Overall US Enrollments of International Students Increased this Northern Autumn. (November 16, 2010)

A survey, which reports on enrollment trends for international students at U.S. colleges and universities, was conducted among members of the following higher education associations:

• American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)

• American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)

• American Council on Education (ACE)

• Association of American Universities (AAU)

• Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)

• Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)

• Institute of International Education (IIE)

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators

The survey was conducted between October 4 and 22, 2010.

The 22-page report is available online. Here is an overall summary of the findings:

Changes in Newly Enrolled International Students

Focusing only on newly enrolled international students, how has that number changed this year (Northern Autumn 2010) compared to Autumn 2009?

• Of all responding institutions, 51.9% (or 353 respondents) reported an increase, 24.4% (166) reported a decline, and 23.7% (161) reported level enrollments. Last year, 45% reported an increase, 29% a decline, and 26% level enrollments.

• Of the responding institutions that enrol more than 1,000 international students (123 institutions that responded to this question), 65% (80 responding institutions) reported increases, 20.3% (25 institutions) reported declines, and 14.6% (18 institutions) reported level enrollments. Last year, 62% reported increases, 20% reported declines, and 18% reported level enrollments.

• Of the responding two-year colleges, 44% (62 responding institutions) reported increases, 25.5% (36 institutions) reported declines, and 30.5% (43 institutions) reported level enrollments. Last year, 36% reported increases, 31% reported declines, and 33% reported level enrollments.

• Of the responding Research/Doctoral institutions, 60.2% (121 responding institutions) reported increases, 21.9% (44 institutions) reported declines, and 17.9% (36 institutions) reported level enrollments. Last year, 57% reported increases, 23% reported declines, and 20% reported level enrollments.

• Of the responding Baccalaureate institutions, 53.3% (73 responding institutions) reported increases, 19% (26 institutions) reported declines, and 27.7% (38 institutions) reported level enrollments. Last year, 43% reported increases, 31% reported declines, and 26% reported level enrollments.

• Of the responding Master's institutions, 47.4% (79 responding institutions) reported increases, 34.2% (57 institutions) reported declines, and 18.6% (31 institutions) reported level enrollments. Last year, 42% reported increases, 35% reported declines, and 23% reported level enrollments.

The report notes that: "[t]he results indicate that new enrollments from China are increasing significantly, with 58% of institutions reporting increases and only 14% reporting declines (the rest reported level enrollments). For the second year in a row, the number of institutions reporting increases in new students from India is equal to those reporting declines (27% reporting increases and 27% reporting declines) [while] from Europe 35% reported increases vs. 16% reported declines."

Finally, in summarising its findings the report concludes: "The major reasons for the reported increases appear to be largely related to continued active recruitment efforts (cited by 31% of responding institutions), the growing reputation and visibility of U.S. campuses abroad (29%), and an increased number of linkages with institutions in other countries. The responding institutions that experienced declines in international student enrollments cited the cost of tuition/fees at U.S. institutions (cited by 16%), followed by the world financial crisis (14%), the visa application process (14%), and home country economic problems (12%) as major reasons for declines at their institutions."