Skip to content

Diversity Abroad Resources

According to a 2018 Open Doors report by the United States Department of State, around 10% of American students study abroad during their undergraduate career. Out of that number, only 29.2% are students who identify as racial or ethnic minorities. There are several perceived obstacles to study abroad for minority students that may seem like unique barriers to ever studying abroad. However, we offer some potential solutions and answers to students that may be doubting whether study abroad is feasible for their situation.
Inadequate Funding
One obstacle for students from minority backgrounds, and most students in general, are finances. Many middle- and low-income students feel they cannot afford the cost of study abroad or higher education for that matter. A 2018 report found that the cost of an undergraduate degree has risen by 213% at public schools and 129% at private schools from 1980 to 2018. Students may also feel that although Federal Aid may be available, it is not enough to cover the cost of a study abroad experience (AIFS Foundation).

However, students may be surprised at the affordability of many locations for study abroad compared to the price of higher education in the United States, especially when looking at study abroad overseas for a semester. Even in popular locations such as Spain, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, there are programs that are less than $10,000 for a semester, which includes the cost of tuition, housing, food, insurance, and excursions. With Financial Aid - Pell Grants and Cal Grants - factored in, study abroad may well be in your price range. And if that's still out of your budget, there are shorter summer programs that can start from as little as $3,500 (includes tuition, housing, food, excursions, and a custom internship) or a direct exchange program in Japan that allows CBU students to study in Tokyo, Japan, while obtaining their institutional aid, which includes scholarships, and continue to pay CBU tuition as if they were on campus for a semester.

Students may also be surprised to learn there are quite a few scholarships available to study abroad students, including a plethora of scholarships specifically for students from minority backgrounds. Students can find information on scholarships here. Below is a list of a few of the specific options available to students from minority backgrounds: Other answers related to commonly asked questions on study abroad funding for minority students can be found in the Financing Study Abroad section.
  • How much of my existing financial aid package can be used for study abroad?
  • How and when should I apply for financial aid for study abroad?
  • How much does it cost to study abroad?
  • How does the cost of study abroad compare to studying at CBU or living in Riverside, CA?
  • What kind of aid is available for short-term programs or summer programs?
Academics
Academics are another hurdle for students from a minority background considering study abroad. Students may wonder how they will be able to graduate on time if they participate on study abroad. One of the main questions students have is whether their time overseas is feasible with their academic schedule or not.

As part of the study abroad application process, students work out these questions. One of the first steps in the process is meeting with your Academic Advisor as well as their Department Chair or Dean to work out academics of study abroad in advanceand how a semester abroad might fit into your degree plan. Students then have their courses reviewed by the Office of the Registrar, that way, they know what their study abroad courses will transfer back to CBU as in advance and can also request specific course variances. For students that complete this process but still have too packed schedule to add in study abroad, summer study abroad is a safe option that won’t put them behind.

There are universities and programs abroad that can fit any major. For instance, Costa Rica has a myriad of health, biology, environmental, and marine science courses, while the Czech Republic, France, Lithuania, and Japan are a good fit for most business majors. Learn more about how your specific major fits into study abroad here.
Unknowns of Study Abroad
Another challenge for students from minority backgrounds may be the fear, anxieties, and uncertainty around the unknowns of study abroad. Students may wonder if they’ll be the only one from their background on an overseas program, whether they’ll be singled out for their ethnicity or race, or how they’ll be treated by locals in their host country as well as fellow travelers. For students that are first generation college students, they may have no one in their family who has ever studied abroad. They may wonder how they will explain to their family that a study abroad experience can actually benefit them, contributing to their future career and academics.
Other questions students may be wondering:
  • How will I react if I encounter racism or other discriminatory behavior?
  • How will I feel if I am the only student of color in a cohort of other Americans on my program?
  • How might people from my background be treated in the host country?
  • How might stereotypes of what Americans look like create assumptions about my identity?
  • How will I react if I encounter racism or other discriminatory behavior?
  • How will I feel if I am the only student of color in a cohort of other Americans on my program?
Additional Resources
To address some of the above questions, we've put together a list of resources students can look through to get more of an idea on what study abroad looks like for their situation and background.