Top 10 Best Colleges for Study Abroad

Direct Answer

The Best Overall college for study abroad is Goucher College in Maryland, the rare school that requires every undergraduate to study abroad and backs the mandate with a guaranteed $1,200 travel voucher — pushing participation toward 100%. The Best Value pick is Arcadia University in Pennsylvania, whose in-house College of Global Studies runs programs in dozens of countries and bakes an international experience into a comparatively modest private tuition, letting students go abroad without the premium surcharge many schools tack on.

This list is built for students and families who want the highest participation rates, deepest global campus networks, and best-run programs — not just a brochure promise — whether the goal is a single semester or four years of global immersion. Every pick uses real, publicly reported participation and program data.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each college against what study-abroad-minded students and families actually care about: not whether a program exists on paper, but how many students go, how well-run the experience is, and what it costs. We leaned on published data from U.S. News, the Institute of International Education (IIE) Open Doors report, Niche, College Board, and NCES.

The weighting:

• Study-abroad participation rate — 25%
• Program quality and depth — 20%
• Global campuses and partnerships — 15%
• Affordability and aid that travels — 15%
• Academic integration — 15%
• Advising and student support — 10%

A school with a famous name but low participation, or a program that exists only for a wealthy few, drops fast. The winners send a high share of students abroad and do it well.

1. Goucher College 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Type: Private | Tuition: $50,000/yr | Best for: Students who want a guaranteed, university-required global experience

Goucher College in Baltimore County, Maryland enrolls about 1,000 undergraduates and was the first U.S. College to require study abroad of every student — a mandate it has held since 2006. Every undergraduate must complete at least one international experience, and Goucher provides a $1,200 voucher toward travel to remove the cost barrier, driving participation toward 100%.

Options range from three-week intensive courses to full semesters, so even students in tightly scheduled majors can go. The requirement reshapes the whole campus culture around global learning, and advising is built to get every student over the finish line.

Pros:

• Study abroad required of all students — near-100% participation
• Guaranteed $1,200 travel voucher lowers the cost barrier
• Short intensive courses fit even demanding majors
• Advising structured to ensure every student goes

Cons:

• Tuition near $50,000/yr before the travel voucher offsets
• Small enrollment means fewer on-campus program options

Verdict: Goucher wins on the only metric that fully proves commitment — it sends essentially every student abroad and pays toward the trip.

2. Arcadia University 💎 BEST VALUE

Type: Private | Tuition: $46,000/yr | Best for: Students who want a deep global program network at a sensible price

Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania operates its own College of Global Studies, one of the largest university-run study-abroad providers in the country, sending students to dozens of countries including programs at Oxford and Cambridge in England. Arcadia enrolls about 2,800 undergraduates, and its First-Year Study Abroad Experience (FYSAE) lets new students start their college careers in London, Scotland, or Spain.

Because the programs are run in-house rather than outsourced, Arcadia keeps the experience integrated and affordable relative to peers, and financial aid travels with students.

Pros:

• University-run College of Global Studies in dozens of countries
• First-year students can begin college abroad
• Financial aid applies to study-abroad terms
• In-house programs keep cost and integration strong

Cons:

• Mid-tier private tuition still requires aid for many
• Smaller name recognition than elite peers

Verdict: Arcadia is the value champion — an in-house global program network that sends students far without the premium surcharge.

3. Elon University

Type: Private | Tuition: $43,000/yr | Best for: Students who want one of the nation's highest participation rates

Elon University in Elon, North Carolina consistently posts one of the highest study-abroad participation rates in the U.S., with roughly three-quarters of graduates studying abroad — far above the national average near 15%. Elon enrolls about 6,300 undergraduates and runs its signature Winter Term, a four-week January session built largely around faculty-led international travel courses, which makes a global experience accessible without sacrificing a full semester.

Elon's Global Education Center coordinates programs on every continent and weaves global engagement into its experiential-learning identity.

Pros:

• Around 75% of graduates study abroad — among the highest
• Winter Term makes a short global course easy to fit
• Faculty-led trips on every continent
• Global engagement embedded in campus culture

Cons:

• Faculty-led short courses cost extra beyond tuition
• Most popular programs fill quickly

Verdict: Elon is the participation powerhouse — its Winter Term gets three of four students abroad before they graduate.

4. Dickinson College

Type: Private (Liberal Arts) | Tuition: $66,000/yr | Best for: Students who want immersive, language-integrated programs Dickinson runs itself

Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania is a liberal-arts leader in study abroad, operating its own programs and centers in countries including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Cameroon. Dickinson enrolls about 2,200 students, and a majority study abroad, often in language-immersion programs where students live with host families and take courses in the local language.

Because Dickinson runs the centers directly, the academics integrate cleanly with the home curriculum, and the school's reputation for global and language education is among the strongest in the liberal-arts world.

