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Nearly 40 percent of U.S. colleges are experiencing a decline in applications from international students. The most dramatic decrease has been in the number of applicants from India, China and the Middle East. In recent years, students from India and China alone made up almost half of the international student body at U.S. colleges and universities, contributing about half a million students. Another 100,000 students, hailing the Middle East, made up about 10 percent of our country’s international student enrollment.
International student recruitment professionals report a great deal of concern from students and families all over the globe due to the new political climate in the U.S. There is a perception that the U.S. is less welcoming to individuals from other countries. There is concern over the rise in student visa denials at U.S. embassies and consulates in China, India and Nepal. There are fears that the restrictions regarding visas could change, affecting students’ ability to travel, re-entry after travel, and employment opportunities.
At the same time that international students are thinking twice before heading to the U.S., many American students are contemplating the advantages of seeking their college degree abroad. It’s hard to beat the price tag of Europe’s public universities, which are largely free in Germany, Norway, France and Austria. As an added perk, health care is often fully covered and housing aid is available. In some other countries, including Turkey, Thailand, Brazil, and Iceland, college is either free or less than $7,000 a year.
Students willing to pay a bit more (between $7,000 and $13,000 a year) sometimes opt to attend one of 42 universities in the Netherlands. There, they find a choice of 300 English language undergraduate degree programs.
Prestigious universities in the United Kingdom and Australia may exceed $20,000 a year in tuition. But the fact that diplomas are earned in three years in the United Kingdom, and for many programs in Australia, still makes these international colleges a bargain by typical U.S. college price tags.
Also popular with American students, and just a short flight from many U.S. cities, is Canada. According to the latest statistics, there are more than 8,000 American students enrolled in Canadian universities. The most popular, McGill University in Montreal, offers students the opportunity to enjoy a vibrant bi-lingual city (French/English) while getting a world-class education. And American students don’t have to cross an ocean to head home for the holidays.
Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of SAT Smart in Hillsborough that has been offering PSAT, SAT, and ACT preparation courses, as well as private tutoring by Ivy League educated instructors, for more than 20 years. Visit www.SATsmart.com.
