Study abroad continues to be a signature program for students at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

CSB and SJU are ranked among the top baccalaureate schools nationally for both mid-length study abroad and the total number of students who studied abroad according to Open Doors 2021, the annual report on international education published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The 2021 report, which was released Nov. 15, found:

• CSB and SJU are ranked No. 7 (tied) among baccalaureate schools. The two schools had a combined 307 students who studied abroad in mid-length study abroad programs during the 2019-20 school year, the most recent data measured by the IIE. The IIE defines mid-length study abroad programs as lasting one semester or one or two quarters (CSB and SJU operate under the semester system).
• CSB and SJU are ranked No. 10 among baccalaureate schools with 394 students who studied abroad during the 2019-20 school year.

Before graduating, 43% of students who graduated in 2021 studied abroad at some point during their four years at CSB and SJU, according to figures from the Center for Global Education at CSB and SJU.

CSB and SJU annually offer students 15 semester-long programs, 10 of which are faculty-led. CSB and SJU also conduct 10-15 short-term study abroad programs.

Last month, CSB was recognized as one of top producers of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipients over the last 20 years. CSB has produced 79 Gilman Scholarship winners over the past 20 years to rank No. 9 among small colleges (under 5,000 undergraduate students) nationally. SJU has produced 25 Gilman Scholarship recipients since 2001.

“The Open Doors report underscores the continued strength of global education at CSB and SJU,” said Kevin Clancy, director of the Center for Global Education at CSB and SJU. “This national ranking is also recognition of the work faculty and staff put into making study abroad a reality for our students.”

The 2021 Open Doors report found 162,633 Americans studied abroad for academic credit from their colleges and universities in 2019-20. That represented a decrease of 53.1% over 2018-19, mostly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The leading destinations for U.S. students being (in order) Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.

The number of international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities was 914,095 students in 2020-21. The top origin countries for students coming to the U.S. were (in order) China, India and South Korea.