Pros:

• Dickinson-run centers across Europe, Africa, and beyond
• Deep language-immersion and homestay programs
• Academics integrate seamlessly with the home curriculum
• Majority of students study abroad

Cons:

• Tuition near $66,000/yr is among the highest here
• Language-immersion rigor is demanding

Verdict: Dickinson is the immersion pick — best for students who want true language fluency and Dickinson-run centers abroad.

5. University of Notre Dame

Type: Private (Research, Catholic) | Tuition: $62,000/yr | Best for: Students who want a top research university with strong global participation

The University of Notre Dame in Indiana sends a high share of its roughly 8,900 undergraduates abroad — well over half in many years — backed by Notre Dame Global Gateways in cities including London, Rome, Dublin, Jerusalem, and Beijing. These university-owned hubs give students a Notre Dame home base in major global cities, and generous need-based aid travels with students, lowering the real cost.

The combination of a top-tier research university, owned global gateways, and high participation makes Notre Dame one of the strongest large-school options for study abroad.

Pros:

• University-owned Global Gateways in London, Rome, and more
• Over half of undergraduates study abroad
• Need-based aid applies to international terms
• Top research university with deep global reach

Cons:

• Tuition near $62,000/yr without aid is steep
• Highly selective admission

Verdict: Notre Dame is the elite research pick — owned global gateways and high participation at a major university.

6. Pepperdine University

Type: Private | Tuition: $67,000/yr | Best for: Students who want full-year residential international campuses

Pepperdine University in Malibu, California runs one of the most distinctive models here: university-owned residential international campuses in Florence, London, Lausanne, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C., where students live and study for a full year, typically as sophomores.

More than half of Pepperdine undergraduates study abroad, and the residential campus model means students live within a Pepperdine community overseas rather than scattering into local housing. The school enrolls about 3,600 undergraduates, and its international program is a signature feature of the undergraduate experience.

Pros:

• University-owned residential campuses in six global cities
• Full-year immersion within a Pepperdine community abroad
• More than half of undergraduates study abroad
• International experience built into the sophomore year

Cons:

• Tuition near $67,000/yr is the highest on this list
• Residential model offers less local independence

Verdict: Pepperdine is the residential-campus pick — best for students who want a full year living within a Pepperdine community overseas.

7. Middlebury College

Type: Private (Liberal Arts) | Tuition: $66,000/yr | Best for: Students serious about language fluency and immersion abroad

Middlebury College in Vermont is synonymous with language and international education, running Middlebury Schools Abroad in more than 35 cities across 17 countries, with a strict language pledge in immersion programs. Middlebury enrolls about 2,800 undergraduates, and a large share study abroad, often directly enrolling in foreign universities for deep immersion.

The school's language schools and global reputation mean students can reach genuine fluency. Middlebury runs many of its programs directly, ensuring academic quality and a rigorous, immersive experience that few schools match.

Pros:

• Middlebury Schools Abroad in 17 countries
• Language-pledge immersion drives real fluency
• Direct enrollment in foreign universities available
• Globally recognized language and international reputation

Cons:

• Tuition near $66,000/yr is among the highest here
• Language-pledge rigor is not for casual learners

Verdict: Middlebury is the language-fluency pick — unmatched for students who want to come home genuinely bilingual.

8. Boston College

Type: Private (Research, Catholic) | Tuition: $68,000/yr | Best for: Students who want broad program choice at a major university

Boston College in Massachusetts sends a high share of its roughly 9,400 undergraduates abroad — commonly 40–50% of a graduating class — through its Office of Global Education, which offers programs in dozens of countries and partners with universities worldwide.

BC's strong financial aid travels with students on approved programs, and its Jesuit emphasis on global engagement and service shapes many offerings. The combination of broad program choice, a major-university platform, and portable aid makes BC a strong large-school option for students who want flexibility in where and how they go abroad.

Pros:

• 40–50% of undergraduates study abroad
• Programs in dozens of countries with university partners
• Financial aid applies to approved programs
• Jesuit focus on global engagement and service

Cons:

• Tuition near $68,000/yr without aid is high
• Large program means more self-directed planning

Verdict: Boston College is the broad-choice pick — wide program options and portable aid at a major research university.

9. New York University (NYU)

Type: Private (Research) | Tuition: $62,000/yr | Best for: Students who want the largest owned global campus network

New York University operates the most extensive global campus network of any U.S. University: degree-granting portal campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai plus academic centers in cities including London, Paris, Florence, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Accra, Madrid, Prague, Sydney, and Tel Aviv.

NYU enrolls roughly 29,000 undergraduates, and its "Global Network University" model lets students spend semesters at multiple sites while staying within one university system. No school offers more places to study within its own network, making NYU the choice for students who want maximum global mobility under one institution.

Pros:

• Largest owned global network — portal campuses plus 10+ centers
• Students move between sites within one university
• Degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai
• Unmatched range of global cities to study in

Cons:

• Tuition near $62,000/yr plus high city living costs
• Scale can make advising feel impersonal

Verdict: NYU is the global-network pick — no school offers more owned places to study abroad under one roof.

