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Compare Study Abroad Programs

Most schools have rolling admissions and financial help so you can start your degree in a few weeks!

Compare Study Abroad Programs

Most schools have rolling admissions and financial help so you can start your degree in a few weeks!

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Compare Study Abroad Programs
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Colleges With Best Study Abroad Programs in 2025
Compare Study Abroad Programs
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Our Research

To determine the best programs, we looked for schools that offer a variety of different study abroad options. We also considered the support services that each program offers to its students, such as group flights, on-demand translation, and 24/7 emergency response.

Another important factor is accreditation — we only chose schools that have been accredited by institutions such as the Higher Learning Commission, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Such accreditation ensures that the program offers academic quality and that you will be able to transfer your credits between institutions.

  • 22 hours to write this article
  • 74 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 158 education programs we compared

The Top 50 Colleges With Best Study Abroad Programs

Colleges With Best Study Abroad Programs badge
01
Intelligent Pick
Millsaps College
01
Best in the Midwest
Goshen College
01
Best State University
Michigan State University
01
Best Research Institution
University of Arkansas
01
Best in the Mid Atlantic
University of Delaware
01
Best in the Northeast
St. Lawrence University
01
Best Christian Option
Lee University
01
Best for Business
University of Wisconsin-Madison
01
Best Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Skidmore College
01
Best HBCU
Spelman College
01
Best for Networking
Syracuse University
01
Best Lutheran Option
St. Olaf College
01
Best Catholic Option
Georgetown University
01
Best for Internships
Centre College
01
Most Innovative
Goucher College
01
Best Test-Optional College
Kalamazoo College
01
Best Career Services
Elon University
01
Best for Environmental Studies
Middlebury College
01
Best Ivy League Option
Dartmouth College
01
Best Faculty
Duke University
01
Best for Computer Science
University of Washington
01
Best Value
University of Dallas
01
Most Customizable
Connecticut College
01
Best Quaker Option
Earlham College
01
Best for Service Learning
Boston College
01
Best Interdisciplinary Option
University of Richmond
01
Best for Sustainability
Dickinson College
01
Best Small Liberal Arts College
Carleton College
01
Best for International Relations
University of Denver
01
Best Evangelical Option
Pepperdine University
01
Best for Non-Traditional Students
West Virginia University
01
Best for Real Estate
University of San Diego
01
Best for Finance
New York University
01
Best for Communications
Emerson College
01
Best for Experiential Education
Juniata College
01
Best National Liberal Arts University
Susquehanna University
01
Best for Social Mobility
Guilford College
01
Best Episcopal Option
Trinity College
01
Best Liberal Arts College, Midwest
Butler University
01
Best Large Public Institution, Midwest
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
01
Best for International Business
American University
01
Best for Graduate Study
University of Michigan
01
Best for Veterans
College of Charleston
01
Best for Geology
The University of Texas at Austin
01
Best for Student Engagement
Emory & Henry College
01
Best for Debate
Bates College
01
Best for International Education
Arcadia University
01
Most Innovative Curriculum
Colorado College
01
Best for Degree Completion
University of Evansville
01
Best for Return on Investment
Hobart and William Smith Colleges

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What You Should Know About Studying Abroad

Most study abroad programs don’t last longer than a couple months. Specifically, 64.9% of study abroad students stayed in their host country for eight weeks or less, 32.9% stayed for at least a semester, and only 2.2% stayed for a year or more.

Before you invest all the time and money that’s required to attend a study abroad program, you’ll want to make sure that there will be no issue with earning or transferring your credits. You may be able to earn credits that directly correspond to courses offered by your school, or the study abroad experience may be counted as general elective or independent study credits. Check with your college’s academic advisor or study abroad advisor to see which situation applies to you.

At this point, you may be wondering exactly how much study abroad programs cost. Of course, this will depend on factors such as which school you’re attending and which country you’re traveling to, but the average cost is $14,295 per semester. Europe is the most expensive continent for study abroad ($15,797 per semester), while Asia is the most affordable ($8,886 per semester).

What’s Next?

Attending a study abroad program can be a complicated endeavor, so you should start planning for your trip as soon as possible. Here are a few key things to consider:

  • Talk to your college’s study abroad department. You may have some questions about your college’s study abroad program that weren’t addressed on their website. Schedule an in-person meeting with a school official to get all the answers you need, and ask them if there is anything else about the program that you should know.
  • Take safety into account. At any given time, a country may be dealing with an armed conflict, terrorist threat, infectious disease, or some other safety issue that you should consider before you make any travel plans. When evaluating countries for study abroad, be sure to check on the U.S. State Department’s list of travel advisories — this resource is frequently updated, and each advisory is conveniently ranked from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
  • Get your passport ready. If you don’t already have a valid passport, you would be wise to start the process of obtaining one sooner rather than later. The routine process will cost you $175 for your passport book and card, and it takes 10 to 12 weeks. You can have the process expedited to 4 to 6 weeks, but this will cost you an extra $60.
  • Save money and apply for scholarships. As noted above, study abroad programs are generally a five-figure expense. You should also start saving for your trip as soon as possible. There are dozens of scholarship opportunities for study abroad students to apply to — the U.S. State Department provides a helpful resource for this task as well.

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