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Schools

More U.S. college students studying abroad

Asia, the Mideast and Latin America are hot draws, but the United Kingdom is still No. 1.

Growing numbers of U.S. colleges and universities are sending more students abroad for international study opportunities, and to a wider range of countries.

More than 223,000 U.S. students studied abroad during the 2005-2006 academic year, up 8.5 percent from the year before, according to the latest annual survey by the Institute of International Education, being issued today. The number who get academic credit for study abroad is up 150 percent over the past decade.

As recently as five years ago, although nearly every college was talking about internationalization, many were struggling to develop programs and make them feasible for students, said Allan Goodman, president and chief executive officer of the institute.

"A lot of people had the words but not the plan," he said.

The report also contains encouraging news for U.S. universities that depend on a steady stream of foreign students, particularly to fill graduate programs. Enrollment by those students rose 3 percent last academic year to about 583,000, the first significant jump since 2001-2002.

Goodman attributed the increase to an easing of visa problems and aggressive recruiting efforts by American institutions.

The United Kingdom was again the leading destination for U.S. students, with 32,109 students enrolled there. That number was flat from the year before, and other traditionally popular destinations like Italy, France and Spain saw only small gains.

Study in Asia, however, rose 26 percent; Latin America, 14 percent, and in the Middle East, 31 percent.

[Last modified November 12, 2007, 01:40:11]