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Of the 1,400,000 foreign exchange students pursuing
programs in postsecondary education outside their home
country, more than one-third chose U.S. institutions.
Many colleges and universities consider it very
important to have a population of foreign exchange
students and programs on their campuses. The presence of
foreign exchange student programs is essential for
diversity in the college experience. Talented and
hard-working international students are excellent role
models for U.S. students and, at the graduate level,
fill key research positions, particularly in engineering
and the sciences, where it is often difficult to attract
adequate numbers of qualified domestic students.
The number of U.S. students participating in foreign
student exchange programs abroad is increasing year over
year. However, it is estimated that only 1% of the
undergraduate classes participate in study
abroad programs.
International Exchange Student
Programs in the U.S.
International students
are enrolled in greater proportions at the higher
academic levels in the U.S.; thus, they comprise only
2.7% of all bachelor's degree students, 11.4% of
graduate students, and 33% of all doctoral students.
Approximately one-fifth of all the doctoral degrees
awarded by U.S. institutions and one-third of the
doctorates in engineering, mathematics, and the physical
and biological sciences are earned by international
students.
U.S. colleges and universities are the primary source
of support for 37.2% of all international graduate
students in the United States, but just 7.6% of all
international undergraduates. Support from foreign
governments and from the U.S. government has declined
steadily over the years.
Foreign Exchange Student Programs
in the U.S. Report: Countries of
Origin
Leading countries of origin of
international students in the United States, 1998-99:
| Country |
Number
of students in U.S. |
Percent of U.S. international student
total |
| China |
51,001 |
10.4 |
| Japan |
46,406 |
9.5 |
| Korea,
Republic of |
39,199 |
8.0 |
| India |
37,482 |
7.6 |
| Taiwan |
31,043 |
6.3 |
| Canada |
22,746 |
4.6 |
| Thailand |
12,489 |
2.5 |
| Indonesia |
12,142 |
2.5 |
| Malaysia |
11,557 |
2.4 |
| Mexico |
9,641 |
2.0 |
| Germany |
9,568 |
1.9 |
| Turkey |
9,377 |
1.9 |
| Hong
Kong |
8,735 |
1.8 |
| Brazil |
8.052 |
1.6 |
| United
Kingdom |
7,765 |
1.6 |
Foreign Exchange Student
Programs--Enrollment
During 1998-99, 490,933 international students were
enrolled in U.S. foreign exchange student programs,
making up 3.6% of the total enrollment in U.S. higher
education. Business is the most popular field,
attracting about 21% of all international students.
Engineering attracts about 15% percent and is the most
popular field among international students enrolled at
research institutions. Large research universities
enrolled 41% of all foreign exchange students into their
programs.
More than 80% of undergraduate foreign exchange
students finance their education primarily from personal
and family resources; the same is true for approximately
40% of international doctoral students. The U.S.
government provides direct support for less than 1% of
international students (through a number of scholarship
programs, including the Fulbright program). Much greater
numbers of foreign graduate students (37.2%) obtain the
bulk of their support from their U.S. academic
institution. This support is provided through the
uniquely American system of "graduate assistantships"
for teaching or research.
For more information on international students in the
United States, visit OpenDoorsWeb.org. |
