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Getting full value from study-abroad programs

Pioneer-Press Op-ed

November 30, 2007

By MaryAnn Baenninger
President
College of St. Benedict - www.csbsju.edu
(For more information, contact Diane Hageman, director of media relations, 320-363-5748, dhageman@csbsju.edu)

More American college students, nearly 225,000 of them, are studying overseas than ever before. They and their colleges believe that significant time spent learning the language and culture of a country other than the United States will help them gain the skills and perspectives needed to succeed in the global economy.

Leaders of business, government and education agree that overseas study is an important component of a college degree. In response to growing demand, colleges are adding new programs at a rapid rate.

Yet a deeper look at study-abroad programs raises serious questions about what students are getting for their money. At a few colleges, regular tuition and fees cover the bulk of the costs of overseas study. But at most colleges, studying in another country adds thousands to student charges. A typical semester-long overseas study program costs between $8,000 and $17,000. Add another $1,000 for travel to and from the country, and another $2,000 for exploring neighboring countries, and the investment becomes quite substantial.

Unfortunately, there are hidden costs as well. Many students who opt to study for a semester in a foreign country find upon their return that they cannot complete their degrees within four years. To graduate, they must enroll for an additional semester or two and pay for additional tuition, room, board, books and related expenses.

Study-abroad programs are seldom as fully integrated into a student's academic program as
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they might be. This forces students - particularly those in nursing, education, engineering and pre-medicine - to choose between internships and practicums required to prepare for their chosen professions and learning first-hand about the culture of another country. Students need both, not one or the other.

Because our economy, environment and society depend on international understanding and collaboration, relegating overseas study as a perk only for wealthy families is not an option. Rather, students and their parents need to become savvy consumers.

They should ask the following questions:

• How can I study abroad and complete my degree on time? Are credits earned fully acceptable to my home institution?
• What is the full and real cost of studying overseas? What part of the cost is included in regular tuition? What part of the cost is covered by financial aid? Are additional grants or scholarships available? How much more will I have to borrow?
• What are the experiences, good and bad, of alumni who participated in the program, and how can I contact them?
• What, specifically, does the college do to ensure the quality of the program?

Colleges that develop and operate their own study-abroad programs offer advantages to students planning international study. Most often such programs are staffed by full-time faculty, integrated into the curriculum, and available at less additional cost because a student's regular tuition, fees and financial aid apply.

Students and their parents should begin planning for overseas study from the moment they begin picking a college. They should consider what kind of international experience will best meet the student's career and educational goals. The costs, both in dollars and time, should be built into the student's budget.

Like other aspects of a higher education, overseas study is an investment. It will pay off through broadened opportunities for jobs and increased understanding of the regional and national issues that determine our national security.