Approximately 6,000 U.S. College Students Have Received Microgrants to Cover the Cost of U.S. Passport Applications to Date
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 2026 — The IIE Center for International Opportunities (CIO) has selected 40 U.S. colleges and universities with IIE American Passport Project grants to provide study abroad opportunities for 1,000 Pell-eligible college students across the U.S. Now in its sixth year, the program has reached approximately 6,000 total students—bringing IIE closer to its goal of enabling 10,000 U.S. students to obtain their passports by 2030. Recipient colleges and universities disburse the funds among Pell-eligible college students who aspire to study abroad; the grants cover the cost of obtaining a U.S. passport.
Study abroad among American college students continues to increase, according to the Open Doors Report. But cost persists as a barrier. The IIE American Passport Project advances IIE’s commitment to promoting international education and exchange, so more American students can gain the associated academic and career benefits. The grants cover the cost of applying for a U.S. passport, a critical first step to studying abroad. In addition, it prioritizes students early in their higher education experience, providing ample time to go through the study abroad planning process with advising and support from their home institutions.
“Education and exchange drive innovation, diplomacy, and long-term stability by preparing leaders to navigate interconnected markets, emerging technologies, and global challenges,” says Jason Czyz, IIE’s President and CEO. “IIE supports opportunities that allow participants to gain global perspective, build networks, and develop lasting skills. Obtaining a passport is an essential first step to pursuing these experiences.”
Open to IIENetwork member institutions, the IIE American Passport Project aims to reach institutions that serve a variety of U.S. student populations. To date, the program has issued more than 250 grants to higher education institutions in 42 states and the District of Columbia. The sixth cohort of recipients includes four community colleges, and two new states represented through Montana State University and North Dakota State University. IIE selected the institutional recipients based in part on demonstrated efforts to prioritize student populations from low-income backgrounds, students who have not traveled abroad as an adult or in a learning environment, and students in their first year at the institution. Learn more about the IIE American Passport Project.
Please join us in congratulating the following IIENetwork U.S. member institutions!
- Baldwin Wallace University
- Bentley University
- California Polytechnic State University
- California State University – San Bernadino
- Carleton College
- Depaul University
- Florida A & M University
- Florida Atlantic University
- George C Wallace State Community College
- Georgia Gwinnett College
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Hamilton College
- Hudson County Community College
- Lamar University
- Linfield University
- Montana State University
- New Jersey City University
- North Dakota State University
- Northern Arizona University
- Ohio Wesleyan University
- Pomona College
- Purdue University
- Saint Mary’s College
- Sinclair Community College
- Southwestern University
- The Ohio State University Main Campus
- University at Albany, SUNY
- University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
- University of California, Merced
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of Florida
- University of Missouri – St Louis
- University of Nebraska, Omaha
- University of North Carolina, Wilmington
- University of North Florida
- University of Rhode Island
- University of South Carolina – Columbia
- Virginia State University
- Western Carolina University
- York College of Pennsylvania
About the IIE Center for International Opportunities
The IIE Center for International Opportunities aims to enrich and expand international education, exchange, and opportunity for all by providing expertise on education and skills development and leveraging thought leadership. Through dialogue and action and with a global lens, the Center leverages programs and partnerships across multiple sectors and a range of institutions; cultivates global learning to support the engagement and understanding of individuals and communities; and, expands educational opportunities for all to maximize student potential and employability. Learn more at iie.org/CIO.
About the Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is the leader in designing and implementing international education strategies and program services. We work with governments, policymakers, educators, and employers across the globe to prepare students and professionals for the global workforce and equip them to solve the increasingly complex challenges facing our interconnected world. With support from donors, we also create initiatives that assist students, scholars, and artists whose lives and work are threatened; expand teaching and learning across cultures; and provide life-changing opportunities. A not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,600 higher education partners. Visit iie.org.