Article Courtesy of 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:
Study Abroad and Careers, Salaries, and Job Skills
97%
|
of study abroad students found employment within 12 months of
graduation, when 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) |
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) |
34%
|
of study abroad alumni claimed that study abroad helped them choose their career field. (4) |
19%
|
lower unemployment rates were found among study abroad alumni according to a British study. (4) |
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|
A British study found the greatest increases salary earnings among
study abroad alumni (compared to their peers) among seven majors:
sociology, computer science, theology and religious studies, electronic
and electrical engineering, and physical geographical sciences. (4) |
 |
| Students learn about doing business in a different cultural climate on the U of A Faculty Led: International Business in China program |
Study Abroad and Graduation and Academic Performance
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) |
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) |
 |
| Students on safari on the U of A Faculty Led: Tanzania - Ecology, Evolution, and Peoples of East Africa program |
Study Abroad and Personality
97%
|
A University of Maryland study on IES Abroad study abroad alumni
found that students attributed study abroad to increased maturity. (13) |
96%
|
of study abroad alumni claimed an increase in self-confidence attributed to study abroad. (13) |
89%
|
of study abroad alumni reported that study abroad facilitated a greater tolerance for ambiguity. (13) |
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|
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, extroversion, agreeableness and emotional stability. (9) |
 |
| Tibetan Refugees greeting students on the U of A Faculty Led: Tibetans in Exile Today: India program |
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