The new reality of study abroad: Higher costs, more politics, fewer Aperol spritzes

It's been an interesting five years for Americans studying abroad. The pandemic slammed the brakes on many international programs, sending would-be global citizens back to their parents' homes. Now, the pendulum has swung back the other way — the number of American students studying abroad for academic credit is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, and a growing number of students are undertaking their entire college careers outside the US as stateside higher education costs soar. Shorter trips are booming, too, as more students and families try to scratch that international experience itch.

The landscape is not an easy one: Costs are rising, scholarships are uncertain, and the political environment can be hostile. The chaos at home is following American students beyond borders, assuming t