American students studying abroad are facing a new reality: Higher costs, more politics, fewer Aperol spritzes

"The idea of getting an international education - whether for a summer, a semester, or an entire degree - has become increasingly appealing. Nearly 300,000 US students studied abroad for academic credit in the 2023-2024 academic year, a 6% increase from the year before, according to the Open Doors Report released in November by the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit that promotes foreign study."

"The landscape is not an easy one: Costs are rising, scholarships are uncertain, and the political environment can be hostile. The chaos at home is following American students beyond borders, assuming they can cross them, given colliding economic and political pressures. Counselors, program administrators, and families I spoke with said that study abroad is more important than ever in today's globalized economy. It's also harder than ever to pull off."

Study-abroad participation among US students is recovering toward pre-pandemic levels, with nearly 300,000 students studying abroad for academic credit in 2023–2024, a 6% increase from the year before. European destinations such as Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and France remain especially popular. More American students are choosing to pursue full degrees abroad, and shorter-term programs and summer experiences are also increasing. Rising costs, uncertain scholarship availability, and a hostile political environment are creating barriers. Economic and political pressures at home are influencing students' ability and willingness to study internationally, even as demand grows.

Read at Business Insider