American University vs Boston University for study abroad: which is better?

Boston University has the edge for study abroad. BU is especially well known for having a large, established global programs system, a wide range of semester and shorter-term options, and strong integration between abroad programs and many academic departments. It is also one of the schools where studying abroad is a very visible part of the undergraduate experience rather than a niche add-on.

One big differentiator is BU’s own international study centers and faculty-led infrastructure. That matters because schools with their own programs often have tighter academic oversight, clearer course equivalencies, and programs designed to match major requirements more smoothly. If your main concern is whether going abroad will feel realistic to fit into your degree plan, that built-in structure is a real advantage.

Another difference is breadth across fields of study. BU tends to offer especially robust options for students in business, communications, international relations, language study, and some STEM-adjacent areas where course sequencing can otherwise make studying abroad harder. American University also has solid study abroad opportunities and its international focus fits well with many students’ interests, but BU’s menu of locations, formats, and academically embedded programs is typically deeper.

The other practical factor is campus culture around going abroad. At BU, study abroad is common enough that advising, peer examples, and departmental planning are usually easier to find early. At American, the opportunities are real and the school’s DC location complements globally oriented academics well, but BU stands out more specifically for the scale and maturity of its abroad ecosystem.