University of Cincinnati celebrates International Education Week

University of Cincinnati celebrates International Education Week

Major reports highlight global ties and global benefits

International Education Week, November 18-22, showcases study abroad around the globe. The annual event is sponsored in the United States by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.

At the University of Cincinnati, a slate of student events will celebrate UC's 4,616 international students, who make up about 8.7% of this fall's record enrollment.

By the numbers

The annual Open Doors Report was published on Monday. It is the primary statistical source on international education in the United States from the nonprofit IIE and the US Department of State.

Open Doors reports that international students in the U.S. reached a record 1.1 million (1,126,690) in 2023-24, up 6.6% from the previous year, with 44 of 50 states seeing growth. A statistical sampling conducted of this fall's enrollments shows a continued increase, about 3%.

Nationally, students came to the U.S. from 214 countries, led by India for the first time in more than a decade (20.4%), followed by China (24.6%).

At the University of Cincinnati,

• This fall, surpassing pre-COVID records, UC has its second-highest enrollment of international students ever: 4,616, according to UC's Office of Institutional Research.
  
• Also this fall, UC hosted its highest-ever total of international students: 6,563, as reported to Open Doors. This total includes a record number of students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT), temporary work in the U.S. permissible on student visas after graduation.
• UC's international students represent 133 countries. More than half are from India, followed by China, Vietnam, Nepal and Nigeria.
• Two-thirds of international students at UC are graduate students, the majority in one-year business and STEM master's programs. They make up a quarter of UC's graduate student population.
• UC currently ranks 38^th among U.S. universities hosting international students.

Some international students on UC's campus | Photo: Kathleen Hornstra, UC International

International education: A major U.S. export

International education is one of the largest U.S. service exports. This Monday, NAFSA: Association of International Educators updated its interactive statistical tool that calculates the economic value of international students to the U.S. and to individual states and congressional districts.

The report estimates that international education contributed $43.8 billion and 378,175 jobs to the U.S. economy in 2023-24.

Ohio remained in the top 10 states to benefit in 2023-24, with an estimated $1.3 billion economic boost and 10,937 jobs supported in higher education and fields beyond, including accommodations, dining, telecommunications and health insurance.

UC contributed $186.5 million to Ohio's economy and supported 1,706 jobs.

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Featured image: Students Randy Mercado, from Bolivia, and Khwahish Singh, from India, at the University of Cincinnati | Photo: Kathleen Hornstra, UC International

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