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Open Doors® 2019 Report Summary

Core Content

The Open Doors® 2019 report provides an overview of international educational exchange, focusing on the number of international students in the U.S., U.S. students studying abroad, and global student mobility trends. It is produced by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in partnership with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Key Findings

International Students in the U.S.

• In the 2018/19 academic year, there were 1,095,299 international students in the U.S., representing a 0.05% increase.
• International students make up 5.5% of all students in U.S. higher education.
• The top countries of origin for international students are China, India, and South Korea.
• Engineering and Math & Computer Science are the top fields of study, with 52% of international students enrolled in STEM disciplines.
• 62% of international students rely on non-U.S. funding, with 57% coming from personal and family sources.
• International students contribute $44.7 billion to the U.S. economy and support 458,290 jobs in 2018.

U.S. Students Studying Abroad

• In the 2017/18 academic year, 341,751 U.S. students studied abroad for academic credit, representing a 2.7% increase.
• 26% of these students are in STEM fields.
• Europe hosts 55% of U.S. students studying abroad.
• Women make up 67% of all U.S. students studying abroad.
• Racial and ethnic diversity among U.S. students studying abroad increased from 18% to 30% over the past decade.

Leading Study Abroad Destinations

• The top 14 destinations for U.S. students include the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland, China, Australia, Costa Rica, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, Czech Republic, and Greece.
• Greece saw the highest growth rate at +20%, followed by Czech Republic (+10%) and Japan (+12%).

Regional Growth Trends

• Emerging economies have shown 10 years of growth in the number of students studying abroad.
• Europe remains the primary region for U.S. study abroad, with 441 institutions reporting 38,401 students in non-credit experiential activities abroad.

Factors Affecting Enrollment

• Factors driving increases include growing institutional reputation, increased scholarship opportunities, improved support for international students, and enhanced alumni engagement.
• Factors driving declines include high tuition costs, competition from other countries, and challenges such as visa delays and political/economic instability in home countries.

Institutional Recruitment Strategies

• 59% of institutions leverage current international students for recruitment.
• 53% use EducationUSA as a resource.
• 47% rely on their institution's alumni network.
• 40% use recruitment agents.

Global Hosts of International Students

• The U.S. is the top host country for international students, with 1,095,299 students in 2018.
• Other major hosts include China, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
• The number of international students in the U.S. has grown from 3.0 million in 2008 to 5.3 million in 2018.

Demographic Shifts and Strategic Focus

• The report highlights demographic shifts and the importance of global education strategies aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which focuses on inclusive and quality education.
• National strategies include targeting international students, providing scholarships, and encouraging post-degree practical training.
• Institutional strategies involve raising the global profile of U.S. higher education through rankings, alumni networks, and active recruitment efforts.

Online Resources

• The report is available through the Open Doors® website at iie.org/opendoors.
• Additional resources include EducationUSA, Fulbright, and USA Study Abroad.