Number of U.S. students in 2021-2022: 4,751
Costa Rica welcomes tourists with adventurous spirits. But it isn’t just for visitors; it’s also a top 15 study abroad destination for Americans. Costa Rica – which has an unofficial slogan of “pura vida” or “pure life” – hosted 2.5% of all U.S. study abroad students in 2021-22, or 4,751 students, according to IIE data. In the prior academic year, 565 students, or 3.9% of the total number of U.S. students abroad, chose it as their destination.