Valerie Rohrbach enjoyed her semester abroad, but the poor exchange rate made traveling and sightseeing in Europe difficult.

"Everything I had was worth half as much in England," Rohrbach (junior-international politics) said.

The American dollar is not just worth less than the English pound; it is worth less than the currency in many countries worldwide, said John Keller, Penn State's director of education abroad.

"There aren't many places where the dollar is favorable," he said.

But despite the dollar's unfavorable exchange rate, Keller said students are still just as interested in studying abroad -- almost a quarter of a million American students studied abroad during the 2005-06 school year, according to the most recent data from the Institute of International Education.

"There has been no drop-off in applications," Keller said.

However, in an attempt to save money, some students opt to go to places where the dollar is still worth more than the local currency, such as South America, Asia or Eastern Europe, Keller said.

"Travel to areas such as Buenos Aires is increasing, but we don't see large enough numbers to know if it's a trend," he said.

Although total costs largely differ, airfare prices remain comparable.

"The flight would be one of the largest expenses, and any travel that a student wants to do between countries," Education Abroad Adviser Julia Beth Grim said.

Programs in cities such as Beijing and Buenos Aires cost about $16,000 in the fall of 2007, while programs in Paris and London cost about $21,000, reflecting the cities' higher living expenses.

Marshall Conover (freshman-computer sciences) wants to study abroad in Japan.

"I would be concerned with the costs of going abroad even if the dollar wasn't low," he said.

Keller stressed students concerned about the costs of studying abroad should visit the study abroad office in 410 Boucke. The university offers plenty of options for students worried about the costs involved with living in a foreign country, he said.

"We have a good supply of financial aid students should investigate," he said.

Jessica Lindoerfer, promotions and outreach coordinator for the University Office of International Programs, agreed with Keller's statement.

"Studying abroad is not something you have to be wealthy to do. Come into the office; we'll help you understand how to make it affordable," she said.

The price students pay to study abroad goes toward more than just typical room and board costs, Keller said.

"The experience is worthwhile in the long run. Students need a global perspective to be involved in today's marketplace," Keller said.

Rohrbach's trip allowed her to experience a different culture and to understand European viewpoints, she said.

"If I had been in South America or somewhere like that I wouldn't have had the same experience as having been in England," she said.

Program fees and other expenses explain the high cost of living in different countries, such as Japan, Grim said.

No matter how the economy rises or falls in the future, it will not affect his choice to study in Japan, Conover said.

"If I'm gonna spend the money, I'll spend it where I wanna go," he said.