SDSU is No. 5 in the Nation for Number of Students Studying Abroad

San Diego State University ranks No. 5 among all U.S. institutions of higher education for the number of students who studied abroad in 2016-17 and also ranks first in the state of California, according to Open Doors 2018. The current rank is SDSU’s highest ever and is three places above last year’s rank of No. 8.  

SDSU is one of only three California universities to make the top 40 list of the Institute of International Education (IIE). The University of California, Los Angeles, ranks No. 15 and the University of California, Berkeley, ranks No. 28 in this year's report. IIE publishes the annual Open Doors report jointly with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

More than 3,000 SDSU students studied abroad in 2016-17, the latest academic year for which the IIE collected data and calculated rankings. This number exceeds 10 percent of SDSU’s undergraduate enrollment. 

“At SDSU, we view studying abroad as a transformative opportunity and experience that can help our students deepen their understanding of themselves and also the world in which they live,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre.

“In a rapidly changing global economy, it is important for students to broaden their perspective beyond the borders of their home country,” de la Torre said. “Having an awareness of the lives and experiences of others is foundational for our students, who will become our future global citizens, compassionate leaders, and ethical innovators. This awareness will also allow them to have a stronger positive impact, not only on their local community, but also on communities around the world.”

Across the United States, study abroad numbers grew by 2.3 percent from 2015-16 to 2016-17. The IIE said a total of 332,727 Americans studied abroad to earn academic credit at their home institutions in 2016/17.

“It’s difficult to adequately express the impact study abroad has on students, but we see it on their faces and hear it in their stories when they return,” said Noah Hansen, director of the International Student Center. “When students immerse themselves in a different culture, they gain an understanding of the world—and of their own culture—they cannot find any other way.”

International experience requirement

Open Doors 2018 also shows continued diversification in the profile of U.S. students going abroad. More than 29 percent of students identifying as racial or ethnic minorities studied abroad in 2016-2017. In 2005-06, racial and ethnic minorities accounted for only 17 percent of the study abroad population, the IIE reported.

At SDSU, study abroad encompasses a broad range of international activities, including studying at a foreign university, traveling with a faculty member as part of a course or participating in internships, volunteer programs and research experiences. Thirty-one majors across six colleges, including all students in the College of Health and Human Services and the Weber Honors College, now have an international experience requirement.

While SDSU maintained its strong numbers in programs lasting 10 weeks or more, other types of programs saw significant growth in 2016-17. For example, service learning and volunteer programs attracted 299 students, up from 39 in 2015-16, and the number of students involved in short-duration programs of fewer than 10 weeks (most of which are faculty-led) increased from 1,764 to 2,150. 

“SDSU's top five ranking in Open Doors 2018 is the result of a decades-long, university-wide commitment to promoting international experiences for all students,” said Stuart Henry, director of the Office of International Programs. “Many of our faculty and staff lead study-abroad programs, and all of them advocate for the benefits of study abroad as a way to enrich students’ intercultural experiences.”  

SDSU also encourages students to apply for international experiences through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. In fact, SDSU has been named a Gilman International Scholarship Top Producing Institution by the U.S. Department of State. During the 2016-2017 academic year, SDSU sent 23 students abroad with Gilman support to countries such as Chile, China, Thailand and France.  

Record applications

SDSU is also a popular destination for international students applying to study in the United States. The IIE said the number of international students in this country surpassed one million in 2016-17 for the third consecutive year, increasing by 1.5 percent to reach a new high of 1,094,792 million.   

Just over 3,000 international students attended SDSU in 2016-17 from more than 70 different countries on five continents.   

Additionally, SDSU received a record number of inbound exchange applications for the fall 2018 semester, an indication that the university’s international profile continues to rise, Hansen said. The 370 total applications marked a 10 percent increase over the previous high of 335 set in fall 2015.

This week, SDSU celebrates International Education Week with several activities and events, including an International Peace Village on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Aztec Student Union courtyard.  For more information about how students can engage in study abroad experiences, visit Be International.