For too long, study abroad opportunities have been out of reach for lower income students. Scholarships for such programs are limited, and participants aren’t able to work while participating. But new research on the U.S. State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship highlights the value of having a study abroad experience, no matter your financial situation.
In 2015, 2,800 Gilman scholarships were awarded. Participants must meet similar requirements to Pell Grants, and both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. Even as study abroad has expanded, programs have remained overwhelmingly white. The Gilman Evaluation Report covering the first 15 years of the scholarship’s existence points to success in diversifying which students have international experiences.
