The Institute of International Education has released a report about their finding on the impact of International students in the US education system.
In the school year of 2014-2015, nearly one million international students arrived to the US to study. A large majority of students mainly came from Asian countries such as China and India. This was up ten percent from the 2013-2014 School year.
International students made up only five percent of total students in American higher education system. This increase in international students is a positive aspect for American universities to focus on. Understanding behaviors, culture and income is a vital factor to make the students feel welcome in a new place. With an understanding, an improved service would result from this. There is a fine line the institutions would have to not cross to make international students feel welcome, while not compromising the quality of education for domestic students.
Institutions in states such as California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Illinois have the largest concentration of international students. The main reason is these states have the most well know universities.
When finance is taken in to consideration, American education is among the most expensive in the world with students paying fees with personal or family funding. Funding is available from the universities both back in their home countries and in the US. The opportunity for scholarships is also a welcoming sign to international students.
One of the main findings from the study illustrates why the US is so popular among International students. Capacity is a big benefit to American universities, other countries with a great education system cannot cope with the number of domestic students they have. In-turn the American universities can cope with the overflow.
Another big factor on the ever increasing popularity for American universities is the associated quality and world-wide recognition that comes from an American education. A prime example of target marketing is institutions based in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana has offices in both China and India to capitalize on the overflow of students. When governors from the US go on trade delegations abroad, the president of a university would normally go on the visit.
A theory was raised in the report which suggested that there is a benefit to domestic students mixing with international students. With a globalized work force now becoming very common practice, it is beneficial to have students from all over the world to interact with. With a very small portion of American students going abroad to study, being in class might be the only opportunity to interact on an international basis.
The Institute of International Education states the economic benefits by having international students in the US contributes $30bn a year. Considering a year at NYU costs an average of $66,050 with tuition and living expenses taken in to account, there is a significant amount of interest for international students.
The influx of International students in America illustrates the positive change the education sector is currently experiencing. Integration on a global scale is beneficial for both domestic and international students.