There are more international students on U.S. college campuses than ever before – nearly DOUBLE the number just 20 years ago.
Below are two fascinating snapshots that capture the incredible influx of international students on college campuses:
- IIE’s annual Open Door report on international students
- cartoMission.com‘s map of place of origin of international students (taken from IIE data)
The greatest increase in international students is from Saudi Arabia:
- There are 25 times more Saudi students in the U.S. today than just ten years ago.
- The vast majority of the Saudi students are on full scholarship through the King Abdullah Scholarship Program. The King of Saudi Arabia has invested over $5 billion in sending Saudi students to the U.S. It’s more-than-all-expenses-paid: books, tuition, housing, full medical coverage, a monthly stipend direct deposited into their bank account, free annual flight for their families to come over to visit.
- There’s never been a scholarship like this in the history of the world.
- The IIEÂ reports there are 54,000 Saudi students studying in the U.S. but others report far higher numbers – over 100,000 Saudi students studying in the U.S. (including the official scholarship website).
- The stated purpose of the foreign study program is for Saudi students “to earn bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees and return home to help run their country”. They are told: “You are the best of the best, and the future of our country.”
- Many are in English programs and they’re encouraged to connect w Americans so they can learn English and understand our culture.
- But in 2020 the scholarships come to a halt (reportedly, Saudi Arabia will have built its own world class universities by then and will no longer send its best and brightest to the U.S.).
- You can read more in the WSJ and Los Angeles Times.
