The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) issued an August 20, 2009 press release, reporting a decline in offers of admission from U.S. graduate schools to prospective foreign students. This is the first decline in the rate of offers to foreign students since 2004.
While these significant reductions affected the overall decline in foreign student enrollment, the number of offers of admission to students from the People’s Republic of China grew at a rate of 13 percent. The CGS press release indicates that this was the fourth year in a row of double-digit growth in the number of students from China offered admission to U.S. graduate schools.
With the up coming biggest education Expo in China (http://www.phdchina.org/english/index.shtml), the US is the country of Honour at this show. This is a clear sign that Chinese students are looking at the US as the main destination for studies and future opportunities.
There is a significant economic contribution made by foreign students in tuition and related expenditures, as well. Generally, a foreign student is required to pay tuition at the much higher out-of-state rate, even when attending a state school. The potential of Chinese students boosting the economy is significant and should not be ignored. Even Consular officers realize this factor and student visa issuance to Chinese students has increased by 40% according to a recent survey.