Fewer foreigners attend U.S. colleges

Rita Mutyaba was accepted to three universities in England four years ago, but the Ugandan native ultimately settled on the United States.

She enrolled at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks as a business administration major. What made the difference for Mutyaba, 22, was the university's attractive financial aid package. The schools in England offered no financial help.

Mutyaba started at CLU amid the first overall decline in foreign student enrollment at American colleges and universities in more than 30 years. In 2003, there were 2.4 percent fewer international students at U.S. campuses than in the previous year. It was the first decline in foreign–student enrollment since 1971.

Debra Stewart, president of the national Council of Graduate Schools, blames the drop on numerous factors, including the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The attacks led to more restrictive visa policies by U.S. officials in consulates and embassies around the world.

Even before the attacks, however, U.S. universities were facing increased competition from schools around the world, especially those in Australia, England and Canada.

Competition is especially keen for graduate students, Stewart said.

"Many of them are among the world's most talented and brightest students," she said.

In the United States, foreign students make up more than half of those enrolled in graduate science and technology programs. The programs account for much of the research and breakthroughs in science and technology.

In the 21st century, "a nation's prosperity depends heavily on its scientific and technological prowess," Stewart said.

The United States is hurting itself by making it harder for foreign students who want to study here and possibly remain afterward, she said.

In other countries like England, students who indicate that they might want to stay after completing their studies "have a higher chance of being granted a student visa," she said. In the United States, it's "actually a reason to deny a student a visa."

Decline at two–year colleges

The decline also has been felt at two–year colleges.

For example, 601 international students were enrolled in Ventura County's three community colleges during the 2000–01 school year. A year later, there were only 533, a drop of 11.3 percent.

The following year, the colleges had only 394 international students. In 2005–06, they had 295, less than half the amount five years earlier.

The Ventura County Community College District hired a recruiter after Sept. 11 to help boost the number of international students, said Bill Studt, the district's vice chancellor of human resources.

"Part of her job included traveling overseas to recruit students," Studt said. In the end, the district eliminated the position after the recruiter was unable to increase the number of international students, he said.

The ability of a college or university to attract foreign students varies widely, said Dixon C. Johnson, director of the Office of International Services for USC.

"The larger, better–endowed research universities generally are more successful," Johnson said.

In fact, USC led the nation in 2004–05 with 6,846 international students enrolled.

Since its founding in 1880, USC has made it a priority to recruit international students, Johnson said. These students enrich the college experience of U.S.–born students by exposing them to other cultures and nations.

"International education is a big business," providing the United States with $13 billion in tuition and other spending by foreign students, Johnson said. "It's among the top 10 foreign exchange earners for the United States."

Students who remain in the United States after graduation often contribute a lot to the economy, he said. Many of the biggest Internet–era companies were started by foreigners, Johnson said, including Yahoo, Google and eBay.

Building partners around world

Students who return home also help the United States, Johnson said, often becoming unofficial ambassadors for this country.

"They help the United States build partnerships around the world," he said. "The safety of this country increases by having friends around the world."

Mutyaba, the CLU student, wants to work for an international organization, possibly one that does economic development work, once she finishes her studies. She does not yet know where she will settle down.

Kenya native Peter Ndungu said he wants to remain in the United States. He earned a bachelor's degree in international business from CLU earlier this month.

It's easier to make a living in the U.S., Ndungu said. "If you work and study hard, you have something to show for it here."

Ndungu wants to get a master of business administration degree and eventually a doctorate in business. After that, he sees himself working on a number of projects, including starting an organization that helps less–fortunate children around the world get an education.

Meanwhile, Stewart is petitioning U.S. lawmakers to make it easier for ambitious, hard–working international students to study and remain here.

"We are operating in a globalized economy," Stewart said. To be successful, "we need to work effectively in that economy.

"There's no reason to assume that all of the smart people live in America. We should be recruiting from a talent pool around the world."