UB among top 20 U.S. host universities for international students

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The 2015 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released today in Washington, D.C., by the Institute of International Education (IIE), announced that for the 13th-straight year, the University at Buffalo is among the top 20 U.S. institutions hosting international students.

UB’s total of 6,852 international students for the 2014-15 academic year is up from 6,594 students in 2013-14, an increase of 3.9 percent. The figure places UB 19th among the 1,491 colleges and universities surveyed enrolling 10 or more international students in 2014-15.

UB is ranked third in New York State for the highest number of international students, behind only New York University and Columbia. It is the only SUNY institution in the top 20.

The largest numbers of international students come to UB from China, India, South Korea, Canada, Malaysia and Iran.

“We are pleased that for the 13th year in a row UB is among the top 20 U.S. institutions enrolling the largest number of international students,” says Stephen Dunnett, vice provost for international education at UB.

“This is particularly impressive in light of the intensifying competition for international students among our peer institutions around the country. UB’s strong academic programs and reputation for excellent services and support continue to make the university a leading destination for students around the world.”

The Open Doors report lists New York State, with a total international enrollment of 106,758 students, second among the 50 states for international student enrollment. New York’s numbers represent an increase of 7.9 percent from last year.

In 2014-15, the number of international students in the U.S. increased by 10 percent to a record high of 974,926. These students made up 4.8 percent of the 20,300,000 students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities.

The primary sources of funding for international students at institutions across the country were personal and family funds (63.6 percent), with 21 percent of their funding coming from a U.S. college or university, 7.7 percent from a foreign government or university, and 5 percent from current employment. 

A report on the economic impact of international students to the regional economy by the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) estimates that international students contributed $217.8 million to the Western New York economy in 2014-15, with their presence leading to the creation or support of 2,492 jobs.

International students attending UB contributed $157.9 million to the local economy, leading to the creation or support of 2,109 jobs.

Statewide, 106,758 international students contributed $3.7 billion to the New York economy, and the creation or support of 43,865 jobs.

NAFSA also stated that international students offer an “immeasurable academic and cultural value … to our campuses and local communities.”

Some of these contributions include:      

• Building bridges between Americans and those of other nationalities.
• Bringing global perspectives to U.S. classrooms and research labs.
• Supporting 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.
• Supporting programing and services on campus for all students by paying tuition at out-of-state rates, funded largely by non-U.S. sources.

The Open Doors report is published annually by the IIE in partnership with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The 2015 Open Doors report was released on the occasion of the 16th annual celebration of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Education.