10. Lewis & Clark College

Type: Private (Liberal Arts) | Tuition: $63,000/yr | Best for: Students who want one of the highest participation rates at a small college

Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon posts one of the highest study-abroad participation rates among liberal-arts colleges, with roughly 60% or more of students going abroad through its overseas and off-campus programs across dozens of countries on six continents.

The college enrolls about 2,000 undergraduates, and study abroad is a defining part of its identity, with programs designed and led by Lewis & Clark faculty for academic continuity. The emphasis on experiential, faculty-led international study makes the school a standout small-college option for global learning.

Pros:

• Around 60%+ of students study abroad
• Faculty-designed programs across six continents
• Study abroad central to the college's identity
• Small-college advising and academic continuity

Cons:

• Tuition near $63,000/yr without aid is high
• West Coast location adds travel distance to many programs

Verdict: Lewis & Clark is the small-college participation pick — a high share of students abroad with faculty-led academic continuity.

Which One's Right for You?

What to Look For When Choosing a Study Abroad College

• Actual participation rate — Ask what percentage of students study abroad. The national average is near 15%; schools like Goucher (required), Elon (~75%), and Lewis & Clark (~60%) far exceed it. A program nobody uses is just a brochure.
• Who runs the programs — University-run programs (Arcadia, Dickinson, NYU, Pepperdine) integrate better academically than outsourced third-party providers. Owned global campuses keep quality and credit transfer clean.
• Whether aid travels — Confirm that scholarships and need-based aid apply to study-abroad terms. Schools like Notre Dame and Boston College let aid follow the student; others charge extra.
• Program length options — Short faculty-led terms (Elon's Winter Term, Goucher's three-week courses) make a global experience fit demanding majors, while semester and full-year options (Pepperdine, Middlebury) go deeper.
• Language and immersion depth — If fluency is the goal, look for language pledges and homestays (Middlebury, Dickinson) rather than English-taught courses in a tourist setting.
• Global campus network — A school with owned campuses or centers (NYU, Notre Dame, Pepperdine) gives students a home base and support overseas that loose partnerships cannot match.

What matters less than marketing implies: the number of countries on a glossy map, a single famous program, and rankings divorced from participation data. A school's real participation rate, who runs its programs, and whether aid travels shape your experience and finances far more than a long list of partner sites.

FAQ

Which college is the best overall for study abroad? Goucher College earns our top spot because it requires every undergraduate to study abroad and provides a $1,200 travel voucher, pushing participation toward 100% — the strongest possible proof of commitment to global education.

What is the best value college for study abroad? Arcadia University is our value pick — its in-house College of Global Studies runs programs in dozens of countries, lets first-years begin college abroad, and keeps tuition moderate while financial aid travels with students.

What percentage of students actually study abroad? Nationally only about 15% of students study abroad, but the schools here far exceed that: Goucher is near 100% (required), Elon around 75%, Lewis & Clark roughly 60%, and Notre Dame, Pepperdine, and Boston College send half or more.

Which colleges have their own campuses abroad? NYU runs the largest owned network with portal campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai plus centers in cities like London and Paris; Pepperdine owns residential campuses in six cities; and Notre Dame operates Global Gateways in London, Rome, and beyond.

Will my financial aid cover study abroad? At several schools here, yes. Notre Dame, Boston College, and Arcadia apply need-based aid and scholarships to approved study-abroad terms, which can make the experience cost about the same as a semester on the home campus.

Which colleges are best for language immersion? Middlebury is the standard-bearer with its language pledge and Schools Abroad in 17 countries, and Dickinson runs its own language-immersion centers with homestays across Europe, Africa, and beyond.

Bottom Line

For students who want to study abroad, Goucher College is our Best Overall pick — it is the rare school that requires every student to go and pays toward the trip, guaranteeing the experience rather than merely offering it. Arcadia University is our Best Value, delivering an in-house global program network and portable aid at a sensible private price.

If your priorities lean toward the highest participation rates, true language fluency, owned residential campuses, or the largest global network, use the decision tree above to route yourself to Elon, Middlebury, Pepperdine, or NYU instead. Choose on participation, program quality, and whether aid travels — not the length of a partner-site map — and your time abroad will deliver.

Sources

• U.S. News — Best Colleges for Study Abroad
• IIE Open Doors — Institute of International Education study-abroad data
• Niche — Best Colleges for Study Abroad
• College Board — BigFuture college search
• NCES — National Center for Education Statistics, College Navigator
• Goucher College — Study Abroad requirement
• Arcadia University — College of Global Studies
• Pepperdine University — International Programs
• Middlebury College — Schools Abroad
• NYU — Global Network and study away sites

*Study abroad college review — best colleges for study abroad, rankings, ratings, study abroad college review 2027, and a review of the top university picks for students and families.*