Study abroad health statistics connect participation patterns with the health issues students may encounter overseas. The 2022–23 U.S. data and CDC analyses cover different populations and periods, but together they show why destination, duration, preparation, and follow-up matter.
Study abroad health statistics at a glance
- 280,054 students studied abroad in academic year 2022–23.
- Participation equaled 1.51% of 18,610,224 total fall enrollment.
- The CDC GeoSentinel cohort had a median age of 21; 69% were female.
- 70% of students with available records received pre-travel consultation.
- Gastrointestinal diagnoses were 45% of 581 confirmed diagnoses.
- A CDC 2024 study found 686 students, with 307 infectious and 1,588 non-infectious health-related issues.
- 12 students, or 2%, were hospitalized in that CDC study.
The NAFSA figures describe U.S. participation in 2022–23. The CDC GeoSentinel analysis covers students seen at sites from 2007–2017, while the CDC Frontiers in Boston study is a separate 2024 study. These results should not be merged into one survey.
How many U.S. students study abroad?
NAFSA counted 280,054 U.S. study abroad students in 2022–23, alongside 18,610,224 fall enrollments. The reported national study abroad rate was 1.51% (NAFSA 2022-23 state-by-state report).
Rates varied by location. The District of Columbia had the highest supplied rate at 4.63%, based on 4,597 students and 99,329 enrollments. Vermont reported 3.21%, Massachusetts 3.07%, Rhode Island 2.77%, and Indiana 2.38%.
| Location | Students abroad | Fall enrollment | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 4,597 | 99,329 | 4.63% |
| Vermont | 1,281 | 39,888 | 3.21% |
| Massachusetts | 14,385 | 468,960 | 3.07% |
| Rhode Island | 2,064 | 74,413 | 2.77% |
| Indiana | 10,400 | 436,234 | 2.38% |
| Pennsylvania | 15,549 | 663,991 | 2.34% |
| North Carolina | 12,831 | 553,180 | 2.32% |
| Connecticut | 4,141 | 188,801 | 2.19% |
| Wisconsin | 6,357 | 316,129 | 2.01% |
| Alaska | 83 | 20,152 | 0.41% |
The lowest supplied rates were 0.37% in Nevada, 0.41% in Alaska, 0.45% in Idaho, 0.52% in West Virginia, and 0.56% in North Dakota. These are participation rates, not measures of medical risk.
The largest absolute student totals included California with 25,209, New York with 20,723, Texas with 16,933, Pennsylvania with 15,549, and Massachusetts with 14,385. A large total reflects a large enrollment base as well as study abroad participation.
Study abroad participation by demographics
NAFSA compared the racial and ethnic composition of study abroad participants with total postsecondary enrollment. Caucasian students represented 66.4% of participants versus 52.3% of total enrollment. Asian/Pacific Islander students represented 9.6% versus 7.6%.
| Student group | Study abroad | Total enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| African American or Black | 5.9% | 12.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 9.6% | 7.6% |
| Caucasian | 66.4% | 52.3% |
| Hispanic/Latino(a) American | 12.2% | 20.3% |
| Multiracial | 5.5% | 4.1% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.3% | 0.7% |
Hispanic/Latino(a) American students represented 12.2% of study abroad participants versus 20.3% of total enrollment. African American or Black students represented 5.9% versus 12.5%. Multiracial students represented 5.5% versus 4.1%, while American Indian/Alaska Native students represented 0.3% versus 0.7% (NAFSA 2022-23 state-by-state report).
These figures describe representation, not health outcomes. The clinical findings below come from separate CDC cohorts.
Where do study abroad students go?
Europe accounted for 64.4% of U.S. study abroad destinations in 2022–23, compared with 55.7% in 2018–19 and 73.1% in 2021–22. Asia represented 9.4% in 2022–23; its supplied earlier values were 11.7% in 2018–19, 9.1% in 2019–20, 12.3% in 2020–21, and 4.7% in 2021–22 (NAFSA 2022-23 state-by-state report).
| Region | 2018–19 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 55.7% | 73.1% | 64.4% |
| Asia | 11.7% | 4.7% | 9.4% |
| Latin America and Caribbean | 13.8% | Not supplied | 10.7% |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Not supplied | 2.4% | 3.3% |
| Oceania | 4.4% | Not supplied | 3.2% |
Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 10.7% in 2022–23, down from 13.8% in 2018–19. Sub-Saharan Africa rose to 3.3%, from 2.4% in both 2020–21 and 2021–22. The Middle East and North Africa represented 2.5%, North America 0.5%, Oceania 3.2%, and multiple destinations 6.0% in 2022–23.
