cheaper for the distance

By Koren Temple

As the university's tuition continues to rise each year, students are actually finding it cheaper to study abroad than remain at Santa Clara.

This comes at a time when the deadline for travelling abroad next year is quickly approaching.

Associate Director of International Programs Barbara Colyar has noticed the definite increase.

"Some people may have the feeling that Santa Clara is expensive, and by going abroad they are not only broadening their education with an international experience, but they are also saving money," Colyar said.

There were approximately 296 students studying abroad last fall quarter, which was a 19 percent increase from last year and a 51 percent increase from five years ago.

According to the 2003 Open Door report, an annual not-for-profit data collection on American and foreign students abroad, the number of students studying abroad has doubled in less than a decade and tripled over the past 15 years.

Abroad versus local tuition

The estimated Santa Clara annual tuition is $38,000, including food and housing, and rises an average of 7 percent every year. That means that students are paying $12,502 per quarter.

Santa Clara has affiliated program partnerships with 10 universities and organizations. Programs can cost anywhere from roughly $7000 to $19,000 per-semester, and $14,000 to $38,000 for a full year, including tuition, lodging, and in most cases, meals.

"Some programs can be more expensive or the same price as SCU, while others can be cheaper," Colyar said. "There are a lot of programs where you can get a good price."

The Council on International Education Exchange program costs $18,000 for the full year, and that includes room and board. Colyar says the price for that program is considerably low -- almost 50 percent less than what Santa Clara students would pay for the year on campus.

"Cheaper programs are also with IES and Arcadia," Colyar said. "The School for Field Studies is kind of the middle of the line, and they have really good financial aid packages and no-interest loans."

Financial aid opportunities

Most programs have their own aid and scholarships, with grants averaging about $1000. Colyar said that there are a number of obtainable scholarships that students don't know about. Students are also able to take external aid, such as Ford Federal Loans, Cal Grants, and Plus Parent Loans. There are also discounts on students who go for a full year.

All programs have a list of countries students can chose from, with placements from Europe to Asia to South America.

Junior Judith Herrera qualified for a 15 percent program discount when she studied at the University of Complutece in Madrid, Spain in the summer of 2003.

The psychology major, who doesn't receive any financial aid at Santa Clara, received assistance when she studied abroad. Herrera paid $5,100 for the five-week program, which would have been $6,333 at Santa Clara.

"I think it's cheaper. I mean there are the tourist costs because you want to go out and all," Herrera said. "So in that aspect you will be spending more money. But as far as tuition, it is definitely cheaper. Housing is a lot cheaper, and costs are a lot lower."

Herrera said that if people knew the costs and compared it to the Santa Clara tuition more people would probably go abroad.

Senior Jasmine Moore, a 20-year-old international peer advisor who studied at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne last fall, agrees that studying abroad is cheaper.

Moore said she received a $1000 credit on her account when she came back.

"It's like going on vacation, but it's not as expensive, and plus you get the education too," said the sociology major who traveled to the Great Barrier Reef while in Australia. "I don't think students know how cheap it is."

Moore was also able to save money by taking 27.5 semester units overseas. Because each class at Santa Clara costs $2910 theoretically, she could have paid $17,460.

Colyar said that most students, if they take a full load, come back with about 22.5 units for fall.

"We've actually had a number of students finish after they come back their senior year, which saves a quarter of tuition," she said.

Colyar does note, however, that because the dollar has decreased in value compared to the Euro, expenses outside tuition and housing have actually become more costly.

Economics major Tayiaba Khan, who wants to study abroad next fall said that's not a worry for her.

"Basically the ratio between the Euro and the American dollar is more stable than the Santa Clara percent of influx," Khan said. "Therefore, an increase in SCU tuition would be more costly than going abroad."

Herrera believes the same.

"If tuition keeps going up students would be more likely to go abroad because they might get grants or scholarships they might not otherwise receive here."

Colyar hopes the students' urge to go abroad surpasses financial reasons though.

"My hope would be that students want to be more aware of the world, especially post-9/11," she said. "I hope they want to learn more about other countries."

"Without some international experience, or even being an outsider looking in on your country, you never get a different concept of America and what it's all about," Colyar said. "You also aren't getting a true picture of the world, and not to have that perspective puts you at a disadvantage."

* Contact Koren Temple at (408) 554-4546 or ktemple@scu.edu.