Statistically Significant Effects of Study Abroad
Successful Completion of Transfer Level English within 3 Years
- Students who participated in study abroad were more successful, on average, in completing a transfer level English course compared to their peers.
- Study abroad students successfully completed a transfer level English course within 3 years at a rate 1.08 times (8%) greater than those who did not study abroad, holding constant the other variables in the model.
Successful Completion of Transfer Level Math within 3 Years
- Generally speaking, students who participated in study abroad were more successful in completing a transfer level math course compared to students who did not study abroad.
- Holding constant the other variables in the model, students who went abroad to study successfully completed a transfer level math course within 3 years at a rate 1.19 times (19%) greater than those who did not go abroad to study.
- Because this rate increase is over 10 percent, it can be argued that students who go abroad can be reasonably expected to experience more success, on average, in successfully completing a transfer level math course.
Number of Transferrable Units Completed within 3 Years
- Students who studied abroad, on average, completed more transferrable class units within 3 years of entering college compared to their peers who did not study abroad.
- Holding constant the other variables included in the model, students who studied abroad completed 12.46 additional transferrable units within 3 years of college enrollment.
- In other words, study abroad students completed essentially an additional quarter's worth of units compared to their non-study abroad counterparts.
Transferrable GPA within 3 Years
- Students who went on study abroad were more likely, on average, to have a higher grade point average (GPA) based on transferrable coursework within 3 years of starting college when compared to students who did not study abroad.
- Holding constant the other variables in the model, students who went abroad had a transferrable coursework GPA 0.18 points higher than their peers.
- Considered independently, participation in study abroad seemed to have an impressionable effect on transferrable coursework GPA.
Earning a Degree or Certificate within 3 Years
- Study abroad participants were more likely, on average, to earn an associate's degree or certificate of completion within 3 years of college enrollment.
- Those who studied abroad earned a degree or certificate within 3 years at a rate 1.35 times (35%) greater than their peers who did not study abroad, holding constant the other variables controlled for in the analysis.
Transferring within 3 Years
- Study abroad participants were more likely, in general, to transfer to a four-year institution within 3 years of college enrollment.
- Students who participated in study abroad transferred to a four-year college or university within 3 years at a rate 1.47 times (47%) greater than students did not study abroad, holding constant the other variables in the model.
- Similar to earning an associate's degree or certificate of completion, study abroad also had an unexpectedly greater effect than having the goal of transferring to a four-year institution.
