Foreign students decline: numbers drop for first time in 30 years

University Business, Jan, 2005

The number of international students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions decreased by 2.4 percent overall in 2003-04 to a total of 572,509, according to "Open Doors 2004," the annual report on international academic mobility published by the Institute of International Education in November. Although graduate enrollment was up (2.5 percent), that increase was cancelled by a 5 percent decline in undergraduates, resulting in the first absolute decline in foreign enrollments since 1971-72.

Researchers offered a variety of reasons for the decline, including difficulties in obtaining student visas (especially in scientific and technical fields), rising tuition costs, stronger recruitment efforts by other English-speaking nations such as Australia, Canada, and Great Britain, and the perception that international students may no longer be welcome in the U.S.

While the overall decline may be seen as cause for concern--especially since foreign students bring an estimated $13 billion into the U.S. economy--some institutions actually saw an increase in foreign enrollments. The University of Southern California for example, recorded 6,647 international students in 2003-04, 6 percent more than the previous year. For the full report, visit www.opendoors.iienetwork.org.