Three major concerns affect higher education in the United States: the decline in student population with some curtailment of programs, high inflation rates with constantly rising tuition, and political pressures on public colleges and universities. These factors affect study abroad programs in several ways. Public institutions may experience less decrease in enrollment; they should therefore increase their overseas offerings and show that such programs do not cost more than home campus programs. Private institutions need not curtail programs; they can change them to attract more students. Also, some consolidation of programs can take place to avoid unnecessary duplication. In addition to these considerations, colleges and universities might capitalize on the growing awareness of the need for U.S. citizens to be prepared for growing international interdependence. They could design study abroad programs to meet evolving student needs and interests, make provisions for students in programs other than foreign languages, and then seek ways to administer language proficiency examinations which will bring with them some foreign language certification. In addition to these internal factors, some external factors affect study abroad programs such as the rise and fall of the dollar, inflation, and unstable political conditions in some countries. (AMH)