Geisel Library, renamed in 1995 in honor of Audrey and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) graces the UC San Diego campus in the nation’s No. 1 state for international student economic impact.
Photo by Erik Jepsen courtesy of UC San Diego
Universities nationwide are nudging international students to return to campus early in order to avoid potential re-entry trouble caused by unanticipated consequences of anticipated immigration policy changes from the incoming presidential administration. So it pays to look at the impact of the global trade in university students and international research.
To find out the impact of international students and alumni, I don’t have to travel far. In November, at the 15th USA India Business Summit and 30th Georgia Tech Global Business Forum reception and awards ceremony held at the Historic Academy of Medicine near the Tech campus in midtown Atlanta, Dr. Bernard Kippelen, vice provost for international initiatives at the university and a native of France, said, “Universities are integral to international science.”
Dr. Bernard Kippelen, Vice Provost for International Initiatives, Georgia Institute of Technology
As Atlanta grows in prominence as a global technology hub, the French native told a roomful of Indian-American business leaders, global perceptions are evolving beyond the usual scientific suspects such as MIT and Stanford. And universities play a role in furthering that sense of global connection. “We create opportunities for students to get exposed to cultural experiences globally,” he said. “When students travel, it is life changing.” The school’s role is three-fold, he said: 1) “We send our students out in the world; 2) “Bring the best talent from all over the world to Georgia Tech and the state of Georgia”; and 3) on-campus internationalization. “Sixty percent of our undergrads are from the state of Georgia,” he said. “We are making sure they are taking full advantage of the fact they are part of a truly international community,” and giving them intercultural skills that lend themselves to a global mindset.
India, said India’s Consul General in Atlanta Shri Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, just surpassed China as the largest foreign source of students in the United States — 331,000. Indians in America pay 4% of its taxes — even if many of them have been waiting years for green cards that never come. In the meantime, India’s growing population of 1.4 billion, growing middle class and booming economy (8.2% in 2023, 7%-8% projected in the coming years) continue to entice U.S. corporations looking to expand their footprints and business.
Could Open Doors Invite Prosperity?
The week they spoke those words happened to be international education week. The day they spoke was two days removed from the day NAFSA: Association of International Educators, in partnership with JB International, announced new data that show 1.1 million international students at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 academic year and supported more than 378,000 jobs.
Top 10 States by Economic Impact of International Students
| State | Int’l. Students | US$ Impact | Jobs |
| California | 140,858 | $6.4 billion | 55,114 |
| New York | 135,813 | $6.3 billion | 51,719 |
| Massachusetts | 82,306 | $3.9 billion | 35,849 |
| Texas | 89,546 | $2.5 billion | 22,112 |
| Illinois | 62,299 | $2.4 billion | 23,055 |
| Pennsylvania | 50,514 | $2.2 billion | 21,989 |
| Florida | 44,767 | $1.5 billion | 12,555 |
| Michigan | 38,123 | $1.5 billion | 11,951 |
| Ohio | 36,884 | $1.3 billion | 10,937 |
| Georgia | 28,175 | $1.1 billion | 9,348 |
| Missouri | 32,647 | $1.1 billion | 8,837 |
“The economic activity total is the highest amount ever calculated by NAFSA, eclipsing the high-water mark of $41 billion in 2018-2019 academic year,” NAFSA announced. “This is the third straight year of recorded increases following the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, though the annual increase in economic activity (9.3%) and jobs (2%) both increased at a lower rate than last year (18.5% and almost 10%, respectively).”
The report’s sources include the 2024 Open Doors report in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Among other findings:
- The five states that saw the largest amount of economic activity were (in descending order): California ($6.4 billion), New York ($6.3 billion), Massachusetts ($3.9 billion), Texas ($2.5 billion) and Illinois ($2.4 billion) — the same top five as last year. Twelve states broke the $1 billion mark (up from nine states last year), the most ever to do so, with total spending for those 12 states accounting for 57% of the national total. Next in line after Illinois come Pennsylvania ($2.2 billion), Florida and Michigan ($1.5 billion), Ohio ($1.3 billion), Georgia and Missouri ($1.1 billion), and Maryland ($1 billion).
- Economic contributions by international students at community colleges increased for the second year in a row. Their activity was measured at $2 billion (up 33%, almost double last year’s growth) and they supported more than 8,400 jobs (up 28% compared to last year’s 8.6% increase). Top states were led by California ($591.1 million and 13,989 students); Texas ($327.8 million, 11,676 students); the State of Washington ($163.7 million, 5,630 students); and Florida ($163.4 million, 4,903 students).
The University of California system, in announcing enrollment data in 2024, said it “remains in compliance with the Regents’ Nonresident Policy and the Governor’s Multi-Year Compact expectation to reduce the proportion of nonresident enrollment with California residents.” That said, international student offers increased from 17,420 in 2023 to 19,172 in 2024, around 5,000 fewer offers than were made to all non-California U.S. residents.
International students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion and supported 378,175 jobs to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 academic year.
“International students’ contributions to the U.S. are significant and multi-faceted, and this year’s record-breaking economic total is the latest proof of that,” said Fanta Aw, NAFSA executive director and CEO. “Yet we cannot be complacent. Meanwhile, competition for the world’s best and brightest is increasing. The United States must adopt more proactive policies to attract and retain global talent. We cannot afford to lose international students’ meaningful positive impact on American students’ global competence, our economies and our communities, particularly in the areas of STEM-related research and innovation.”
NAFSA favors expanding dual intent so that international students no longer have to prove they have no interest in working in the United States after graduation in order to receive a student visa. The organization also advocates for creating a pathway to a green card for international student graduates of a U.S. higher education institution. “NAFSA is aided in this effort by the U.S. for Success Coalition,” the organization said, “founded to advance policies and practices that would increase and diversify the community of international students choosing the United States for study, research and work.”
Year-over-year trends and detailed job sector analysis as well as data by state and congressional district are available to view at www.nafsa.org/economicvalue.
In Georgia, which is a top 10 state for both economic contribution and jobs, Georgia Tech is the far and away leader, its $249.7 million and 2,646 jobs from international students contributing to state totals of 28,175 international students enrolled, $1.1 billion in international student financial contribution and 9,348 jobs.
Shri Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, appointed India’s Consul General in Atlanta in November 2023, said India aims to be the world’s third largest economy by 2030. It’s No. 1 currently in the number of students it “supplies” to the United States (331,000), surpassing China.
Photo courtesy of Consulate General of India, Atlanta
Georgia Tech is led today by Spanish-born President Ángel Cabrera. The school’s Scheller College of Business, led Indian-American Dean and Professor of Operations Management Anuj Mehrotra, continues to train its share of business leaders and managers at one of the largest (and growing) academic complexes of business-related disciplines that will soon combine the business school with the industrial systems school.
“Georgia Tech’s is one of the oldest business schools in the U.S.,” said Professor of Management and International Affairs John McIntyre, executive director of the Georgia Tech Center for International Business Education & Research, “and it is going to pick up even more momentum.”
Indeed, confirmed Kippelen, that day is coming soon. When he started in his current role at the university, he said, an inventory of staff and students revealed a plethora of Indian colleagues and the fact that the largest pool of international students was from India.
“But we came to the conclusion we are not doing enough with all the opportunities that present themselves,” he said. On the heels of multiple trips to India in 2024, he said, “We are actively working on a plan to expand our footprint and expand our partnership with India. We think it’s the right thing to do … so please stay tuned.” — Adam Bruns