Established in 1972, COST is a collaboration of 15 colleges and universities in the United States that provides opportunities for its students to have quality student teaching experiences in overseas settings. Grand Valley State University currently serves as headquarters and coordinates international placements.

John Cabot University, an American liberal arts university in the heart of Rome, Italy, welcomes study abroad students in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. With 1,400 students from over 70 countries, the University offers over 400 courses per semester and 130 courses per summer, all taught in English by internationally diverse faculty.