International student enrollment at Colorado colleges edged up 1 percent in 2017鈥�18, and CU Boulder鈥檚 strong academic programs and research opportunities drew more students from abroad than any other university in the state, according to the 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange issued today.
CU Boulder topped the list of Colorado colleges with 3,645 international students for the 2017鈥�18 academic year, welcoming 844 new undergraduate and graduate international students and 2,786 continuing international students. Overall, 11,639 international students chose to study at Colorado colleges, giving the state a ranking of 25th nationally for the second year in a row.
While the overall number of international students increased nationwide, new student enrollments at U.S. colleges fell by 6.6 percent in 2017鈥�18, a downward trend first observed in the 2015鈥�16 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the U.S. Department of State, which annually provide a snapshot of the flow of students to and from the United States.
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Director Diana Salazar said her office is grateful that international students continue to choose CU Boulder and is 鈥渄edicated to supporting our students and scholars from around the world and the university鈥檚 commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity.鈥�
In addition to international enrollment, the Open Doors report also tracks students who choose to study abroad to earn credit. In 2016鈥�17, CU Boulder ranked eighth in the nation among doctorate-granting universities for study abroad participation in semester-long programs.
During the period, which is tracked a year behind international enrollment figures, CU Boulder sent 1,827 students abroad, ranking 29th in the nation among doctorate-granting universities for the total number of students abroad鈥攗p from 33rd in 2015鈥�16. The IIE said one in 10 U.S. students study abroad during their undergraduate careers.
鈥淭he number of our students going abroad is a reflection of the university鈥檚 commitment to an international experience as an integral aspect of a CU Boulder education,鈥� said Mary Dando, director of .
The report said gains in the total number of international students nationwide in 2017鈥�18鈥攁 new high of 1.09 million鈥攁re primarily due to increased participation in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows international students to practice their skill in the United States for up to a year during or after they complete their academic programs and up to three years for students who have earned a degree in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
According to the report, OPT participation grew by 15.8 percent in 2017鈥�18, and the United States remains the top host of international students globally, with international students contributing $42.4 billion to the U.S. economy through tuition, room and board and other expenses. In Colorado, the economic impact听 of international students tops $458 million.
CU Boulder admissions officers attribute the decline in new international students to a combination of uncertainty over U.S. visa and immigration policies, cutbacks in scholarships provided by some sponsoring nations, and competition from Canada and other countries in Europe and Asia.
Like other prospective students, international students also want reassurance that the college they choose will make them feel welcome and safe, said Natalie Koster Mikulak, associate director of international admissions in the CU Boulder Office of Admissions.
鈥溌槎挂� are looking for community and a sense of belonging,鈥� she said.
To help prospective international students decide whether they want to study at CU Boulder, university admissions officers provide individualized attention to them, host live online chat sessions, and invite students to meet with counselors to talk about the benefits of studying in Colorado.
Koster Mikulak said it was important for the university to continue to build and maintain relationships with government organizations such as EducationUSA and international high schools and colleges whose students are looking for the best fit for themselves at U.S. colleges.
鈥淲e want to make sure our network knows about our world-class academics, and to show that we are always proud to welcome international students,鈥� Koster Mikulak said.
According to the 2018 Open Doors report, students from China led the place of origin rankings in Colorado at 31.3 percent, followed by India, 15.7 percent; Saudi Arabia, 7.9 percent; Kuwait, 2.7 percent; and South Korea, 2.5 percent.
Other Colorado colleges that drew international students include Colorado State University, 2,501; University of Denver, 1,404; CU Denver, 1,068; and Colorado School of Mines, 818.
The annual provides a national snapshot of the flow of students to and from the United States and coincides with International Education Week, a joint initiative of the and the .
CU Boulder is celebrating International Education Week Nov. 12鈥�16 with a variety of events around campus, including the annual Global Citizen Awards.
