12 Most Popular Study Abroad Cities for Americans

Here are the 12 most popular study abroad cities for Americans, based on destination selections made by 1,464 U.S. applicants to the Lerna Courses Study Abroad Award (2017–2024). Cities are listed in rank order, from most selected to least selected: London, Florence, Barcelona, Seoul, Madrid, Rome, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, Athens, Dublin, Copenhagen.

Top 12 study abroad cities for Americans

Counts below show the number of unique U.S. applicants who selected each city as a single destination.

Rank	City	Country	U.S. applicants
1	London	United Kingdom	111
2	Florence	Italy	83
3	Barcelona	Spain	70
4	Seoul	South Korea	61
5	Madrid	Spain	60
6	Rome	Italy	46
7	Paris	France	45
8	Tokyo	Japan	31
9	Sydney	Australia	24
10	Athens	Greece	24
11	Dublin	Ireland	22
12	Copenhagen	Denmark	16

Note: These cities were followed by Seville (Spain), Valencia (Spain), Prague (Czech Republic), Quito (Ecuador), Oxford (United Kingdom), San José (Costa Rica), Berlin (Germany), Kyoto (Japan), Singapore, Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Osaka (Japan)

Best places to study abroad for English speakers

This section lists the destinations in the dataset that are most commonly chosen by applicants looking for an English-speaking environment.

Best cities for English speakers

Based on the U.S. applicant selections in this dataset, the most common English-speaking study abroad cities are London, Dublin, and Sydney.

Best options in Europe for English speakers

Within Europe, London and Dublin are the leading English-speaking picks in this U.S. applicant sample. Many applicants also selected major European cities where English is commonly used day-to-day (for example, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Paris), even when local language immersion was part of the appeal.

Study abroad programs for Americans

Applicants did not just list a destination. They also described what they wanted to get out of the experience. Below are common themes, illustrated with verbatim quotes from entries.

Career and future benefits

• “A study abroad experience has the potential to shape the course of both career and personal life in profound ways.” (Raegan Marin Jabor, El Paso, TX)
• “Discovering local traditions, tasting diverse cuisines, and building friendships that go beyond borders will ultimately push me forward as a person, and as a future healthcare professional.” (Victoria Griffith, Bend, OR)
• “Studying abroad in Santa Clara Pueblo offers a transformative experience for anyone considering a career in education.” (Fausto Flores Alvarez, Falls Church, VA)

Confidence and independence

• “It fosters flexibility, independence and confidence, qualities that will serve me well in my future.” (Alexa Kelley, Wilmington, MA)
• “I expect to gain a greater sense of independence and more confidence in myself and the choices I make.” (Emily Fajardo, Moreno Valley, CA)
• “Studying abroad helps gain more independence and allows for critical thinking skills to flourish as it is an unknown situation.” (Michelle Vargas, Ontario, CA)

Perspective and personal growth

• “The best stories in journalism come from stepping outside familiar boundaries and seeing the world through new perspectives.” (Luisa Tripoli-Krasnow, New York City, NY)
• “This experience will deepen perspectives on equity and inclusion in education, revealing the importance of culturally responsive teaching methods.” (Fausto Flores Alvarez, Falls Church, VA)
• “As a nursing student who will experience diverse cultures and people, I am encouraged to keep seeking the wonders of creation and build relationships across borders in preparation to serve future patients.” (Victoria Griffith, Bend, OR)

Methodology

Source: Lerna Courses Study Abroad Award (formerly the Good Colleges Study Abroad Award). The award offered a $2,000 cash prize and required a 150–250 word essay response to a set theme. The competition ran annually from 2017 to 2024 and has been discontinued from 2025 onward.

How the rankings were produced:

• Duplicate submissions from the same email address were removed before analysis.
• The sample was restricted to applicants whose home location indicated the United States.
• Multi-destination itineraries were excluded from the city rankings.
• City name variants were standardized (for example, “London, UK” and “London, England” were counted as London).
• Counts shown are the number of U.S. applicants selecting each city as a single destination.

10 Best Places to Study Abroad

The following cities were the most frequently selected destinations among U.S. applicants. Each includes comments from real student essays explaining why the location appealed to them.

