Open Doors Report Shows 3.4 percent Increase in International Students Coming to the U.S.

The 2017 Open Doors Report shows a 3.4% increase in the number of international students coming to the U.S for higher education: 1,078,822 international students enrolled in United States higher education institutions in 2016/17 compared to 1,043,839 students in 2015/16. International students represent just over 5.3% of the more than 20 million students enrolled in U.S. higher education. China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Canada are the top five places of origin of international students in the U.S.The Open Doors report further shows that international students continue to have a significant positive impact on the U.S. economy. According to the Department of Commerce, these students contributed more than $39 billion to the U.S. economy in 2016, in contrast to $35 billion in 2015.Beyond the economic impact, international students positively influence U.S. classrooms. “Students from around the world…also contribute to America's scientific and technical research and bring international perspectives into U.S. classrooms, helping prepare American students for global careers, and often lead to longer-term business relationships and economic benefits,” the report reads.Learn more about the report here.