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According to the newly released "Open Doors 2011" report, 270,604 American students studied abroad for academic credit during the 2009-2010 school year. The report, published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE), notes that the most popular countries for those students are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, and China. Less traditional destinations, such as India, Israel, Brazil, New Zealand, and Egypt, have also seen a greater percentage of students, the report adds.
At some American universities, study abroad is a major focal point of the college experience. Students at Goucher College, in Baltimore, are required to study abroad, and the school provides each undergraduate with a $1,200 travel voucher. At Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, Calif., study abroad expenses are included in a student's tuition.
[See the U.S. universities that have the most international students.]
Among the 383 ranked colleges and universities that provided study abroad data to U.S. News in a 2011 survey, an average of about 21 percent of 2010 graduating seniors studied abroad at some point during their undergraduate years.
Goucher and Soka both reported that 100 percent of their students studied abroad, and Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina reported 92 percent. Of the top 10 institutions with the highest percentage of students studying abroad, half are liberal arts schools, and all of them are private. Only 10 public schools reported that more than 21 percent of their students study abroad.
[Learn how to find scholarships to study abroad.]
Here are the institutions with the highest percentage of 2010 graduating seniors who participated in study abroad programs during their undergraduate years:
| School name (state) | Percentage of 2010 graduates who studied abroad | U.S. News rank & category |
|---|---|---|
| Goucher College (MD) | 100 | 121, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Soka University of America (CA) | 100 | 64, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Queens University of Charlotte (NC) | 92 | 21, Regional Universities (South) |
| Centre College (KY) | 81 | 42, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Loyola University Maryland | 81 | 3, Regional Universities (North) |
| University of Dallas (TX) | 80 | 14, Regional Universities (West) |
| Earlham College (IN) | 75 | 68, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| St. Olaf College (MN) | 73 | 53, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Elon University (NC) | 70 | 2, Regional Universities (South) |
| Austin College (TX) | 68 | 64, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
Looking for more information? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find special study options, complete rankings, and much more.
U.S. News surveyed more than 1,800 colleges and universities for our 2011 survey of undergraduate programs. Schools self-reported a myriad of data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News's data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While the data comes from the schools themselves, these lists have no influence over U.S. News's rankings of Best Colleges or Best Graduate Schools.
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chaz of AL 3:37PM November 20, 2011