College · Family Resources

Compare the term abroad
before you enroll

Nearly every college says it offers study abroad; what differs is whether the credit counts, whether your aid goes with you and whether a term away fits your major. Rate each college's options, enter how many students go and the extra cost, and see which one makes it real.

Start a comparisonWhat you get

Comparisons

The worked example is made up: three colleges for a science major who counts credit, aid and timing as must-haves. Use initials or a code.

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What you get

College · Family ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A saved comparison per decision: how much programs, credit, cost, aid and timing matter; each college rated 1 to 5 with the share of students who study abroad and the extra cost over a home term; seven questions such as credit approval and aid that travels marked answered or still to ask; and a next step. The flags rank the colleges, turn participation into students per 100 who go, call out colleges where fewer than 15 in 100 go, give the range of extra cost and flag a must-have rated 2 or lower. A side-by-side table prints.
Who it is for
High school students who want to study abroad in college, current college students choosing a transfer, and their families.
Format
Browser tool with a saved record per decision. Prints a side-by-side table with the scores, the full record, every comparison in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Family Resources space in Caveat College.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Find programs in your major or language.
  2. Ask about credit and aid.
  3. Enter participation and extra cost.
  4. Rate each college.
  5. Print the side-by-side table.

Start a comparison

Three ways colleges run study abroad

How a program can be set upExchangeTrade places with apartner universityOften home tuitionCollege-runYour own faculty andcourses abroadCredit is simplestApproved outsideRun by another schoolor a providerCheck the price andcreditHow a program can be set upExchangeTrade places with a partner universityOften home tuitionCollege-runYour own faculty and courses abroadCredit is simplestApproved outsideRun by another school or a providerCheck the price and credit
Costs and credit rules differ by college and program; the study abroad office lists which programs are approved.

Federal aid can go with you

Federal Student Aid explains that students can use federal aid for study abroad when they are enrolled in a program approved for credit by their home college. College scholarships have their own rules; some apply only to terms on campus. Ask both offices before you choose a program.

Who goes

The Institute of International Education's Open Doors report counts U.S. students who study abroad for credit each year. Participation differs widely by college and by major. Where few students go, ask what stands in the way: cost, credit or a crowded major.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid. Studying abroad and financial aid (studentaid.gov).
  2. Institute of International Education. Open Doors report on U.S. study abroad (opendoorsdata.org).
  3. U.S. Department of State. Students abroad and travel advisories (travel.state.gov).
  4. U.S. Department of State. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for Pell Grant recipients (gilmanscholarship.org).

The worked example, its colleges and its costs are made up. Program prices and credit rules change; each college's study abroad office is the final word. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.