1. London (United Kingdom)

• “While we will never get to make the trip in person, studying in London will allow me to fulfill a part of that dream while also pursuing full-time education.” (Victoria Griffith, Oregon)
• “Having already studied abroad in London, I got a taste of the challenge of adapting to a new city.” (Leire Garrogerricaechebarria, Miami, FL)
• “Last summer, an opportunity to intern in a London theatre arose, and I was lucky enough to get it.” (Pearl Wigg, Sioux Falls, SD)

2. Florence (Italy)

• “Living in Florence for a semester would allow me access to see significant historical sites on a daily basis, even having one as my campus.” (Rachel Mehler, Rye, NY)
• “Lorenzo de’Medici in Florence, Italy, is a unique school with a diverse student body filled with students from all over the world.” (Ella Seitz, Des Moines, IA)
• “For me, studying business in Florence is more than just a step in education; it’s a chance to experience firsthand what makes Italy a center of innovation and tradition.” (Ben Adler, Palm Harbor, FL)

3. Barcelona (Spain)

• “My name is Tristan Costa and I plan on going abroad to Barcelona next semester.” (Tristan Costa, Boston, MA)
• “This upcoming spring semester, I am elated to be studying abroad in Barcelona, a destination with an extensive history of design woven into its rich tapestry.” (Owen Lonergan, Boston, MA)
• “I’ve traveled to Spain twice, walked the streets of Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, and Santander, and fell in love with Spanish culture.” (Isabella Arnold, Rochester Hills, MI)

4. Seoul (South Korea)

• “Still, the knowledge I will gain by going abroad to Seoul, South Korea, will allow me to grow as a person and career.” (Cayman Didier, Pflugerville, TX)
• “Taking a scavenger hunt through Seoul convenience stores with new friends.” (Kyla Booker, Simpsonville, SC)
• “The flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Seoul, Korea is one of the longest non-stop flights.” (Andrew Stombaugh, Nicholasville, KY)

5. Madrid (Spain)

• “Studying abroad in Madrid would be a chance to go deeper—not just geographically, but culturally, personally, and professionally.” (Leire Garrogerricaechebarria, Miami, FL)
• “An opportunity for experiential learning in Madrid will open doors for a future career in Global Studies.” (Hannah Reynolds, Birmingham, AL)
• “The dream of exploring a foreign culture is one that I have held onto since childhood, and an opportunity to spend the spring semester in Madrid may offer just that.” (Claire Pineda, San Francisco, CA)

6. Rome (Italy)

• “Rome is one enormous mausoleum.” (Sean Bolan, Lincoln Park, NJ)
• “Getting lost in the Vatican is not something that people plan on doing when they travel to Rome.” (Anna Baker, Nacogdoches, TX)
• “Immersing in a culture different from the everyday offers a unique opportunity to grow as a journalist, and Rome provides the perfect environment for that.” (Luisa Tripoli-Krasnow, New York City, NY)

7. Paris (France)

• “It has always been my dream as a young girl to go to Paris.” (Savannah Mora, Hayward, CA)
• “Paris, with its historic avenues and modern multicultural quarters, gives me a chance to deepen linguistic, familial, and cultural roots.” (Mira Setty-Charity, New York, NY)
• “Paris and Dubrovnik provide ideal settings to explore marketing and business strategy from a global perspective.” (Elizabeth Akinfenwa, Charlotte, NC)

8. Tokyo (Japan)

• “They meet in vibrant Tokyo, Japan, and offer me the rare opportunity to grow professionally and personally.” (Dara Infante, TX)
• “Tokyo is the perfect backdrop to place myself in a culture where I am pushed to work with others whose background is completely different from my own.” (Aiden Bonilla, Moodus, CT)
• “This place will give me experience traveling abroad but also show me the amazing city Tokyo is known to be.” (Kyla Booker, Simpsonville, SC)

9. Sydney (Australia)

• “The study abroad program which I am on is an internship in Sydney which will provide access to research institutions and engineering firms.” (Carina Orcutt, Oviedo, FL)
• “Traveling from New York to Sydney to study Communication and Journalism opens the door to diverse perspectives and new ways of thinking.” (Klaudia Qori, New York City, NY)
• “My sincere appreciation extends to the vibrant multiculturalism in places like Sydney’s Surry Hills.” (Amir Maharjan, Silver Spring, MD)

10. Athens (Greece)

• “Studying abroad in Athens, Greece is a chance to live and breathe the world of classical civilizations.” (Logan Bradley, OR)
• “I’m planning on traveling to Athens to view theatres and architecture and meet with theatre managers and producers.” (Pearl Wigg, Sioux Falls, SD)
• “While preparing for my study abroad trip, I’ve been researching the must things to do in Athens, Greece.” (Lydia Chavez, Plano, TX)