UB Once Again Among Top 20 U.S. Campuses in International Enrollment

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo is once again among the top 20 U.S. campuses with the largest enrollment of international students, according to data published by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

UB's rank this year is 17th in the nation.

The list, based on international student enrollment in the 2010-11 academic year, was released to the public as a highlight of the IIE's "Open Doors 2011" report, funded by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Last year, UB's ranking among U.S. colleges and universities was No. 12, up from No. 17 in 2008-09. With 5,185 international students, UB this year again ranks 17th, not because of a decline in the university's international enrollment, which has, in fact, increased, but because so many U.S. institutions are competing so hard to increase enrollment of foreign students, and have done so.

Stephen Dunnett, PhD, vice provost for international education at UB, says, "This year's 'Open Doors' report reflects the intensifying competition among U.S. institutions for international students. Despite continued growth in our international enrollment at UB, the enrollments at some competing schools are growing even faster.

"I am confident, however, that UB will remain competitive going forward," Dunnett says, "because we have one of the most effective international enrollment management teams in the country, an especially welcoming and supportive campus for international students, and we continue to offer great value -- an excellent education at an affordable price."

This year there is an international enrollment difference of only 279 students between UB and the 12th ranked institution, Boston University.

The "Open Doors 2011" report is available online at http://www.iie.org/opendoors.

The report indicates that in 2010-11 UB's enrollment of 5,185 international students represented 18.5 percent of the university's total student enrollment of 28,000. This marked an increase of 274 students, 1.5 percent more than last year. Only New York University and Columbia University among all New York State institutions of higher education enrolled more international students than UB.

New York State enrolled 78,888 international students in its colleges and universities last year -- an increase of 3.6 percent from 2009-10. New York State ranks second in the nation in international enrollment and California, with an enrollment of 96,535, up 2.4 percent from last year, ranks first.

Following national trends, UB has seen a large increase in the number of students from China, which is the country that sends the most international students to UB and to the U.S., generally. UB's Chinese enrollment increased by nearly 28 percent between fall 2009 and fall 2010, compared to a 22 percent increase nationally.

A report on the economic impact of international students studying in U.S. -- prepared by the Association of International Educators or NAFSA -- estimates that foreign students and their dependents contributed $20.23 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2010-11 academic year. Of that total, $2,431,315,000 went into the New York State economy.

According to the report, nearly $154 million was contributed to the Western New York economy by international students attending schools last year in the 26th congressional district represented by Kathleen Hochul and the 27the district represented by Brian Higgins. Of that total, $101,850,500 or 66 percent was contributed by students attending UB. This report is available at http://www.nafsa.org/publicpolicy/default.aspx?id=29416.

In addition to ranking the top 20 U.S. institutions hosting international students in 2010-11, the "Open Doors" report ranks U.S. states by international enrollment figures, marks trends in academic enrollment levels of international students, ranks top countries of student origin, primary sources of funding for international students and top fields of study pursued by the students.

The report also address trends for American students studying abroad: top fields of study, participation rates compared to last year, the top 25 destination nations for U.S. students abroad, the popularity of host regions for these students and the duration of American students' study periods abroad.