New research by The Institute of International Education (IIE) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational Affairs indicates that the number of international students in the United States continues to rise.
According to the report “Open Doors 2019,” the population of international students has reached 1,095,299, a 0.05% increase since last year. International students now make up 5.5% of the total U.S. higher education population.
“The record numbers of international students in the United States and U.S. students studying abroad mean that more students than ever before are being exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking,” said IIE President and CEO Dr. Allan E. Goodman. “They will have greater ability to succeed in and contribute to an increasingly complex and interconnected world.”
In addition to the “Open Doors” report, IIE and the U.S. State Department coincidentally released the Fall 2019 International Student Enrollment Snapshot survey.
Over 500 U.S. higher education institutions were surveyed and the current patterns within international enrollment during the 2019-2020 academic year were analyzed. “Open Doors” used data from more than 2,800 institutions.
China had the highest percentage with 369,548 students studying in the United States, a 1.7 percent increase from last year. Other highly represented countries included India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada, according to the report. Within the last year, Bangladesh, Brazil, Nigeria and Pakistan have shown increased numbers.
According to the Student Enrollment survey, institutions are prioritizing international student outreach and recruitment within China, Vietnam and India. Additionally, 59% of institutions reported that their recruitment efforts were focused on international students already in the U.S. This included international high school and community college students.
