Ball State Study Abroad programs have seen remarkable growth and transformation over the past few years. With a focus on affordability, accessibility, and high-impact learning experiences, these programs are enriching the academic and personal lives of Ball State students. 

In the past four years, participation in study abroad has multiplied nearly ten-fold. “Post-COVID, there was a resurgence in both student interest and faculty commitment to these initiatives. In 2022, only two programs went abroad. In 2023, that number increased to six. And in 2024, we saw it rise to 19 faculty-led programs,” said Ashley Coker, Director of Study Abroad.  

One of the primary goals of the Office of Study Abroad is to make these experiences affordable. “Study abroad has a well-earned reputation for being prohibitively expensive, but it doesn’t have to be,” Ashley shared. To address this, the Office of Study Abroad introduced the BSU-in programs, which offer a semester abroad with Ball State faculty, classes, and students, all priced at the same cost as an on-campus semester. Ashley explained, “the program is priced based on comparable housing and food meal plans, ensuring that the cost does not exceed a regular semester at Ball State. Ball State also joined the National Student Exchange, a low-cost consortium allowing students to study at 175 universities in the US at the same tuition cost as Ball State.  

“The study abroad office has been obsessed with increasing access. I want to increase participation across the board; I want every Ball State student to have access to study abroad, especially our first-generation students, students of color, students from lower-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities.”

Efforts to lower participation barriers, such as removing the $500 deposit requirement, have been instrumental in making study abroad more accessible. “Students are now billed for study abroad the same way they are for tuition and room and board at Ball State, removing unnecessary financial hurdles,” said Ashley. For most students, this substantially increases access to study abroad opportunities.  

Donor support through crowdfunding campaigns and One Ball State Day also ensures study abroad remains affordable for students. Scholarships such as the Study Abroad Alumni Scholarship offer direct study abroad assistance to students like Victoria Adebayo, a sophomore international business major. Victoria traveled with classmates in spring 2024 as part of a course that spent a week Mexico City.  

Victoria shared: “Because of the scholarship I received, I was able to travel to Mexico City and learn so much about Mexico and the wonderful people who live there. One of my favorite memories from this trip was visiting the market square to listen to street performers and various bands. We saw a group of locals dancing in a circle, and as we walked towards the crowd, they warmly asked us to join. We danced with them for almost half an hour! It was very fun, and from there, I knew I was going to have an excellent time in Mexico City.” 

When the BSU-in-Puebla program was announced, Victoria was immediately convinced she had to go. Scheduled to depart Indiana in August, Victoria will live and study in Puebla, Mexico for the fall 2024 semester. As an international business major, Victoria expects her experience abroad will be an important step towards her future career. “I am drawn to learn more about the world on a global scale and fulfill my desire to work in an international setting. I am truly excited about expanding my worldview through this study abroad,” she said.  

The growth and success of Study Abroad at Ball State is a testament to the university’s commitment to providing high-impact, accessible, and affordable global learning experiences, paving the way for a brighter, more globally connected future for Cardinals.