For the first time in more than a decade, American colleges are reporting a drop in the number of students traveling overseas to study, and the economy is to blame.
Nearly 60 percent of colleges and independent study-abroad providers surveyed by the Forum on Education Abroad said enrollments had fallen from the previous year. Public colleges and outside providers were more likely to experience enrollment dips and reported the biggest declines, the survey found.
In another sign of stress for the programs, sixty percent of respondents said their budgets had been cut in the past year.
“I think it’s clear that the economic crisis has had an impact on education abroad,” said Brian J. Whalen, president of the group, a membership association of American and overseas colleges and independent education-abroad providers.
The survey—which was completed by 165 forum members, for a 44 percent response rate—was conducted between August 24 and September 4, making it the most up-to-date snapshot of the impact of the economy on international study.
A Growth Spurt Sputters
Until the recession, study abroad had been on an unprecedented growth spurt. The number of students participating in overseas-study trips for academic credit increased nearly 150 percent over the last decade, to almost 241,800 in the 2006 academic year.
Still, Mr. Whalen, who is also associate provost and executive director of the Office of Global Education at Dickinson College, said he was heartened by the fact that most institutions reported relatively small enrollment reductions. Eighteen percent of those that reported decreases said participation was down from 1 percent to 4 percent, while 15 percent reported drops of 5 percent to 10 percent.
Nine percent of those surveyed—14 colleges or providers—had enrollment decreases of 26 percent or more.
The declines seem to be concentrated at certain types of institutions and organizations. Only half of private colleges reported lower participation levels, while 69 percent of public colleges and 87 percent of U.S.-based third-party providers had drops.
Where the Recession Hit Hardest in Study Abroad | U.S.-based organizations that provide education-abroad experiences and public universities seem to have been most strongly affected by the economic crisis, disproportionately reporting drops in study-abroad participants. |
| Institution or Organization Type | Enrollment Down | Enrollment Up |
| Note: Percentages do not always add up to 100 percent because some institutions and organizations reported no increase or decrease in participation. |
| Source: Forum on Education Abroad survey |
| U.S. Private College or University | 49% | 49% |
| U.S. Public College or University | 69% | 26% |
| U.S.-Based Provider Organization | 87% | 7% |
| Internationally Based Provider Organization | 62% | 23% |
| International University | 50% | 50% |
The financial crisis comes as education abroad has gained in prestige and popularity and as students and college leaders alike have come to believe there is value to having an international experience. Nearly two-thirds of colleges surveyed by the forum last fall now include international education in their mission statements.
Limited Budget Cuts
Mr. Whalen said he hopes that increased attention to overseas study will help the field avoid serious budget cuts. Thus far, most cutbacks have been minor. Of those institutions and organizations experiencing budgetary reductions, 17 percent said the cuts have been 4 percent or less, while 27 percent reported cuts from 5 percent to 10 percent.
Half of respondents said their operating budgets have shrunk, while 40 percent said staff members’ travel had been restricted. But support for student scholarships has been, for the most part, maintained—just 9 percent of those surveyed said financial aid for overseas study had been reduced. And Mr. Whalen said only three colleges reported capping or limiting study-abroad participation.
At the same time, the economic downturn could be affecting the decisions of students who still opt to study overseas. Sixteen percent of institutions and organizations surveyed said students were choosing less expensive programs, 11 percent noted students were picking short-term programs, and 11 percent said they were selecting less costly destinations.
That suggests the financial crunch could accelerate current trends, leading students to select cheaper destinations or shorter programs.
Colleges and overseas-study providers also are changing their practices in response to the recession. For example, the Institute for the International Education of Students, a nonprofit study-abroad consortium, said it has increased the amount of scholarship money available, held down increases in program prices to an average of 1.5 percent, and even reduced fees for some trips.
Some institutions this summer reviewed their lists of approved outside providers, pruning those that offer more costly programs, said Adrian G. Beaulieu, dean of international studies at Providence College, who has surveyed other small-college study-abroad directors. Others have worked to develop more homegrown, faculty-led trips, arguing they can better control costs for their students.
