StudyAbroad.com Site Traffic Corroborates New Open Doors Data Which Shows Growing Interest in Non-Traditional Destinations and Social Sciences Degrees

Online Study Abroad Program Directory Reports an Increase in Student Demand for Study Abroad Program Information in the 2007-2008 Academic Year


CHESTER, PA--(Marketwire - November 18, 2008) - In line with data released yesterday by Open Doors for the 2006-2007 academic year, StudyAbroad.com, an EducationDynamics Web resource and the Internet's leading study abroad directory, released its site traffic report today detailing heightened student demand for study abroad. Revealing trends from the 2007-2008 academic year, StudyAbroad.com reports an increase in site traffic of 17 percent compared to the previous year.

The increase in the number of U.S. students who study abroad is compounded by a growing interest in non-traditional destinations, particularly China, Argentina, South Africa, Ecuador and India. This increase is fueled in part by an increase in new program opportunities, and partnerships between higher education institutions in the United States and abroad, according to the Open Doors 2008 report.

StudyAbroad.com reveals a similar ranking of the 10 most popular study abroad destinations as compared to Open Doors 2008 data:

1.   Spain (#3, Open Doors 2008)
2.   Italy
3.   United Kingdom (#1, Open Doors 2008)
4.   France
5.   Australia (#6, Open Doors 2008)
6.   China (#5, Open Doors 2008)
7.   Ireland (#9, Open Doors 2008)
8.   Germany
9.   Mexico (#7, Open Doors 2008)
10.  Japan* (#11, Open Doors 2008)
*Costa Rica ranks as the 10th most popular destination according to Open
Doors 2008.

A free directory of more than 17,500 study abroad programs in more than 130 countries, StudyAbroad.com has experienced an influx of students interested in studying Arts & Fine Arts, Foreign Languages & Literature, Economics, Business Administration, Education and International Relations. This data is closely aligned with the top three disciplines among Americans who study abroad as reported by Open Doors 2008: Social Sciences (21 percent), Business & Management (19 percent) and Humanities (13 percent).

In addition to its directory of study abroad programs, StudyAbroad.com also provides study abroad scholarship, financial aid, and health and safety information. Traffic generated by StudyAbroad.com is a result of both organic and sponsored Web searches.

Open Doors 2008 reflects study conducted abroad in academic year 2006-2007 (including summer 2007). The annual report is published by the Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States.

About StudyAbroad.com

StudyAbroad.com, part of the Prospecting Services Division of EducationDynamics, is the Internet's leading source of information on educational opportunities for students to study in other countries. It is a comprehensive directory of study abroad and intensive language programs organized by subject and destination. StudyAbroad.com also offers Destination Portal Pages, a handbook serving as a guide to traveling abroad, and financial aid information. To learn more, visit http://www.StudyAbroad.com.

About EducationDynamics

EducationDynamics, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital, is the leading marketing and information services company dedicated to helping higher education institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50 special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Nikki Martin 303.433.7020 nmartin@csg-pr.com