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Chico State

University’s Study Abroad Program Recognized as one of Nation’s Best for Yearlong Participation

Chico State students talk to University Study Abroad staff about the many opportunities of studying overseas.
Jason Halley / University Photographer

Students and faculty educate themselves and explore the many international opportunities available during a Study Abroad Fair hosted by the Study Abroad & International Exchange in Trinity Commons on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/University Photographer)

For as long as the Institute of International Education (IIE) has been recognizing the nation’s most active colleges and universities for their participation in studying abroad, California State University, Chico’s has been included in the conversation.

In its most recent Open Doors rankings for the 2016-2017 academic year, the IIE listed CSU, Chico’s Study Abroad and International Exchange program at No. 2 in the nation for master’s colleges and universities with 75 participants studying overseas for long-term duration (a year or longer), tied with Long Island University, Brooklyn.

Other CSUs in the top 10 are top-ranked Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (78 participants), No. 4 Sonoma State (69 participants), No. 6 Long Beach State (46), and No. 8 Cal State Monterey Bay (34).

Jennifer Gruber, coordinator of Study Abroad and International Exchange, said the program provides a number of positive learning outcomes for participants, including increased academic focus, greater self-efficacy, and overall personal and professional growth, while access to new landscapes, educational environments, language and cultural experiences create daily opportunities for personal development while living in another country.

“The list of high-impact learning outcomes only grows the more time students spend abroad, which is why we’re very proud to once again be named a top institution for year-long study abroad participation,” Gruber said. “We are also very fortunate to be on a campus with such supportive faculty, staff and administrators who understand the many benefits of international engagement.”

Participant numbers were down in CSU, Chico’s category, with the University reporting 93 participants in last year’s ranking, and 113 the year before.

A total of 326 CSU, Chico students studied abroad during the 2016-2017 academic year, with Italy, Spain, Thailand, Germany, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom as the top destinations among 38 available countries.

Despite the drop in numbers, CSU, Chico continued its run as a highly ranked institution for studying abroad. For the third consecutive year and 10th time in 11 years, the University ranked as one of the nation’s top three universities in its category.

As a true international institution, CSU, Chico also serves as a destination for others around the world. In 2017-18, the University welcomed 442 students as well as 57 educators and scholars from 46 nations across the globe, with many others participating through its American Language and Culture Institute.