Enrollment
Between the academic years of 2006-07 and 2010-11, US institutions saw undergraduate enrollment from China soar to staggering new heights. Previously, Chinese student enrollment at the undergraduate level stagnated between 8,000 and 10,000 students, according to data collected in the Open Doors report from the Institute of International Education (IIE). That number has reached 57,000 students.
Recruitment Strategies
This shift marks an important trend in Chinese student behaviors, but it also indicates a response to the growing efforts of US recruiting efforts. A wide range of colleges and universities reported adjustments to their admission strategies in light of the international trends. Middlebury College, for example, was 21st among baccalaureate institutions in terms of international enrollment for the 2003-04 academic year, according to IIE data. Admission officers at Middlebury decided to improve communication with educators and students abroad, and their international enrollment numbers increased by 60 percent through the 2010/11 academic year.
Podcasts: EducationUSA
To increase awareness of this important postsecondary admission component, the Briefing Room has highlighted trends in international enrollment and the crucial benefits of partnering with EducationUSA, a division of the US Department of State designed to connect US institutions with students in foreign countries.
Read the summary on international trends and resources below, listen to interviews conducted with EducationUSA representatives in China, Europe and the Middle East.