WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NAFSA:
Association of International Educators announced new data today
that show that the more than one million international students at
U.S. colleges and universities contributed nearly $41 billion to the U.S. economy and supported
458,290 jobs during the 2018-2019 academic year. This represents
only a 0.6% increase in job support and creation and a 3.8%
increase in dollars contributed to the economy from the previous
academic year.
NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Esther
D. Brimmer stated the following about the new data:
"The United States is
strengthened by our long-standing commitment to academic exchange.
This latest economic value analysis demonstrates the vast economic
benefits international students and their families bring to
the United States. Beyond this
economic contribution, international students bring countless
academic and cultural benefits to our classrooms, our communities
and our country. International students and scholars create jobs,
drive innovation, enrich our classrooms, strengthen our national
security, and become our best ambassadors and allies around the
world."
Further analysis showed that for every 7 international students,
3 U.S. jobs are created or supported by spending in the following
sectors: higher education, accommodation, dining, retail,
transportation, telecommunications and health insurance. According
to the U.S. Department of Commerce, education currently ranks as
the nation's 5th largest services export, larger than
business travel.
Other findings include:
- Nine states broke the $1 billion
mark in contributions from international students, down from ten
the previous year.
- However, the economic benefits in Indiana dropped below the $1 billion mark due to the 3% decline in
international enrollment in the state.
- California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas and Pennsylvania saw the largest benefits from
spending by these students and their families on living expenses,
tuition and fees.
- While overall enrollment remained flat, the economic value
increased due to increasing tuition and living expenses.
NAFSA also found international students at community colleges
contributed $2.6 billion to the U.S.
economy and supported more than 13,970 jobs during the 2018-2019
academic year. These economic benefits represent a 3% decrease in
dollars contributed, and a 7.8% decrease in jobs created or
supported when compared to the previous year.
These reports, also broken down by state and congressional
district at www.nafsa.org/economicvalue, show the economic benefits
of international students overall continue to increase annually
despite the flattening of enrollment. The growth rate of students
choosing to study in the United
States continues to decline while competitor countries
experience double-digit growth (Canada up 16%; Australia up 15%). NAFSA estimates the
continued decline in international student enrollment since fall
2016 has cost the U.S. economy $11.8
billion and more than 65,000 jobs.
"This latest analysis showing the third consecutive year of
declining new international enrollment reinforces our concern that
the United States is losing
talented international students and scholars," continued Dr.
Brimmer. "This is the first year we have seen both a decline in new
international student enrollment and flat overall enrollment.
International educators in the U.S. are going to extraordinary
lengths to attract and recruit international students by
participating in the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign and fostering
welcoming environments on their campuses and communities. Their
efforts have helped stay this downward trend. However, these
efforts are often in direct contrast to the anti-immigrant rhetoric
and policies coming from government leaders. The longer the U.S.
goes without a concerted, proactive government approach to
recruiting international students, the more these potential
students are going to look elsewhere for their studies. I encourage
members of Congress to recognize the economic, cultural, and
academic value of international students and scholars, and support
policies that will create a more welcoming and globally engaged
United States."
NAFSA's analysis uses data from the following sources:
enrollment data from the 2019 Open Doors report, published by the
Institute of International Education in
partnership with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs; tuition and expense data from the
U.S. Department of Education's National Center of Educational
Statistics; and job creation data from the U.S. Department of
Commerce's International Trade Administration and Bureau of
Economic Analysis.
Sample Tweet: Latest @NAFSA data: #IntlStudents
contribute nearly $41 billion &
more than 458,000 jobs to U.S. economy www.nafsa.org/economicvalue
#IEW2019
About NAFSA: With more than 10,000 members, NAFSA:
Association of International Educators is the world's largest
nonprofit association dedicated to international education. Visit
us at www.nafsa.org/press. To learn more about our advocacy
efforts on behalf of international education, visit
www.nafsa.org/policy and @ConnectOurWorld on Twitter.
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SOURCE NAFSA: Association of International Educators