2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Opinion
Editorial | The price isn't right
Charging Penn tuition for students studying abroad doesn't make sense
Opinion Board
These days, Penn students study abroad in all corners of the world.
But wherever students travel, they can't escape the long arm of the University's full-tuition policy.
Implemented in 1994, the policy requires students to pay normal tuition - currently at $16,080 per semester - even when studying abroad at other institutions. So when students take classes at a foreign university, they have to pay Penn's price for an education that may actually cost thousands of dollars less.
As if that weren't enough, students are also hit with a $1,400 study-abroad fee and additional living and food expenses. With the falling value of the dollar, these extra costs are substantial.
It's clear that Penn needs to make these programs more affordable. Scrapping the full-tuition policy and allowing students to pay foreign colleges directly for their education abroad would be a great start.
Administrators say that the current policy provides all students with access to the same type of on-campus academic support. Other higher-ed officials even contend that it makes study-abroad programs more affordable.
But while the policy is well-intended, it doesn't make any sense. Students abroad shouldn't have to pay for academic services they can't use. And the vast majority of all foreign institutions charge lower prices than $16,000 per semester.
Of course, lowering the price of study abroad programs would cost the University a fair amount of money. But it would also provide an extra incentive for traveling and boost study-abroad participation. For a University serious about engaging globally, the benefits are worth it.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
S
posted 2/11/08 @ 9:52 AM EST
When I was at a study abroad info session, the woman addressed this issue by pretty much saying that just because you're not on campus that doesn't mean that Penn doesn't still want/need your money. (Continued…)
Craig Disston
posted 2/11/08 @ 10:02 AM EST
Not all foreign schools are less expensive; and when they are not Penn makes up the difference. For example, Oxford is several thousand dollars more than Penn. (Continued…)
Andrew W
Andy
posted 2/11/08 @ 1:56 PM EST
I have to agree with C. Disston. Financial aid consistency is a huge asset for students studying abroad. Also, while my folks are picking up a heavy tab to have me study for the year here in Paris (you're right, the exchange rate is murderous), there is another reason for this policy- it allows students coming to Penn for a semester or year on exchange programs to pay what they normally do for tuition at their home schools. (Continued…)
Nathan
posted 2/11/08 @ 7:24 PM EST
It's pretty good value when you consider that you're more or less guaranteed two semesters of near 4.0 grades for a year spent drinking heavily and cranking out pitifully mediocre academic work. (Continued…)
Dr Marcos Goldfarb
posted 2/14/08 @ 11:48 AM EST
We have a excellent (and very inexpensive) Study Abroad Program for U.S Universities at the UNMSM, the leading university in Peru but very large US companies take care of the links between U. (Continued…)
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