Statewide Impact of International Students at University of Arkansas Figured to Be $23.3 Million

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – An annual study conducted by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers estimates that foreign college students and their dependents contributed approximately $17.6 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2008-09 academic year. Of that amount, the international students attending the University of Arkansas have contributed $23.3 million to the state’s economy, the study found.

During the 2008-09 academic year, the University of Arkansas had 1,086 international students, the largest number among all the institutions in the state.

International students attending all Arkansas institutions, both public and private, amounted to $67.9 million net contribution to the Arkansas economy. The report breaks down the contribution by institution and congressional district.

The figures reported in the study are based on tuition figures from Wintergreen Orchard House; enrollment figures are from the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2009 report; and living expenses are calculated from Wintergreen Orchard House, provided by the institutions and analyzed by a researcher at Indiana University. The NAFSA report estimates the amount of money foreign students bring to the United States to support their education and their dependents. It states, “by any measure, international education makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy.”

“International students enrich the diversity of our campus and also play a significant role in bolstering Arkansas’ economy,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “This study analyzed the impact of enrolled students and their dependents. NAFSA’s estimate is conservative, and I’d suspect the impact is even greater in that many students from around the globe who intend to study at University of Arkansas arrive in Arkansas and study the English language prior to their enrollment. If it were not for the promise of higher education, these students wouldn’t be here.”

The NAFSA report shows the economic impact of the University of Arkansas from a slightly different vantage point than a report prepared by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business and released Feb. 16. That report, commissioned by the University of Arkansas, shows the total campus effect on state and local economies to be $725 million. That report included international students in its findings.

“The NAFSA report is just another way to demonstrate how investments in higher education at the University of Arkansas have a multiplier effect on the state of Arkansas,” Gearhart said.

The National Association of Foreign Student Advisers is an association of individuals worldwide advancing international education and exchange and global workforce development. The association serves international educators and their institutions and organizations by establishing principles of good practice, providing training and professional development opportunities, providing networking opportunities, and advocating for international education.