Slovene and foreign students in the U.S.; Americans Studying in Slovenia

United States Embassy Slovenia
Public Affairs Section

Fact Sheet
                  
In 2005/06, the number of international students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions remained steady at 564,766, within a fraction of a percent of the previous year's totals, according to Open Doors 2006, the annual report on international academic mobility published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  This marked the seventh year in a row that America hosted more than half a million foreign students, with a peak of 586,323 four years ago followed by declines of 2.4% and 1.3% in 2003 and 2004.  The most recent Open Doors report shows total international student enrollments that are virtually flat compared to the previous year, along with a rise in new international enrollments for 2005/06, suggesting that international enrollments have stabilized and are poised to rebound.

A new analysis included in Open Doors for the first time showed colleges and universities reporting an 8% increase in new enrollments for 2005/06, with 142,923 newly enrolled students in Fall 2005, compared to 131,945 the previous Fall.  A report from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs also showed a strong rise in the number of student visas issued in the year ending September 2006.

For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Southern California remained the U.S. campus with the largest international student enrollment, with 6,881 international students.  The 2005/06 top five host institutions were rounded out by Purdue University (moving up to third place from sixth), New York University (up one place to #4), and the University of Texas at Austin.  India remained the largest sending country by a large margin, and Asia the largest sending region, accounting for 58% of total U.S. international enrollments. 

The number of Slovene students studying in the U.S. has in general increased every year over the last ten years, with the recent exception of 2005/2006 in which 219 Slovenes traveled to the U.S. for study.  Slovenia has been gaining in popularity as a destination for U.S. students: in 2004/2005 (most recent figures available) there were 25 American study abroad students to Slovenia, 38.9% more than in the previous academic year.

In an effort to help European students find information on grants and scholarships available for undergraduate or graduate study in the United States, IIE has published a scholarship guide entitled “Funding for United States Study: A Scholarship Guide for Europeans.” The book can be purchased online (www.iiebooks.org).   In addition, IIE’s Funding for U.S. Study website is an extensive online database of scholarships, fellowships and grants for all levels of post-secondary study, across the full range of academic areas (www.FundingUSstudy.org).

Data for 2006/2007 will be released the week of November 12, 2007, during International Education Week.

More information is available at the IIE website, www.opendoors.iienetwork.org.