Indian students number highest on US campuses

NEW YORK: India has, for yet another year, emerged as the leading place of origin for international students in the United States with 94,563 enrolling into campuses across the nation in 2007/08. The double-digit increase at 13% from the previous year, is followed by China in second place with 81,127 students (up 20%), South Korea in third place with 69,124 students (up 11%), and Japan in fourth place with 33,974 students (down 4%). The number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 7% to a record high of 623,805 in the 2007/08 academic year, ………………Open Doors data show an even stronger increase in the number of "new" international students, those enrolled for the first time at a U.S. college or university in fall 2007. International students contribute over $15.5 billion to the US economy, through their expenditures on tuition and living expenses. …………………………..Open Doors 2008 reports that 62% of all international students receive the majority of their funds from personal and family sources. When other sources of foreign funding are included, such as assistance from their home country governments or universities, 67% of all international students' primary funding comes from sources outside of the United States. …………………..The majority of Indian students study at the graduate level. ………….Business & Management remains the most popular field of study for international students in the United States, increasing 7% and comprising 20% percent of the total, followed by Engineering with an 8% increase and comprising 17% of the total. Agriculture is the field of study showing the largest percentage increase (from a smaller base number), up 20% from the prior year. Also continuing to increase is Intensive English, showing a gain of 15%. …………….[ view full Article]