Crystal Ball: Education Abroad in 2026

After a year of significant uncertainty for higher education, international educators are bracing for more changes in 2026. Though education abroad offices did not experience the same near-daily ups and downs as other areas of the field did, they were still affected—as were their students. Against that backdrop, new trends emerged in student preferences, program types, and career readiness.

International Educator spoke with four education abroad professionals about what they anticipate for 2026, from trends and program types to office priorities—and what they learned in 2025 that will inform their work this year.

What do you anticipate will be the biggest trend in education abroad in 2026, and how is your institution preparing for it?

Tina Stoiciu, Williams College: I believe that the interest in studying abroad will remain strong. Unfortunately, I also anticipate that fewer international students will be studying abroad due to immigration and reentry challenges. However, the interest in studying away domestically for those who cannot cross country borders is still available, and we are seeing that shift. A lot can be learned from crossing country borders, as well as state borders, and we are committed to providing those opportunities. This includes our own Williams-Mystic program, a semester-long interdisciplinary ocean and coastal studies program that takes place in Mystic, Connecticut. During this program, students learn about climate change and confront the great challenges of our day.

Marisa Gray, Toronto Metropolitan University: In 2026, education abroad will increasingly prioritize intentional, equity-centered global learning over volume-based