Despite global volatility and economic uncertainty, overall student interest in studying abroad remains high among US students, with overall interest slightly surpassing 2024 levels, a new Terra Dotta survey has revealed.
And yet, universities “must go the extra mile” to showcase their duty of care and financial aid resources, which are important differentiators to attract US students amid the enrolment cliff, said Terra Dotta’s study abroad director David Nelson.
Overall, 76% of students said they hoped or planned to study abroad in 2025, a modest increase from the previous year’s 73%.
The UK was the most popular destination among 41% of students, followed by Australia, Spain, Italy and Ireland, revealing a notable rise in the popularity of English-speaking destinations.
Australia – favoured by just 5% of students in 2024 – was the preferred choice of 35% of students this year, with Terra Dotta linking the rise in English-speaking destinations with growing concerns about global instability.
While one third of students said geopolitical issues would prevent them from participating altogether, over three-quarters indicated global conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Gaza would impact their interest in travelling abroad.
And yet, finances remained the main concern for 80% of students and nearly half of those not planning to study abroad said the cost prevented them from doing so.
Given the growing economic uncertainty and the high cost of studying abroad, easier access to financial aid information was the top request of 65% of students – a 50% increase since 2024.
While the highest proportion of students (36%) said they favoured a semester abroad, internships and short-term faculty led trips were also popular options, with 40% of students anticipating spending more than $10K for their chosen program.
76% of students said global conflicts impacted their interest in studying abroad
While 20% more students plan to pay for study abroad themselves compared to 2024, demand for financial aid remains high at about two-thirds of survey respondents.
Meanwhile, Terra Dotta advised institutions to focus on communicating the value of studying abroad early in the student journey, with over three-quarters of students saying they factored a school’s study abroad program into their college decisions.
The survey comes as US universities are facing a much reported on domestic enrolment cliff, with government figures showing undergraduate enrolment declining by more than two million between 2010 and 2022.
As visa restrictions and hostile policies towards international students take hold under the Trump administration, the number of overseas students at US institutions is also projected to fall, leaving institutions vulnerable to declining overall enrolments.
Meanwhile, the UK is gaining interest from degree students as well as those participating in study abroad, with the sector witnessing a marked increase in interest, as the other ‘big four’ destinations face visa challenges and political volatility.
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