Survey shows fewer foreign students at U.S. universities

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of foreign students at
U.S. universities fell for the second straight year last year,
but the decline that followed the September 11, 2001, attacks
may already be abating, a survey showed on Monday.

Enrollment by international students dipped 1.3 percent in
the 2004/05 academic year to about 565,000 students, after a
2.4 percent drop the prior year, according to an annual report
by the Institute of International Education.

While the declines are a sharp contrast to the steady
growth in enrollment a few years ago, the IIE said an early
survey of the current school year suggests foreigners may
already be coming back after being scared away by bad publicity
and security fears.

“Strong recruitment, combined with more efficient and
transparent student visa processes, have begun to stem the tide
of decreasing international student enrollment,” IIE president
Allan Goodman said in a statement.

A separate online survey of colleges and universities by
the IIE and other associations found foreign enrollment may
have bounced back this year. Forty percent of respondents said
the number of international students had increased, while 26
percent said it had declined further and 34 percent reported
little change.

The online survey did not tally the total number of
students, but echoed a report last week by the Council of
Graduate Schools that showed a 1 percent increase in enrollment
by foreigners in graduate schools in the fall of 2005.

In the IIE annual report, foreigners made up 4.0 percent of
the student population in 2004/05, down from a 4.6 percent peak
two years ago.

While there had been some backlash against foreign students
after the September 11 attacks, educators said the U.S.
government should do more to make foreign students feel
welcome.

“We face severe competition in the global marketplace for
the best and brightest students. The Departments of State and
Homeland Security have worked hard to address the severe
problems in the visa process, but further improvements are
needed,” said Nils Hasselmo, president of the Association of
American Universities.

The report showed international students tend to favor
science and business degrees — with nearly 18 percent studying
business and management, 17 percent in engineering, 9 percent
in math and computer science, and 9 percent in physical or life
sciences.