
Most students are eligible for financial aid to study abroad.
To maximize their aid eligibility, students are encouraged to mail their financial aid application to the federal processor between January 1 st and March 2 nd during the calendar year in which they plan to begin their program abroad. The total cost for a year overseas depends on a number of factors including, the cost of living in the host country, the local inflation rate, the currency exchange rate, the length of time spent abroad, and each individual student's unique spending habits. Financial Aid during the summer semester is limited to Pell grant and the Stafford loan program, if the student has not requested their full aid eligibility by the end of the academic year. Students participating in programs sponsored by off-campus organizations, or by universities outside of the CSU system, should know that they would only receive federal financial aid in the form of a Pell grant or Stafford loan. Students participating in such programs would not receive state or local financial aid.