What health issues appear in student data?
The CDC GeoSentinel analysis included 432 U.S. students from 15 sites who studied abroad and were seen from 2007–2017. The median age was 21, 69% were female, and 95% were born in the USA (CDC GeoSentinel analysis).
The median travel duration was 40 days, with a range of 1 to 469 days and an interquartile range of 21 to 96 days. Exposures occurred in 69 countries; 56 countries, or 81%, were low- or middle-income countries. The median time from travel’s end to presentation was 8 days, ranging from 0 to 181 days, with an interquartile range of 2 to 29 days.
Among 581 confirmed diagnoses, gastrointestinal diagnoses accounted for 261, or 45%. Acute diarrhea made up 113 of 261 gastrointestinal diagnoses, or 43%. Dermatologic diagnoses accounted for 101, or 17%, of all confirmed diagnoses.
Insect bites were 26 of 101 dermatologic diagnoses, or 26%. Nine students, or 9% of those with dermatologic diagnoses, had animal bites or exposures. Five students received rabies post-exposure prophylaxis at a GeoSentinel site.
Systemic febrile illnesses accounted for 83 of 581 diagnoses, or 14%. Malaria represented 14 of 83, or 17%, and dengue represented 11, or 13%. Vector-borne disease was diagnosed in 31 students, or 7% of the cohort.
Which exposure countries appeared most often?
India accounted for 44 cases, or 11% of exposures, in the GeoSentinel cohort. Ecuador accounted for 28 cases, or 7%. Ghana accounted for 25, or 6%, China for 24, or 6%, and Peru for 19, or 5% (CDC GeoSentinel analysis).
These are cases among students seen at participating sites, not destination-wide probabilities or a general danger ranking. The cohort captures clinical presentations rather than every student who traveled.
Hospitalization and travel-health preparation
The CDC 2024 study identified 686 students with 307 infectious and 1,588 non-infectious health-related issues. 12 of 686 students, or 2%, were hospitalized. One study abroad office required a pre-travel consultation, while all student health centers made pre-travel counseling available (CDC Frontiers in Boston study).
CDC Yellow Book guidance says last-minute travelers can represent up to 16% of a travel clinic population and typically depart within 2 weeks. Consultation is ideally at least 1 month before departure; the CDC Studying Abroad page says 4 to 6 weeks before departure when possible (CDC Last-Minute Travelers chapter; CDC Studying Abroad page).
The CDC Study Abroad chapter says students should purchase travel insurance covering major medical care, evacuation, and repatriation for the entire trip. It says institutions should maintain travel registries with destinations, contact information, travel dates, and emergency contacts, and recommends that all students register with STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Finally, CDC guidance states that travel-associated morbidity and mortality are concerns for all destinations (CDC Study Abroad chapter). The supplied studies do not quantify how much any single preparation step changes an individual student’s outcome, but they do document consultation timing, clinical diagnoses, hospitalization, and the range of situations students and institutions need to plan for.
Additional state participation benchmarks
The NAFSA report recorded 12,639 students in Florida, representing 1.26% of 999,233 enrollments. Georgia recorded 10,165 students and a 1.88% rate from 541,594 enrollments. Ohio recorded 10,422 students, a 1.70% rate, and Virginia recorded 10,081 students, a 1.85% rate (NAFSA 2022-23 state-by-state report).
Other reported totals included Illinois with 8,203 students and a 1.21% rate, Michigan with 8,890 and 1.91%, Minnesota with 6,286 and 1.68%, and Washington with 5,400 and 1.74%. South Carolina recorded 5,479 students and a 2.26% rate, while Tennessee recorded 5,391 and 1.75%.
The report also listed Oregon at 3,620 students and 1.86%, Maine at 1,244 and 1.74%, Wyoming at 456 and 1.52%, and Montana at 433 and 0.92%. These examples reinforce the difference between a student count and a rate: Oregon’s rate exceeded Washington’s supplied 1.74%, even though Washington recorded more students.