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Many college students view studying abroad as the opportunity of a lifetime.
It may be a good option for those interested in learning about other cultures, experiencing life in another country and perhaps even mastering a foreign language. But students should also consider whether political and social unrest overseas will impact their plans.
[Discover the top places U.S. students study abroad.]
There are many U.S. schools where it’s possible to study abroad. In an annual survey, 1,226 ranked colleges reported to U.S. News that they offer options to live and learn in other countries.
Among the 341 ranked colleges that submitted data on the proportion of 2015 graduates who studied abroad, the average was 22 percent. But that figure was much higher among the 10 schools where the most students spent time overseas: 84.7 percent.
[Explore five study abroad considerations for parents and students.]
Two schools on the list reported 100 percent of 2015 graduates studied abroad: Goucher College in Maryland and Soka University of America in California, both of which are National Liberal Arts Colleges. Those schools require undergraduates to study abroad, according to their websites.
Below are the 10 colleges where the highest percentage of 2015 graduates studied abroad. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.
| School (state) | Percentage of 2015 graduates who studied abroad | U.S. News rank |
| Goucher College (MD) | 100% | 113 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Soka University of America (CA) | 100% | 41 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Lee University (TN) | 91% | 56 (tie), Regional Universities (South) |
| Centre College (KY) | 85% | 44 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Goshen College (IN) | 83% | 5, Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Huntingdon College (AL) | 79% | 10 (tie), Regional Colleges (South) |
| Calvin College (MI) | 78% | 1 (tie), Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Queens University of Charlotte (NC) | 78% | 22 (tie), Regional Universities (South) |
| Arcadia University (PA) | 78% | 42 (tie), Regional Universities (North) |
| Kalamazoo College (MI) | 75% | 68 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
Don’t see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find study abroad data, complete rankings and much more. Sign up for the U.S. News Extra Help: College Admissions free email newsletter to receive expert advice twice a month.
U.S. News surveyed more than 1,800 colleges and universities for our 2016 survey of undergraduate programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News’ data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Colleges rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News’ rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The study abroad data above are correct as of June 27, 2017.
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Study Abroad as a Community College Student
10 Colleges Where Studying Abroad Is Common originally appeared on usnews.com
