For students who are looking to save a little moolah on their study away programs, one that goes away for only three weeks seems like the logical choice instead of an entire semester. Not necessarily. Let’s break down some of the factors on why this occurs.

Smaller group of students

When you’re going on a short term faculty directed program (STFD) it’s typically with a smaller group of students. This means that the cost associated with the program is more concentrated and will end having each student carry more of the weight of the program. Versus going a semester, it’s just like here at Missouri State, your tuition plus the tuition of thousands of others comes together to help minimize the cost of services and excursions.

Tuition is not included in STFD programs

The vast majority of programs will not include Missouri State tuition in their program cost. This can sometimes be a shock to students who are already shelling out thousands of dollars for the program fee and airfare. Versus with a semester, you simple pay tuition, and housing with meals, along with many other things will be included. In some regions this can be as low as 3,500 dollars for everything.

Everything has to be planned

On an STFD, every single activity is planned. From the time that you touch down, to the things you’ll see, to where you can and can’t go. This amount of planning is time consuming and money intensive. Hotels, taxis, and eating out almost everyday adds up quick even over the course of just two or three weeks.

Now this isn’t to say that all STFD programs are not worth the cost. For example, our STFD going to Antarctica this fall is going to be a once in a lifetime experience and is extremely cheap compared to if you just went alone. Another up side is that you can knock out one or two or more classes in the span of two weeks versus having to take them for 16 weeks in a regular classroom. Everything has its pros and cons. This is list is just here to help those looking, make an informed decision.