Nearly three quarters (73%) of US college students have said they plan to participate in international exchange programs, while 87% of American institutions expect increased or stable demand for study abroad.
Coming from Terra Dotta’s 2026 student survey and IIE’s 2026 Spring Snapshot respectively, the findings reveal continued interest in study abroad, though students are being more realistic about geopolitics, financial barriers, and career aspirations.
“Study abroad is one of the most impactful experiences institutions can offer but students are approaching their decisions with greater scrutiny, balancing aspiration with real-world considerations,” said David Nelson, Terra Dotta’s director of study abroad.
The student survey data represents a modest decrease in demand from 2025, where 76% of students indicated their aspirations to study abroad, while total participation has not yet fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
Amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, four out of five students said global conflicts influenced their decision to study abroad, as Nelson said the institutions that “remove friction” and focus on stronger safety communication will be better positioned to turn interest into participation.
Students are approaching their decisions with greater scrutiny, balancing aspiration with real-world considerations
David Nelson, Terra Dotta
Meanwhile, financial concerns continue to be the biggest barrier to studying abroad, with 71% of students citing cost as a hurdle.
As half of students estimate study abroad will cost over $10,000, and nearly three quarters plan to tap into financial aid and scholarships, students are increasingly seeking greater transparency into total program costs, noted the report.
Elsewhere, the survey showed European destinations remained the most popular choices for US students, with Spain rising to replace UK in number one spot. Italy, Ireland and France followed Spain and the UK to make up the top five countries of interest, while demand for Australia and Canada dropped by 50% on last year’s results.
Nelson credited Spain’s notable rise to government measures to ease visa processes and attract more international students. Changes to study permits, which now run the full length of a program and come with more predictable approvals, triggered a wave of visa advising sessions at US campuses, he said.
“Spain’s cost of living is lower than the UK or Italy, and that gap only widens the longer a student is there, since housing costs accumulate fastest,” added Nelson.
Elsewhere in the survey, though students responded more favourably to personal growth and cultural immersion messaging, demand for career-focussed outcomes is also on the rise, with one third of students expressing interest internship opportunities abroad – a 50% year-over-year increase.
On the institutional side, IIE said universities were increasingly linking study abroad with opportunities for future employment, with 75% referring students to campus career services and 44% facilitating global internships.
The efforts follow a recent study in which 98% of US industry leaders said study abroad acted as a long-term accelerator for leadership, as stakeholders advocate for a broadening of how the sector talks about and promotes study abroad.
