Holy Cross Is Again Ranked a National Leader in Study Abroad

College of the Holy Cross students are leading the way when it comes to studying abroad, with the College ranked No. 1 among baccalaureate institutions in the U.S. for long-term study abroad programs.

According to the Institute of International Education report, 72 Holy Cross students studied abroad on long-term programs during the 2019-20 academic year. This marks the 13th year in a row that the College has held one of the top three positions on this list.

"All of us in Study Abroad are absolutely thrilled once again in 2019-2020 to be the top liberal arts college in the country with regard to the number of students studying abroad for the full academic year,"  says Brittain Smith, director of the study abroad program at Holy Cross. "This is yet one of many examples of the ways in which the College of the Holy Cross provides its students with the best possible educational experiences that are truly transformative and life-changing."

Holy Cross' year-long programs are a staple among the College's study abroad offerings and allow students to engage in academic and cultural immersion in their host countries for a full academic year. The College currently offers 43 study abroad programs in 26 countries.

And while the global pandemic has brought significant disruption to all study abroad programs in the past two years, Smith credits the program's success to the College's long term relationships with its trusted partner organizations throughout the world and the diligence of the study abroad team in assessing and preparing for all possible risk scenarios.

"In this time of COVID-19, we are more fortunate than ever for our network of global partners, who have taught and supported our students during very challenging times," says Smith.

The national results were published in the 2021 Open Doors report, an annual report compiled by the Institute of International Education. The institution, which was founded in 1919, is an independent not-for-profit organization that receives funding from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural affairs.

See the full report from the Institute of International Education.