The next time you consider studying abroad, make sure that you check where your fees are going, especially if you attend a private institution.

Ever wondered why the number of study abroad programs approved by your school is so small? Certain travel organizations give schools exclusive perks per student for their participation in the program. Rather than allow students to deal directly with the foreign institutions (which are sometimes more affordable than domestic tuition) schools instead direct them through third party agencies in an effort to turn a profit.

As the New York Times reports today,

“At many campuses, study abroad programs are run by multiple companies and nonprofit institutes that offer colleges generous perks to sign up students: free and subsidized travel overseas for officials, back-office services to defray operating expenses, stipends to market the programs to students, unpaid membership on advisory councils and boards, and even cash bonuses and commissions on student-paid fees. This money generally goes directly to colleges, not always to the students who take the trips.”

With their cooperation, college officials stand to benefit from perks such as a free trip to an overseas location for every 15 students that sign up, as well as five percent of student’s fees.

And it’s the private universities who are most at fault. Many public universities encourage students to deal directly with foreign institutions in an effort to lower costs, while “private colleges are increasingly taking the opposite tack, charging full at-home tuition and doling out a fraction to an outside provider or university abroad, pocketing the difference.” 

In order to force students to use their preferred providers, many colleges deny financial aid or credit to students who choose to take an alternate path in their studies abroad. This was definitely the case at my school, where one had to choose from Calvin’s approved programs in order to continue to receive scholarship payments.

These practices discriminate against those students who can’t afford studying abroad at the rates that third party companies charge. Foreign study should be accessible to all students. Unfortunately because schools are so concerned with gaining lucrative perks it remains out of reach for many.