According to a study recently released by the Institute of International Education (IIE), Point Loma Nazarene University ranked 10th in the nation in undergraduate participation in study abroad. The university was categorized in a group with other Master’s institutions.

“What this ranking really says is that our students are finding value in, and taking advantage of, the international opportunities being offered more than ever before at PLNU,” said Frank Serna, associate director of International Studies. “We have students who desire experiences in and out of the classroom that are going to broaden their worldviews and expand their understanding of cultural and ethnic diversity.”

According to the study, PLNU had 236 undergraduates participate in study abroad programs. With a total of 501 degrees conferred last year, the estimated percentage of study abroad participation is 47.1 percent, ranking them just ahead of Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas.

The ranking was calculated by IIE as part of its annual Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange. They are the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the U.S. The census that provides these statistics is based on a survey of close to 3,000 accredited U.S. institutions.

“A national ranking also represents a challenge for our entire community to stay true to our mission and contribute to the personal development of these students studying abroad both before, and especially after, their international experience,” added Serna. “They come back with new knowledge, stories, skills and passions that contribute greatly to the PLNU community.”

Over the past eight years, PLNU has sent students to 47 different countries through its study abroad programs. Last year, the number of study abroad students represented 10 percent of the total undergraduate population. The national average is between 1 and 2 percent.