College costs are increasing for many students. Many families are discovering that they simply can't afford education. Some students are choosing an unusual choice for reducing their college costs. Students are being sent overseas to get post-secondary schooling. The flexibility of students and their families could determine how good of a deal going to university overseas could be.


Paying up for college in the states



Going to college isn't cheap. It could be very costly. Tuition costs between $7,605 and $11,990 annually for a public college, reports College Board. Private nonprofit colleges average $27,293. Recently there have been huge increases in the college costs. They have gone up faster than health insurance, the consumer price index and even personal income. There are also less ways to get help paying for it now. Average student loan debt has jumped to $19,200 per student. The top five most expensive universities in the world are all located in the U.S..



Overseas schools are cheap



Depending on the type of education a student wants to get, attending school overseas can be a smart financial decision. Worldwide colleges are actually not that costly although the price of education overseas changes depending on the United States dollar. Top-ranked Cambridge university, for instance, charges about $20,000 U.S. dollars for some degrees at current exchange rates. There are many universities in the U.S. opening campuses in other countries making it possible to go to Dubai International Academic City and go to many western colleges, or New York University in Abu Dhabi. United States federal grants can help students, although international students can't get financial aid easily. Several international programs are also intended to be completed in three years, which quickly cuts 25 percent off the cost of attending school.


Considerations to take into consideration



Studying internationally could be an excellent way to save money, however there are several considerations that have to be taken into account. Consider the exchange rate. This is something families and students should look at. The way students operate financially in a country might depend on banking requirements in that country too. School costs should consider the costs of flying back and forth from another country, since international travel is costly. Students who go international might end up getting a good education for less. Lots of planning must be done though.</p>



Information from


Cambridge University International Information

cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international/costs.html


Forbes

forbes.com/2008/01/21/education-university-globalization-biz-cx_bw_lh_0121colleges.html



USA Today

usatoday.com/money/perfi/college/2007-01-12-college-tuition-usat_x.htm



NPR

npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126785028