D20 studying abroad this entire year. Her school uses merit/need based aid to subsidize study abroad costs.
That also means the programs acceptable to the school require students to pay either the study abroad tuition or home school tuition, whichever is higher.
We have seen some savings, her R&B abroad is slightly less than at her home school- though that savings basically eaten up with flight costs.
Her home school is well aware that some may want to pay the lesser tuition of the programs directly. If you attempt to do that at her school it means taking a withdrawal from the home school and having to reapply for admission. Also means having to hope your classes transfer after the fact.