The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship undergraduate study abroad scholarship program designed for high-achieving American undergraduate students of limited financial means (Pell Grant recipients). The Institute of International Education (IIE) has supported its implementation since the program’s inception in 2001. To date, the Gilman Program has supported more than 41,000 exceptional American undergraduate students who reflect the diversity of the U.S. population to pursue overseas study and internships and gain global and cultural competencies to navigate the ever-changing landscapes of education, international business, and scientific discovery and innovation.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Gilman Program, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and IIE implemented an impact study to assess the impact of the Gilman Program over the past two decades. The study evaluated the impact that the Gilman Program has had on U.S. campuses and in communities at home and abroad, as well as on the personal and professional trajectories of Gilman Scholars who participated in the program. The study found evidence of the commitment of the U.S. government to ensuring that the next generation of global leaders — American students of all backgrounds — engages internationally to foster mutual understanding and to develop critical skills, supporting the U.S. national security and economic prosperity.