Embassy Activities
Record High Number of American Students Studying Abroad, International Students at U.S. Colleges and Universities
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
November 17, 2008
International student enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities increased by 7 percent to a record high, and new student enrollment rose by 10 percent in academic year 2007-2008. A total of 623,805 international students were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, 6 percent higher than the previous record high from 2002-2003 and the largest one year jump ever (40,821) in the number of foreign students enrolled. Moreover, U.S. student participation in study abroad was up 8 percent in 2006-2007 from the previous year, to a new record total of 241,791. The number of Americans studying abroad has increased more than 150% during the past decade. These figures, covering academic year 2007-2008 for international students in the U.S. and academic year 2006-2007 for U.S. students abroad, were released today by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in its annual Open Doors survey.
The State Department, in cooperation with the U.S. higher education community, has been actively promoting this growth, and is sending record numbers of Americans to study abroad through its programs of educational exchange, sponsored by the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau (ECA). The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarships for U.S. undergraduates with financial need and the Fulbright U.S. Student Program continue to grow with strong bipartisan support from the U.S. Congress, and hundreds of American students are participating in the critical language programs of our National Security Language Initiative.
In order to help students in other countries gain access to an American education, the State Department has also expanded support for educational advising around the world at EducationUSA advising centers, where international students can obtain information about the broad range of educational opportunities offered by U.S. colleges and universities. And we are supporting English language programs, like the English Access Microscholarship Program for underserved high school students in more than 60 countries, to prepare future generations of international students to pursue educational opportunities in the United States.
These numbers testify to a widespread international recognition of the vitality, diversity and quality of U.S. colleges and universities. The appeal of an American education is reinforced by the continuing commitment of the U.S. government and the U.S. higher education community to demonstrate that America's doors are truly open to welcome students from around the world. We are also gratified that American students are electing to study in record numbers abroad. U.S. students recognize that our world is increasingly interdependent, and the State Department is committed to offering them substantive international experiences that increase mutual understanding and provide them with direct knowledge and career relevant skills.
For more on the Open Doors Survey report, see: http://opendoors.iienetwork.org
For information on ECA’s exchange programs, visit: http://exchanges.state.gov