So DS1 went to Notre Dame with a ridiculously easy study abroad program. Flights are included, you pay tuition just like normal to ND, kids get food allowance while abroad. I felt like we had to do nothing to get him there.
DS2 - only option was summer program in Munich - part of his actual program - and the head of the program goes along for the entire summer every year. Generally easy because of the program head involvement and really, only one option for his narrow major, so not much to figure out.
DD1 - we are SO confused. She’s at a large SEC school and the options seem ENDLESS with all kinds of third party options. They tout 1500 options. That seems like decision overload to us. When we call the SA office there there’s no guidance in winnowing it down. And we didn’t call until after daughter had been to two meetings and still was confused herself. I’m feeling like we’re missing some gene here 
So … how do you differentiate between the third party providers? Is it better to go in programs that send lots of kids from your school? Are some more safe than others? It’s our daughter and quite frankly we are feeling a little more skittish about study abroad for her, although we practically insist on it. She’s been to Germany and Austria with us as a young teen and will travel with us to Italy this summer so she won’t be a novice traveler, but still we want to be sure she’s in a safe situation. And all those third party providers are muddying it up for us!