More college students going 'abroad or bust'
College students are adding more culture to the experience by heading abroad — and they are doing it in greater numbers, according to a new report. Interestingly enough, the trend is being seen both among U.S. students as well as those overseas. New data by the Institute of International Education found a 4-percent increase of U.S. students studying abroad in the 2009-2010 school year over the previous year.
The report also found a record-high number of international students studying in the U.S., reaching 723,277 in the 2010-2011 school year. That is a 5-percent increase from the previous year and the fifth consecutive annual jump. According to the data, there are a whopping 32 percent more international students studying in America now than a decade ago.
“Because of the excellence and diversity of our colleges and universities, more students worldwide are choosing to study in the United States,” said Assistant Secretary of State Ann Stock. “Young people who study abroad gain the global skills necessary to create solutions to 21st Century challenges. In turn, international students globalize our campuses and communities.”
Chinese students make up majority of the international students studying in the U.S. and also account for the lion’s share of the of growth seen in the 2010-2011 school year. The number of Chinese students in the U.S. increased 23 percent over the last school year, reaching 157,558. Students from China make up 43 percent of the total undergraduate international student body in the U.S. Students hailing from India make up the second largest international student population at 103,895, while South Korea, Canada and Taiwan round out the top five with 73,351, 27,546, and 24,818, respectively.
The University of Southern California has the most international students in the U.S. at 8,615 in the 2010-2011 school year. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign comes in second with 7,991 students and New York University is a close third with 7,988 international students. The top five majors among international students in the U.S. are Business and Management, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physical and Life Sciences, and Social Sciences.
“It is positive news that our higher education institutions continue to excel in attracting students from all over the world, and in preparing American students to succeed in an increasingly global environment,” said Allan Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education. “Educational exchange in both directions furthers business and cultural ties between the United States and other countries.”
