"The growth in the number of students, according to statistics in the report 'Open Doors 2007,' reflects the dynamism, diversity, and excellent quality of American higher education institutions in the context of international competition," said Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Initial enrollment increased in 2006-2007 by 10.2% compared to 8% in the previous year. For several years after the 2001 attacks in the United States, the enrollment of foreign students declined.
The annual 'Open Doors' study is funded by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is based on a survey of nearly 3,000 accredited American educational institutions and is conducted by a New York-based nonprofit organization for educational and cultural exchange.
"The continued increase in the flow of foreign students is good news," said Constantine Curris, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. "Foreign students make a significant contribution to the awareness of global trends and understanding of cultural diversity in our colleges and universities. At the same time, they play an important role in providing a better education. The institutions in the association are firmly committed to creating favorable conditions for students from other countries."
According to the report, the ten main fields of study for foreign students in the United States in 2006-2007 were business and management (18% of total), engineering (15%), physical and life sciences (9%), social sciences (8%), mathematics and computer science (8%), visual and applied arts (5%), health professions (5%), intensive English language study (4%), education (3%), and humanities (3%). The popularity of intensive English language study (up 30%) and social sciences (up 6%) increased.
For the sixth consecutive year, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles ranks first among American institutions in foreign student enrollment (7,115). Second is Columbia University in New York (5,937). Other institutions in the top ten: New York University (5,827), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (5,685), Purdue University in West Lafayette (5,581), Indiana University (5,581), University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (5,429), Michigan State University (5,429), University of Texas at Austin (5,303), California State University, Los Angeles (4,704), Harvard University in Cambridge (4,514), Boston University (4,484), and Pennsylvania State University in Philadelphia (4,484).
The leading sender of students to the United States for the sixth consecutive year is India (83,833), with the number of Indian students increasing by 10% compared to the 2005-2006 academic year. Second place is China with 67,723 students (up 8%), third is South Korea with 62,392 students (up 6%).
The number of students from Saudi Arabia (up 129%), Vietnam (up 31%), Hong Kong (up 9.3%), and Nepal (up 28%) increased. It was found that 46% of survey respondents are from Asia, 26% from Europe, 13% from Latin America, 7% from sub-Saharan Africa, and 6% from North Africa and the Middle East.
One of the main obstacles for foreign students wishing to study in the United States is the high cost of tuition. And if a student has not achieved excellent results, does not speak English well enough, and has not submitted an honest and thoughtful essay along with his application, he is unlikely to receive a scholarship at an American university. The funds allocated for scholarships are limited not only for foreign students but also for American students. As education specialist Philip Altbach notes, it is difficult to get them.
Philip Altbach is the director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College and a professor of higher education in the School of Education at that institution. He agreed that the English language proficiency test, TOEFL, is too expensive and is often held in inconvenient locations in a number of countries. However, he added that such testing is necessary for all foreign students, even those coming for short-term or summer courses.
Nearly 600,000 foreign students study at American universities, and although they study all fields of knowledge in the United States, the most popular are business management and engineering programs. The majority of foreign students in the US are in master's or doctoral programs, but there are also those seeking a bachelor's degree.
Despite the difficulties associated with studying in the United States, the number of foreign students will grow because the US is "a desired destination for many people from other countries," Altbach believes.
The United States warmly welcomes foreign students and strives to find new opportunities for the best but financially strapped students to study at American colleges and universities. This was stated in June at a congressional hearing by State Department representative Thomas Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Speaking before a House subcommittee, Farrell reported that during their studies in the United States, 78% of foreign students rely on their relatives and personal resources.
Although the American higher education system is stable and institutions usually change slowly, important changes have occurred that keep many people wanting to get an education in the US. For example, because universities report on the effectiveness of their programs, they pay more attention to teaching and learning outcomes.
According to Altbach, distance learning plays a small but growing role in American education and could become an alternative for foreign students who are unable to come to the United States. Many universities offer the opportunity to earn degrees online, especially in fields such as information technology and business management. However, he advises checking the credentials of a specific distance learning program provider, as 'the quality of such programs is not well monitored.' Distance learning programs are expanding rapidly, but should be approached with caution.
Applicants should also check whether the university they plan to attend is an accredited institution, meaning whether its standards have been confirmed by a recognized accrediting body. 'A diploma from a university without accreditation is worthless,' noted Philip Altbach.
Based on materials from the Bureau of International Information
Programs of the U.S. Department of State.