Understanding the role of cost in study abroad program selection at a large public research university.

Abstract

Cost is a frequently cited barrier to study abroad participation. Despite the perceived constraint, study abroad participation has more than tripled in the past two decades. There remains, however, a lack of knowledge about how students who intend to study abroad conduct their search for a study abroad program and the role that cost plays in information gathering and the final selection of a study abroad program. Using college choice theory as a conceptual framework for understanding students’ decision-making processes, this exploratory study discusses results from ten qualitative interviews with prospective study abroad students at a large, public research institution. Their responses identify perceptions of cost, methods of information gathering, and approaches to financial planning for study abroad.