Is studying abroad worth it? For most students the evidence says yes for graduation, grades and personal growth, and not clearly for later income, so it is worth it when the program fits your degree, your budget and your goals. The best case for going abroad is academic and personal, while the claim that it raises your salary is much weaker.
Study abroad is sold with big promises: better grades, better jobs, more confidence and a life-changing experience. Some of that is backed by research and some comes from the organizations that sell the programs. This guide separates the two. It explains what large studies found about graduation and grades, what they found about career income, what students report about skills and confidence, what the main costs and risks are, who gets the most out of going and how to decide. The research facts come from a University System of Georgia study reported by the University of Georgia on 7 March 2022, an earlier Georgia study reported by Inside Higher Ed in July 2010 and an academic chapter on income published on 2 June 2022. The program outcome claims come from a provider’s blog dated 8 May 2025, which is promotional and cites no study. Two other pages we tried to use, a personal finance article and an ROI page, did not contain relevant content, so we did not use them. These are secondary sources, and results from one US state system or one national dataset may not match your school, so use them as evidence, not as a promise. For money planning, see our cost to study abroad guide.
Does Studying Abroad Help You Graduate?
Large Georgia studies found that students who studied abroad graduated at higher rates and did not fall behind. The 2022 study of 221,981 students across 35 institutions found positive effects on graduation within four and six years.
The University of Georgia report says the research, by the University System of Georgia and the Consortium for Analysis of Student Success through International Education, used semester records from more than 30,000 students who studied abroad. It says education abroad will not impede completion, students earn slightly more credits and take less time to finish, and that students receiving need-based aid are less likely to study abroad, but those who do are much more likely to graduate in four to six years than need-based students who do not. The earlier study reported in 2010 compared 19,109 study abroad students with 17,903 matched controls and found a four-year graduation rate of 49.6 percent against 42.1 percent and a six-year rate of 88.7 percent against 83.4 percent. These are association findings from one state system, and students who choose to go abroad may differ in ways the data cannot capture. Even so, the fear that study abroad delays your degree is not supported when the program is approved for credit.
Does It Improve Your Grades?
The same Georgia work found a small positive effect on cumulative GPA. The 2022 report says education abroad had a positive impact but gives no size.
The 2010 report gives numbers: study abroad students went from 3.24 before going to 3.30 afterward, while controls stayed between 3.03 and 3.06. It also notes that the gap shrank for students with top test scores, since students with a perfect SAT score averaged 3.25 whether or not they studied abroad. The lesson is that the grade benefit is modest, and it should not be the main reason to go.
Does It Raise Your Income?
The best independent evidence here says no clear income boost four years after graduation. A 2022 chapter by Suzan Kommers found that study abroad did not produce higher job income four years after graduation.
The chapter used US nationally representative data on college graduates and a propensity score analysis to compare graduates who studied abroad with those who did not. The abstract we could read does not name the dataset or sample size, so we cannot judge its strength fully, but it directly challenges the common claim that study abroad leads to higher pay. In contrast, a provider’s blog says 97 percent of its students found work within 12 months of graduation and 25 percent earn higher salaries than peers who did not study abroad. That page cites no study, no survey period and no comparison group, and it is written by an organization that sells programs, so treat those numbers as marketing claims. If income is your main reason, the evidence does not back it up.
Is Studying Abroad Worth It Based on the Evidence at a Glance?
The evidence is strongest for graduation, modest for grades and weak for income. The table shows how strong each claim is.
| Claim | What the sources show | Strength |
| Helps you graduate | Higher four and six year rates in two Georgia studies | Fairly strong, one state system |
| Raises GPA | 3.30 against about 3.05 in the 2010 study | Modest |
| Raises income | No higher job income four years out in a 2022 chapter | Evidence says no clear effect |
| Builds skills | Provider says 79 percent built career skills | Weak, self-reported and unsourced |
Is studying abroad worth it when the strongest evidence is academic? For many students yes, because finishing on time and learning in a new setting are real benefits. Just do not budget on the assumption of a pay rise.
What Do Students Say They Gain?
Students report more confidence, independence, intercultural skills and adaptability. These are real goals, but they are harder to measure than graduation.
