Education Abroad, U.S.

Study abroad or education abroad refers to students taking college courses outside their home country. The Association of American Colleges and Universities notes diversity and global learning as a high-impact practice in higher education. High-impact practices are important because they prove to increase student retention and engagement while in college, which can lead to higher graduation rates. The number of American students who study abroad has increased since the Institute of International Education began tracking student movement in 1919. In the 2016–2017 academic year, there was an increase of 2.3% over the previous year.

This entry provides an overview of the education abroad from a U.S. perspective, focusing on students from the United States who study in other countries. Then the entry explores the duration of ...