Chinese Students Bolster U.S. College Budgets

Washington Monthly’s annual college issue usually has some fascinating material, and this year is no exception. One example is an article by Paul Stephens on the sharp rise in foreign students on American campuses (to more than 764,000, an increase of roughly 200,000 in less than six years, he says, citing data from the Institute of International Education and the State Department). Many are from wealthy overseas families paying full tuition â€" and helping to bolster college budgets.

Where are the students coming from? By this reckoning, the bulk of the net increase â€" more than 160,000 of the 200,000 â€" has come from China.

Washington Monthly State Department statistics on F-1 student visas issued to applicants from four selected nations.

Mr. Stephens writes:

While administrators promote the diversity and global perspectives these new students bring to campus, it’s clear that such high-minded goals are not the only motivation for enrolling large numbers of foreign students. With state spending on higher education declining sharply over the last five years â€" it’s down an average of 28 percent nationwide â€" out-of-state and international students who pay full tuition (and sometimes even additional tuition) have kept these institutions in the black. As state assemblies have cut back, the people of China have picked up the tab.