Nearly three quarters (73 %) of United States college students have actually said they plan to participate in worldwide exchange programs, while 87% of American organizations expect increased or stable demand for study abroad.
Coming from Terra Dotta’s 2026 trainee survey and IIE’s 2026 Spring Snapshot respectively, the findings expose ongoing interest in study abroad, though students are being more practical about geopolitics, monetary barriers, and career goals.
“Research study abroad is among the most impactful experiences organizations can use but students are approaching their choices with higher scrutiny, stabilizing aspiration with real-world factors to consider,” stated David Nelson, Terra Dotta’s director of research study abroad.
The student study data represents a modest decline in need from 2025, where 76% of trainees showed their goals to study abroad, while overall involvement has not yet totally rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
In the middle of rising geopolitical unpredictability, four out of five students stated worldwide disputes influenced their decision to study abroad, as Nelson stated the institutions that “get rid of friction” and focus on more powerful safety interaction will be much better placed to turn interest into involvement.
Students are approaching their choices with greater analysis, balancing goal with real-world considerations
David Nelson, Terra Dotta
On the other hand, financial issues continue to be the biggest barrier to studying abroad, with 71% of students pointing out expense as an obstacle.
As half of trainees approximate research study abroad will cost over $10,000, and nearly 3 quarters plan to use financial assistance and scholarships, students are significantly seeking higher transparency into overall program costs, kept in mind the report.
In other places, the study revealed European locations remained the most popular choices for US trainees, with Spain increasing to replace UK in primary spot. Italy, Ireland and France followed Spain and the UK to comprise the top five nations of interest, while demand for Australia and Canada dropped by 50% on last year’s results.
Nelson credited Spain’s notable rise to federal government steps to alleviate visa processes and bring in more worldwide trainees. Modifications to study licenses, which now run the full length of a program and come with more foreseeable approvals, triggered a wave of visa encouraging sessions at US campuses, he said.
“Spain’s cost of living is lower than the UK or Italy, which space just expands the longer a student exists, since real estate costs build up fastest,” included Nelson.
Source: Terra Dotta. In other places in the study, though students responded more favourably to individual development and cultural immersion messaging, need for career-focussed results is likewise increasing, with one third of trainees revealing interest internship opportunities abroad– a 50% year-over-year increase.
On the institutional side, IIE said universities were increasingly linking research study abroad with chances for future employment, with 75% referring students to campus profession services and 44% helping with global internships.
The efforts follow a recent study in which 98% of US market leaders said study abroad served as a long-term accelerator for management, as stakeholders promote for a broadening of how the sector discuss and promotes study abroad.
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