This is a 6.2% increase in job support and creation, and a nearly 10% increase in dollars contributed to the economy from the previous academic year.
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. Further analysis shows that 3 U.S. jobs are created or supported for every 7 enrolled international students, by spending in the following sectors: higher education, accommodation, dining, retail, transportation, telecommunications, and health insurance.
While the number of internationally mobile students has doubled over the past decade, the U.S. share of international students decreased by 10 percent, according to OECD and Project Atlas. The United States needs proactive government policies and strategies to ensure we remain globally competitive.
"These data clearly show the tremendous economic opportunity costs we face unless the House acts decisively to break down barriers for the best and the brightest international students and scholars to come here," said NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Marlene M. Johnson. "The Senate has already acted, so now the House must pass commonsense, comprehensive immigration reform so that we can expand our ability to recruit, integrate, and graduate talented international students, strengthen our economy, and reclaim the values that make this nation a land of opportunity, equality, and freedom."
In addition to the economic benefits international students bring to the United States, they contribute incalculable academic and cultural value to U.S. colleges and universities and to local communities. International students build bridges between the United States and other countries, bring global perspectives into U.S. classrooms and research labs, and support U.S. innovation through science and engineering coursework, making it possible for U.S. colleges and universities to offer these courses to U.S. students.
The economic analysis was conducted for NAFSA by Jason Baumgartner, director of information services with Indiana University-Bloomington's Office of International Services, using enrollment data from the Institute of International Education's Open Doors2013 report, which is produced in partnership with the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and using tuition and expense data from the Department of Education's National Center of Educational Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
