Higher Education
International education continues to be a growing sector for U.S. colleges and universities with increasing numbers of international students attending U.S. institutions and their American counterparts studying abroad every year. According to the Institute of International Education’s 2024 Open Doors report, 1,126,690 international students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2023-24 academic year.
At only 6% of total higher education enrollment, international students of any country in the world represent a small portion of university populations but have a significant positive impact on American communities: international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion and supported 378,175 jobs to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 academic year, all while building a network of U.S.-educated political and business leaders around the world that forwards our country’s interests.
The following Alliance member organizations work with higher education institutions to support Americans studying abroad and international students and scholars:
Study/Work Abroad
An ever-increasing number of American students are reaching beyond their borders to study, work, and intern abroad. For example, according to the Institute of International Education’s 2024 Open Doors report, 280,716 American studied abroad in 2022-23. The increased number of Americans studying abroad is paralleled by an increase in the range of study abroad destinations: American students are studying in a broader range of regions and countries than ever before.
No matter the destination, Americans studying or working abroad gain not only knowledge and insight into other countries and cultures, but also life-changing personal and professional enrichment. Equally important, by sharing U.S. culture and values with foreign counterparts and audiences, they lay a foundation of cross-cultural trust and friendship that can last a lifetime.
The following Alliance member organizations sponsor and support study/work programs: