NAFSA Shows Value of International Students on Economy

NC State is proud to be home to a highly diverse and talented student body, with over 4,000 international students from 120 different countries calling our campus home.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators recently released their analysis of the 2017-2018 academic year. NAFSA conducts an annual state-by-state and congressional district analysis of the economic contributions of international students and their families to the U.S. economy.

Their International Student Economic Value Tool shows that the 1,094,792 international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $39 billion and supported more than 455,000 jobs to the U.S. economy this past year.

In North Carolina, 21,092 students contributed $670.6 million and supported more than 8,600 jobs in 2017-2018. NC State’s international students contributed $150 million and supported 2,017 jobs this year.

NC State’s international student population has grown 29 percent over the past five years from 3,136 international students on campus in 2013 to 4,052 in fall of 2018. Students are attracted to the Triangle as a top spot for job seekers and tech professionals and NC State as a welcoming community where international students are involved in all aspects of student life.

Learn more about NAFSA’s International Student Economic Value Tool.