College and University Blog
College Study Abroad Experiences its First Decline in 25 Years
The number of American college students studying abroad has declined for the first time in the 25 years that the data has been tracked, according to the November 15, 2010 report Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.
Open Doors, issued by the Institute of International Education, provides insight on international students studying in the U.S. as well as U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit at their home colleges or universities. It is supported by a grant from the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. The report has been published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) since 1985. Findings are based on surveys of approximately 3,000 accredited U.S. institutions.
The most recent edition of Open Doors reports that 260,327 students studied abroad for credit during the 2008-09 academic year, compared to 262,416 the previous year. This is a modest decline of 0.8% but the first decline in the 25 years that the data has been tracked.
Better Study Abroad Numbers Predicted for 2009-10 Report
Inside Higher Ed reports that a 2010 online survey found that fifty-five percent of colleges and universities said more of their students studied abroad in 2009-10. Schools also reported fewer study abroad budget and staffing cuts.
Europe still attracted the largest share of U.S. students choosing to study abroad
Melissa Rhone+
Melissa Rhone earned her Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Tampa. She resides in the Tampa Bay area and enjoys writing about college, pop culture, and epilepsy awareness.