Stats!

What Statistics Show about Study Abroad Students

taken primarily from the University of California, Merced

While available statistics on study abroad might still be limited, there are some notable studies on study abroad and careers, learning, academic performance, retention, and personality development. Here are some of the more remarkable findings:

Career Impact

97% of study abroad students found employment within 12 months of graduation, whereas only 49% of college graduates found employment in the same period.¹  That means they were twice as likely to find a job. Among study abroad alumni, 90% landed a job within 6 months.²  A UK study supports US findings that study abroad returnees are more likely to find employment within six months.¹²

25% higher starting salaries: that's how much more study abroad students earn than those college graduates who do not study abroad.¹  A British study found their study abroad graduates out-earned their peers by 17%.¹²  This equates to approx. $7,000 annually for US students and £3,120 for UK students. Maintaining this earning advantage translates to earning an extra $567,500 over one's career in the US.³

90% of study abroad alumni who applied got into their 1st or 2nd choice grad school.¹

84% of study abroad alumni felt their studies abroad helped them build valuable skills for the job market.⁴  A second study confirms this at 85%.¹⁰

80% of study abroad students reported that study abroad allowed them to better adapt better to diverse work environments.⁴

76% reported they acquired skill sets while studying abroad that influenced their career path.¹⁰

70% of study abroad alumni claimed that because of study abroad they were more satisfied with their jobs.⁴

59% of employers said study abroad would be valuable in an individual’s career later on with their organization.¹¹

92% of employers are looking for transversal skills such as curiosity, problem-solving, tolerance and confidence.¹⁶

64% of surveyed employers think that an international experience is important for recruitment and said that graduates with an international background are more often given greater professional responsibility.¹⁶

40% of U.S. companies claimed to have missed international business opportunities due to a lack of internationally competent personnel.¹⁷

34% of study abroad alumni claimed that study abroad helped them choose their career field.⁴

 

Academic Performance & Attainment

100% greater improvement in GPA post-study abroad. Student GPAs tend to rise as they approach the completion of their undergraduate degree. Students who studied abroad saw their GPAs rise twice as quickly as a result of going abroad compared to students who stayed in town according to a Georgia study.⁸

87% claimed that studying abroad influenced subsequent educational experiences¹⁰

52% attained graduate degrees; of those, 15% received a Ph.D, Ed.D, JD, or medical degree¹⁰

19% more likely to graduate: that describes how study abroad participants are more likely to graduate than non-participants by six years. Even at four years, study abroad participants are 15% more likely to graduate based on a UC San Diego study.⁵ UT Austin and Georgia data show a similar trend.⁶˒⁷

 

Cultural Competencies & Personal Growth

98% reported the study abroad experience helped them to better understand their own cultural values and biases¹⁰

94% stated that the experience continues to influence their interactions with people from different cultures¹⁰

90% said studying abroad influenced them to seek out a greater diversity of friends¹⁰

97% reported that studying abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity.¹⁰˒¹³

95% stated that it has had a lasting impact on their world view¹⁰

96% of study abroad alumni claimed an increase in self-confidence attributed to study abroad.¹⁰˒¹³

89% of study abroad alumni reported that study abroad facilitated a greater tolerance for ambiguity.¹⁰˒¹³

+ A German study compared personality development and found that students who studied abroad showed improvements in five core traits compared to their peers who did not study abroad: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability.⁹

 

Resources

  1. Career Benefits of Study Abroad
  2. New Survey Shows College Graduates Who Study Abroad Land Career-Related Jobs Sooner, with Higher Starting Salaries
  3. How Higher Education Affects Lifetime Salary
  4. AIFS Study Abroad Outcomes
  5. UC San Diego Study: 2011 EAP and OAP Retention, Graduation, & Time-to-Degree Combined
  6. UT Austin Study: Go Abroad and Graduate On-Time: Study Abroad Participation, Degree Completion, and Time-to-Degree
  7. Georgia Learning Outcomes of Students Studying Abroad Research Initiative: The Effect of Study Abroad on College Completion in a State University System
  8. Study Abroad May Lead to Better GPA, Graduation Rates
  9. Studying Abroad Boost Students’ Emotional Development
  10. The Impact of Studying Abroad on Recent College Graduates’ Careers
  11. Employers Value Candidates Who Study Abroad
  12. (UK) Mobile students more likely to have a job – Report
  13. How More Study Abroad Programmes Could Benefit Society
  14. Paul Simon Study Abroad Act back on Legislative Cards
  15. Culture at Work: The Value of Intercultural Skills in the Workplace
  16. Erasmus+ higher education impact study
  17. 2014 U.S. Business Needs for Employees with International Expertise