The provider blog lists outcomes such as stepping out of your comfort zone, independence, a new culture, friendships, language learning, career advancement, new interests, adaptability and intercultural communication skills, and says 79 percent built skills relevant to their careers and 91 percent are more aware of global issues. Again, these figures come from the provider’s own students with no stated method. The 2010 Georgia study used a 29-question survey of 440 study abroad and 230 other students and found study abroad students gained more in knowledge of cultural practices and cultural context, but no significant difference in global interdependence or world geography. Language gains depend on whether you take classes in the local language, since the provider notes most of its courses are taught in English unless you enrol in a language class.
What Are the Costs and Risks?
The main risks are cost, delays from unapproved credits and picking a program that does not match your goals. Money is the biggest factor for most families.
Costs vary widely by destination and program type. Our dublin study abroad guide shows a provider semester with a full cost of attendance above 33,000 dollars, while our study in vietnam guide shows a much lower range of living costs. Federal aid can often be used for approved programs, as our fafsa study abroad guide explains, but aid may arrive after you leave. Visa and immigration steps add time and fees, which our studying in madrid and lisbon study abroad guides cover. Get credit approval in writing before you pay a deposit.
Who Gets the Most Out of It?
Students who pick a program that matches their degree, their language goals or their career plans get the most out of it. A random semester with no plan is the weakest case.
You are more likely to benefit if you choose a destination connected to your major, take courses that count toward graduation, study a language you will use, add an internship or research project and prepare to explain the experience to employers. Students who need to graduate on a tight schedule or have tight budgets may do better with a short summer program or a semester at lower cost. Our year abroad guide compares a semester with a full year, and our switzerland study abroad guide shows how a high-cost destination changes the math.
How Do You Decide?
Decide with a short checklist: credit, cost, goal and fit. If all four are clear, the answer is usually yes.
- Credit: will the courses count toward your degree, in writing?
- Cost: can you pay without taking on debt you cannot manage?
- Goal: what do you want from it, such as language, a career connection or personal growth?
- Fit: does the country, city and program match your health, language level and comfort?
If one answer is unclear, wait or pick a smaller option. If your goal is a stronger application or resume, see our adding study abroad to resume guide, and if you expect to be asked about your plans, see our study abroad interview questions guide.
What About Funding and Scholarships?
Scholarships can change the answer by cutting the cost. Apply early and match each award to your program.
Look at your school’s study abroad scholarships, provider awards and national programs. Our Fulbright scholarship guide covers one major award, and our motivation letter for scholarship and scholarship documents checklist guides help you prepare. Our best countries for study abroad guide compares destinations, and our graduate school abroad guide covers full degrees. If you need a passport, see our passport application and how long does it take to get a passport guides.
How Do You Spot a Misleading Study Abroad Claim?
Be careful with numbers that have no study, no sample and no comparison group. Promotional pages often use them.
Be careful when a website or agent:
- Quotes employment or salary gains without naming a study.
- Guarantees a job or a scholarship.
- Pushes you to pay a deposit before your school approves credit.
- Hides the total cost until late in the process.
- Uses an unnamed “survey of students” as proof.
Ask for the source, the sample and the comparison before you rely on a statistic.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Going without a credit plan, underestimating costs and expecting a salary boost cause most regrets. Check each point first.
- Not getting credit approval in writing.
- Choosing a program only for the destination.
- Ignoring total cost beyond the program fee.
- Expecting study abroad alone to raise your income.
- Skipping the visa and insurance research.
- Not planning how to use the experience afterward.
- Waiting until the deadline to apply for aid.
- Believing every statistic on a provider page.
When unsure, ask your study abroad advisor and aid office.
FAQs
Is studying abroad worth it for everyone?
Often yes for graduation and personal growth, but evidence for higher income is weak. Fit, credit and cost decide.
Does studying abroad delay graduation?
A large Georgia study found it did not and was linked to higher graduation rates.
Does studying abroad increase salary?
One 2022 study found no higher job income four years after graduation. Provider claims of higher pay are unsourced.
Is it worth it if I have to borrow?
Only if credit counts and you can manage the debt. Compare costs and aid first.
Is a short program worth it?
It can be, especially on a tight budget, though you gain less language and immersion than on a semester or a year.
Do employers value study abroad?
It can help if you explain what you did and learned. The evidence on income does not show an automatic boost.
Conclusion
Is studying abroad worth it? The best evidence supports it for graduation, grades and personal development, and does not support it as a guaranteed way to earn more. Choose a program that counts toward your degree, build a realistic budget, use aid and scholarships and be clear about what you want from the experience. Treat promotional statistics with caution and decide with credit, cost, goal and fit.
