New York, NY (PRWEB) April 06, 2016 – Abroad101, producers of America’s first and largest study abroad review website, released the fifth annual Study Abroad Rankings today highlighting the success of international education. The rankings recognize the study abroad programs and locations rated highest by American students who have studied abroad in the last year. The rankings also reflect the dynamic nature of study abroad and identify up-and-coming destinations and program types in addition to top programs and providers.

Notable in this year’s rankings was a shift in popularity toward programs operating in big cities, especially in Europe, which hosted 12 of the top 16 programs. The broad reach of study abroad is reflected in the Top 5, which featured programs in Costa Rica, Spain, China, Czech Republic, and Australia.

Costa Rica tops the list of study abroad programs with Sol Education Abroad at the Latin University campus in Heredia, a familiar campus setting in a college town, this program blends the best of an American college experience with the excitement of being in another country and doing it all in Spanish.

In a review by Ashley H, a major in International Relations and Affairs at the University of Colorado – Denver, described her Costa Rica study abroad experience as follows:

It was more than I could have ever imagined. It was truly an eye opening experience that has strengthened my international perspective and my desire to make the world a better place. I feel more comfortable with my conversational skills and have opened up so many more doors of opportunity by being able to communicate with a greater number of people across the globe.

In addition to rating programs, the Study Abroad Rankings also identify the “Most Livable Cities.”

Students are currently favoring large cities, contrary to last year’s rankings featuring smaller college towns; London tops the list, with Rome, Madrid, Paris, Madrid, and Sydney all in the Top 10. The full list of Top Study Abroad Programs is at http://www.StudyAbroad101.com/rankings