Earlham College in nation’s Top 4 for participation in study abroad opportunities

Earlham College students continue to participate in learning experiences abroad at a rate that far exceeds their peers and other institutions.

With 128.4% of students participating in study abroad programs, Earlham ranks fourth in the U.S. among all baccalaureate granting colleges and universities, according to the Institute on International Education’s 2024 Open Doors report, which summarizes data from the 2022-23 academic year. 

This report, sponsored by the U.S. State Department, divides the number of students participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program by the size of its graduating class in ranking each institution. 

“Our percentage is so high, over 100 percent, because we have so many students who go abroad more than once,” said Roger Adkins, executive director of Earlham’s Center for Global and Career Education. “At Earlham it’s common for a student to go on a short-term faculty led program one year and do a semester-long program in another year.” 

Some students may go three times or more if they do a credit-bearing internship out of the country. “These figures don’t even include our students who participate in domestic programs across the U.S.,” said Adkins.

Typically, about two-thirds of the student body participates in Earlham’s off-campus programs, which are located on every continent except Antarctica. 

“Our off-campus programs are deeply integrated into the curriculum and a big part of the culture here,” said Jennifer Lewis, senior director of off-campus programs. “These experiences don’t happen in a vacuum. Our academic advisers often ask students not if, but where are you going. It’s the norm, not an exception.”

The College has been careful to limit costs as a barrier whenever possible. 

“Other schools obviously offer similar things, but students usually go into a lot of debt to do all of that,” Adkins noted. “What we offer is very rare.”

In addition to semester-long study abroad programs, Earlham’s Epic Advantage is a catalyst for sending students all over the world on funded career-discernment experiences, including internships, externships, faculty-student collaborative research, and community-based projects. Thanks to the generosity of donors, all Earlham students are eligible for the Epic Advantage grant.

In addition to these figures, OpenDoor recently recognized Earlham College with a 75-year Seal of Excellence for the College’s commitment to this reporting. This recognition serves as validation of Earlham’s commitment to life-changing international education.

“I am proud of our current program suite, which has been carefully curated and provides a variety of programs to meet students where they are,” said Lewis. “Students have been excited about the level of independence offered by two of our newer programs in Sweden and South Korea, both of which allow students to enroll directly in classes at a local university and accommodate a wide range of majors, including Engineering. Prague has also been a popular program because of its courses offered in Business and Media and Communications, along with its affordable cost of living and central location, which allows for easy travel around Europe. Our programs in New Zealand, Spain, and Mexico, which are led by our own faculty members, continue to be the heart of our program suite and appeal to students who prefer more of a cohort experience.”

Written by Jay Kibble, writer/editor for Earlham College’s Marketing and Communications Office.

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About Earlham College 

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.