Student reviews reveal highest rated study abroad programs, providers,
locations and more.
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 21, 2014

Abroad101, the world’s first and largest study abroad review website, has released its third annual Study Abroad Rankings today. The rankings compiled evaluations from students at over 200 US universities who attended short-term, credit-bearing study abroad programs overseas.

The 2013 rankings honor the highest-rated study abroad programs and locations by American students who have studied abroad. Under the direction of their academic advisors, students complete thorough online evaluations hosted by Abroad101 with both quantitative and qualitative responses. With a database of over 20,000 evaluations and 250,000 individual data points, the Abroad101 rankings provide an in-depth tally of student opinion on study abroad programs; 4,788 reviews were processed in the 2013 rankings.

Reflecting trends in study abroad, the 2013 Top 10 highest rated programs provide a wide range of program size, scope and location. The list has programs in popular study abroad destinations Florence, Sydney and Barcelona, as well as in new hotspots such as Heredia and Rabat. Two programs in Rome made the list and one provider had two programs in the top ten.

The Abroad101 2013 Top 10 Study Abroad Programs:
1. American College Dublin: Dublin – Direct Enrollment & Exchange
2. CEA: Aix-en-Provence, France
3. CAPA International Education: Sydney Study or Intern Abroad
4. Fairfield University: Florence – Semester or Year in Italy
5. AMIDEAST: Rabat – Area & Arabic Language Studies
6. Sol Education Abroad: Heredia – Latin University of Costa Rica
7. AIRC: Rome – Interdisciplinary Semester in Italy
8. CEA: Rome, Italy
9. API (Academic Programs International): Barcelona – Universidat Autònoma de Barcelona
10. European Study Center: Heidelberg

In addition to the highest rated overall programs, Abroad101 released a list of Top Provider Organizations, with top honor going to Academic Programs International, operator of 68 different college study abroad programs. “We very much appreciate being recognized by students as a high-quality education abroad organization” said Jennifer Allen, President of Academic Programs International (API). “At API, we take pride in offering support during each phase of the study abroad experience to our students, their families and their home universities. We take student feedback very seriously, and the insight we receive from the in-depth evaluations posted on StudyAbroad101.com are instrumental in helping us ensure that our programs remain a relevant and valuable component of each student’s university experience.” The rest of the top ten, listed in order are: The Education Abroad Network (TEAN), Sol Education Abroad, American Institute for Roman Culture (AIRC), The School for Field Studies (SFS), CAPA International Education, AMIDEAST, American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), European Study Center and CEA.

Innovation has always been a hallmark of study abroad and this year is no exception as students look to new and unique programs and destinations. Jeremy Cohen, Founder & Director of ThisWorldMusic, an innovative creative arts program in Ghana, reports that being in the rankings and gaining so many student reviews has given their program a significant boost. Ghana makes the top ten lists in two categories, Non-Traditional study abroad and Budget-Friendly destinations.

Rwanda was one of four African countries in the Top Non-Traditional locations list, India was deemed most budget-friendly, Beijing was voted the most livable city for American students, and Sorrento edged out Milan for the best food. The rest of the rankings along with excerpts from student reviews are available now at: http://www.studyabroad101.com/rankings

“Abroad101 has been helping students, advisors, and parents feel more comfortable with the study abroad process and these rankings are yet another step to expose students to the incredible opportunities the field has to offer” says Mark Shay, the new CEO of Abroad101. “Today, students want reviews to guide many of their future decisions and study abroad is no exception. A compilation of reviews and corresponding scores give them insight into what to expect and serves as a useful tool in their decision-making. Rankings and reviews also help give parents a sense of security about individual programs and study abroad as a whole” concludes Shay.

About Abroad101:
About Abroad101: Founded in 2007, Abroad101 is the first and largest study abroad review website. Focusing on American college students looking for a semester or term abroad, this innovative platform connects past and future students, parents and advisors and program providers through its market-leading online evaluation tool. Abroad101 grew from one partnership at Tufts University in 2007 to over 215 college partnerships today. The Abroad101 directory of study abroad programs is the most comprehensive database in the field today.
To learn more, visit http://www.studyabroad101.com