International Student Applications to U.S. Graduate Schools Rise

Applications to largest institutions growing fastest, study says

By Jeffrey Thomas
USINFO Staff Writer

Washington – For a second consecutive year, applications for admission to master’s and doctoral programs at U.S. colleges and universities have risen strongly, with a 17 percent increase in applications by Chinese students leading the way, according to a study by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS). Applications from students in the Middle East rose 9 percent, while those from students in India rose 6 percent.

“U.S. graduate schools continue to make progress in their efforts to increase their international student enrollments,” the authors of the CGS study conclude.

CGS is an organization of more than 480 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada aimed at improving and advancing graduate education.  CGS surveys U.S. graduate schools three times each year – in February to learn how many international students are applying; in June to learn how many international students are being admitted; and in September to learn how many international students actually enroll in U.S. graduate schools.

The State Department has taken a number of steps to expedite the processing of student visa applications, including adding new consular positions, negotiating extended reciprocity agreements so that students are not required to apply for visas as frequently, and directing U.S. embassies and consulates to put student and exchange visitors at the head of the queue when scheduling visa interviews.

Enrollment figures for international graduate students declined in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States but have rebounded. Applications rose 12 percent from 2005 to 2006, and 8 percent between 2006 and 2007. Although applications are on the rise, they remain below pre-2001 levels, according to CGS.

In terms of total enrollment, a previous CGS survey showed a 1 percent increase in fall 2006 as compared to fall 2005 enrollment numbers. The latest survey shows a 12 percent increase in first-time enrollment for fall 2006 compared with a 1 percent increase in 2005 above 2004 levels. Because graduate degrees can take a long time to complete, it takes several years for increases in first-time enrollment to be fully reflected in total enrollment. (See related article ( http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=November&x=200611021514031CJsamohT0.5247309 ).)

According to the CGS authors, there is a trend toward faster growth in international student enrollment at the largest institutions.  At the 10 largest colleges and universities, international graduate applications rose 13 percent, according to the CGS report, compared with gains of 5 percent for those institutions with international graduate enrollments below the largest 50.

India, China and Korea are the top three countries of origin for international students enrolled in U.S. graduate schools, accounting for 53 percent of the total, CGS says. Students from the Middle East account for 5 percent of total enrollment.

According to Open Doors 2006, a study by the Institute of International Education, approximately 565,039 students came from around the world to study at schools of higher education in the United States in 2006. The leading country of origin was India, which sent 76,503 students, followed by China and the Republic of Korea, which sent 62,582 and 58,847 students, respectively. (See related article ( http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=November&x=200611131629531CJsamohT0.7242548 ).)

As for the fields of study in which international students are enrolling at the graduate level, only the social sciences showed no gain, according to the CGS study. Applications in the life sciences and agriculture rose 13 percent; in arts and humanities, 12 percent; in education, 8 percent; in engineering, 8 percent; in physical and earth sciences, 8 percent; and in business, 7 percent.

The CGS data are based on the responses of 145 graduate schools, including 76 percent of the 25 institutions with the largest international student enrollments, according to CGS.

The full text ( http://www.cgsnet.org/Default.aspx?tabid=172 ) of the CGS report is available on the organization's Web site.

For information on studying in the United States, see Study in the U.S./Education ( http://usinfo.state.gov/scv/life_and_culture/education/study_in_the_us.html ) and the State Department’s EducationUSA ( http://www.educationusa.state.gov/ ) Web site.  Information on visa procedures and traveling to the United States is available at www.travel.state.gov ( http://www.travel.state.gov/ ) and in the electronic journal See You in the U.S.A. ( http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itps/0905/ijpe/ijpe0905.htm )

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.  Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)