Whether you've studied abroad before or you're dreaming about your first experience, the benefits of study abroad go far beyond your time overseas. Studying abroad builds real, in-demand skills, helps you shape your career, and gives you the confidence to navigate the world long after you come back home.
Not only will you have an amazing adventure and gain tons of memories, but you'll learn important skills outside of the classroom like communication, adaptability, and problem solving—the ones employers are looking for. In our 2025 Career Catalyst Study, conducted with nearly 500 study abroad alumni, we found that 65% said their time abroad directly shaped the direction of their career.
Career Catalyst Stats
Job Skills
92% said the experience helped build key career skills they use today.
Long-Term Value
89% believe studying abroad is crucial for long-term success.
Career Influence
65% called the experience a major influence on their career path.
Professional Growth
64% said it contributed to their career advancement.
Is Studying Abroad Worth It?
Absolutely, and we have the research to back it up.
The majority of IES Abroad alumni said that studying abroad with us helped them secure their first job after graduation, and that it built the job skills they use today. After over 75 years of doing this, we can definitively say that studying abroad helps you grow both professionally and personally. When you step out of your comfort zone into a different part of the world, you gain new perspectives and firsthand experience in a global environment, the kind of experience that makes you stand out.
“I made lifelong friends and grew a lot during this semester. It was definitely worthwhile, because my German improved dramatically and I met a lot of people who changed my worldview.”
Peter W • Gettysburg College • IES Abroad Freiburg
What You'll Gain
Career-Ready Skills
Study abroad makes you career-ready through real, hands-on experience. 92% of alumni say their time abroad directly helped build the job skills they use today.
Long-Term Career Growth
The payoff doesn't stop at graduation. IES Abroad alumni consistently point to their time abroad it as a lasting asset on their resume—one that keeps opening doors years into their careers.
Real Language Proficiency
Studying a language in a classroom is one thing, but living where it is spoken every day is a completely different experience. You are not just practicing for a grade; you are using the language to navigate real life, like ordering food, making friends, and figuring out public transit. That daily necessity forces your fluency to grow in a way textbooks simply cannot match.
Cross-Cultural Perspective
When you study abroad, you'll be in direct, sustained contact with different ways of living, learning, and communicating. That builds a cultural fluency that's hard to develop any other way; one that transfers straight into your professional and personal life once you're home.
A Global Network
IES Abroad programs draw students from more than 275+ member institutions across the United States. Those connections, alongside access to a global alumni community of more than 200,000+ former students, extend the value of the experience long after the program ends.
See More of the World
IES Abroad operates centers in more than 30+ cities across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Most programs are structured around a primary city while incorporating possible travel to surrounding regions, so you'll typically experience far more geographic range than a single destination suggests.
“Employers understand the extraordinary benefits of study abroad, and many seek out graduates who made their study abroad dreams a reality. After all, the skills you learn when you’re abroad—adaptability, global understanding, leadership, and independence, to name a few—are directly applicable to finding success in any professional environment. From the boardroom to the classroom and everywhere in-between, changed lives change the world.”
Gregory H. • President & CEO of IES Abroad
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Nearly half of IES Abroad alumni say their study abroad experience helped them land their first job after graduation, and 92% say it built the job skills they use today.
Studying abroad will help you build skills like communication, adaptability, interpersonal skills, problem-solving and collaboration. These are the same skills employers rank as most important when they're hiring, and as per IES Abroad's 2025 Career Catalyst research, 92% of alumni say their time abroad directly helped build the job skills they use today. You also earn credit towards your major, often through courses you couldn't take anywhere else. And the growth goes beyond the workplace: you experience independence, new cultures, get familiar with a new language, and build the confidence to handle unfamiliar situations.
You apply through the IES Abroad Student Portal, confirm credit transfer with your home institution, and explore financial aid options before your term deadline. If you need more help finding the perfect program for you, contact us. We’re happy to help!
Yes, absolutely! IES Abroad alumni consistently point to their time abroad as a lasting asset on their resume, one that keeps opening doors years into their careers. The language, the global network, and the confidence that came from living somewhere new stays with you long after graduation.
This post walks through a typical weekday in Madrid, from breakfast and the metro commute to two very different classes, lunch with friends, and late nights out...
“I made lifelong friends and grew a lot during this semester. It was definitely worthwhile, because my German improved dramatically and I met a lot of people who changed my worldview.”Peter W • Gettysburg College • IES Abroad Freiburg
“Employers understand the extraordinary benefits of study abroad, and many seek out graduates who made their study abroad dreams a reality. After all, the skills you learn when you’re abroad—adaptability, global understanding, leadership, and independence, to name a few—are directly applicable to finding success in any professional environment. From the boardroom to the classroom and everywhere in-between, changed lives change the world.”Gregory H. • President & CEO of IES Abroad
