Hosting by location

Host an exchange student by state

Hosting works a little differently depending on where you live. Pick your state to see what to expect locally, which programs place students there, and how to get matched, free.

🔄 Verified: July 16, 2026
Wherever you are, you can host. The major U.S. exchange programs place students in all 50 states (and Washington, D.C.) every school year. What changes by location is timing, how many nearby schools take exchange students, and which programs are most active. These pages walk you through hosting in your state, and getting matched is always free.

Choose your state

Host in AlabamaHost in AlaskaHost in ArizonaHost in ArkansasHost in CaliforniaHost in ColoradoHost in ConnecticutHost in DelawareHost in District of ColumbiaHost in FloridaHost in GeorgiaHost in HawaiiHost in IdahoHost in IllinoisHost in IndianaHost in IowaHost in KansasHost in KentuckyHost in LouisianaHost in MaineHost in MarylandHost in MassachusettsHost in MichiganHost in MinnesotaHost in MississippiHost in MissouriHost in MontanaHost in NebraskaHost in NevadaHost in New HampshireHost in New JerseyHost in New MexicoHost in New YorkHost in North CarolinaHost in North DakotaHost in OhioHost in OklahomaHost in OregonHost in PennsylvaniaHost in Rhode IslandHost in South CarolinaHost in South DakotaHost in TennesseeHost in TexasHost in UtahHost in VermontHost in VirginiaHost in WashingtonHost in West VirginiaHost in WisconsinHost in Wyoming

Popular metro areas

Hosting in a bigger metro? These city guides cover local timing and programs: Atlanta · Charlotte · Chicago · Columbus · Dallas · Denver · Houston · Indianapolis · Kansas City · Minneapolis · Nashville · Phoenix · Portland · San Diego · Seattle · Tampa.

How state-by-state matching works

Every state has families who host and school districts that welcome exchange students, but the details shift. Big metros tend to have more partner schools and more placement options, while rural areas host through the specific towns that partner with programs. Timing follows the local school calendar, and program availability varies by district. When you get matched, we factor in where you live, when you'd like to start, and the kind of experience you're after, then point you to the program that genuinely fits your area.

Get matched with the right program, for free

🔒 Your information is kept private and is only shared with the host program(s) we match you to. No cost, no obligation, and no spam. Hosting is always a personal choice you make with the program directly, and you can stop anytime.

HostFamilyMatch is an independent service. Getting matched is free for families. An exchange organization may compensate us as an authorized referrer, at no cost to you, and it never changes our recommendation. Full disclosure.
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