Dive Brief:
- The Institute of International Education recently revealed that student enrollment from foreign nations has exceeded more than 1 million for the first time in the nation's history, punctuated by a more than 25% increase in the number of students from India.
- More than 30% of international students study in STEM fields, but the gender gap among international students studying in the United States has widened, with women comprising 43% of the group; down 2% from the 2015-16 academic year.
- More than 310,00 students studied abroad for earned credit in 2015-16, a 3% increase from the prior year and highlighted by more than 25% of students majoring in STEM programs.
Dive Insight:
The increase in student participation in STEM majors is not surprising, and neither is the increase in students coming to the United States to take advantage of scholarships and research funding. Some have wondered, however what the impact of a Trump presidency could have on this influx of foreign students to American campuses. Will tighter immigration policies make it more difficult for these students to obtain visas? Will an environment of racial intolerance await these students, and thus discourage their enrollment?
While nations are increasingly interested in financing study in the U.S. for high achieving students, campus leaders will want to get ahead of potential turmoil with the growing number of reported racial or ethnic issues among students and faculty, as these reports can turn a tide on a country's investment in American education.