International Student Education:Cost vs. Benefit

Barbara DotyBryan Beverly

EAD 805

Background

• US international student population:582,984 international students in 2006-073.9% of total student population

Most are Graduate students seeking academic credentialsMajority are from Asia-

India- 83,833China- 75,445

Administrative Challenge

• Balancing the costs of recruiting and educating international students with the economic impact for the university and the community

Institutional Benefits of International Student Education

• Diverse student body

• Cultural competency and exchange

• Research labor

International Fundraising/Donations

• Campaign for MSU 07/1999-10/2007 Avg.annual giving

• MSU Alum 10,624,392 1,328,049 • Friend 10,923,024 1,365,378 • Corporation 621,663 77,708 • Corporate Foundation250,297 31,287 • Private Foundation 2,673,049 334,131 • Group 4,221 528 • Association 2,502,550 312,819 • Other Organization 38,291 4,786 • TOTAL $27,637,487 $3,454,686• Total for Faculty/Staff $374,641 $46,830

– (included in above totals) The numbers above cover the period of the last MSU Capital Campaign

Primary Source of Funding

• 2007/2008 International Students

• Personal and family 388,821• US College or Universities 161,633• Home Government/University 21,085• US Government 3,282• US Private Sponsor 6,013• Foreign Private Sponsor 6,522• International Organizations 1,390• Current Employment 29,399• Others Sources 5,660

TOTAL 623,805

• Open Doors 2008: Report on International Education Exchange Table 15: http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=131536

‘International Students contribute to America’s balance of payments because of money they

bring with them from abroad’• The argument is flawed:– 1. Calculations ignore the subsidies to higher education

coming from US tax dollars and endowment funds– 2. Calculations use highly questionable data techniques– 3. Stronger studies show international students make a

heavy use of US funds to support graduate education• -David North, former Assistant to the U.S.

Secretary of Labor

Graduate Assistantships @ MSU

• Over 3,000 total assistantships on campus• 30% of all G. A.’s are held by International

students• Tuition, matriculation, & energy fees waived• Stipends exempt from Social Security

Michigan State University

2008-09 Tuition Undergraduate Graduate

Resident/In-State $3,265.75 $ 10,264

Non-Resident/ - $11,766.00 $25,772 International

2007-08 Academic Year Enrollment: 3,869 international students

from 134 countries The ten top sources of international students are: South Korea (907), China (787), India

(393), Taiwan (233), Canada (136), Japan (131), Turkey (74), Hong Kong (66), Thailand (54), and Saudi Arabia (53).

International students comprise 8.4% of total enrollment

Oregon State University

2008-09 Tuition and Fees Undergraduate Graduate

Resident $ 6,123 $10,962 Nonresident / $18,864 $16,845International

2007-08 Academic Year Enrollment 950 international students from 90 different countries.

University of Arkansas2008-09 Tuition and Fees(Assessed per credit hour of enrollment)

ResidentUndergraduate $167.00

Non-Resident InternationalUndergraduate $462.91 Undergraduate $462.91

ResidentGraduate $294.68

Non-Resident International Graduate $697.14 Graduate $697.14

Academic Year 2007-08 Enrollment 1040 International Students From 115 countries

Support Programs

• English as a Second Language• International/ Cultural Orientations• Arrival Assistance• Immigration Matters• International Student Employment• TOEFL Prep• EFL Teacher training

Economic Impact

• United States (total # of Foreign Students: 582,984)- $14.5 Billion during Academic year 2006-07

• Contribution from Living Expenses: $10,438,000,000

• Contribution from Tuition and Fees to U.S. Economy: $9,929,000,000

• Total Contribution by Foreign Students: $20,366,000,000- Less U.S. Support of $6,280,000,000• Net Contribution to U.S. Economy by Foreign Students

and their Families: $14,499,000,000

Economic Impact

Michigan: • FOREIGN STUDENTS IN THE STATE 22,857

(up 8.1%)

• ESTIMATED FOREIGN STUDENTS EXPENDITURE IN THE STATE $525.5 millions

• MSU- local $92 million

Economic Impact

ArkansasFOREIGN STUDENTS IN THE STATE 3,316(up 14.4%)

• ESTIMATED FOREIGN STUDENTS EXPENDITURE IN THE STATE $66.4 million

Economic Impact

Oregon• FOREIGN STUDENTS IN THE STATE 6,154

(up 6.7%)

• ESTIMATED FOREIGN STUDENTS EXPENDITURE IN THE STATE $158.7 million

Foreign Student Contribution from Tuition/Fees and Living Expenses (2006-07)

Tuition and Fees Living Expenses Less U.S. Support Total Contribution and Dependents

Arkansas $33.1 $42.7 $20.8 $54.9

Michigan $362.8 $333.1 $224.3 $471.6

Oregon $93.2 $104.3 $52.3 $145.3

(In Millions) from NAFSA

Suggested Action

• Eliminate tuition waiver for International students• Reduce the waiver to a partial waiver for those

who are financially needy• Increase standards for proof of ability to pay

educational costs to 4 years• Reduce the number of tuition free credits available

per semester for international students• Seek out corporate funding to offset governmental

contributions to international scholarships and aid

Works Cited• Michigan State University,2008,www.msu.edu International Studies and Programs• Oregon State University, 2008. www.oregonstate.edu. International Students &

Scholars• University of Arkansas, 2008. www.uark.edu. International Programs• Association of International Educators, 2007. The Economic Benefits if International

Education to the United States for the 2006-7 Academic Year: A Statistical Analysis. http://www.nafsa.org

• North, David, 2008. “Who pays? Foreign students do not help with the balance of payments”, Center for Immigration Studies. www.cis.org

• Moser, Kate, 2008. “New model for recruitment of foreign students sparks debate”, The Chronicle for Higher Education. Washington. June 27, p.A24

• Anonymous, 2008. ”New Survey suggests continued growth in international student enrollments at US colleges and universities”, PR Newswire. New York, November 17

• Hengel, Mark,2008. “International Students Aid Economy”, Arkansas Business. Little Rock, Aug 18 p. 1