ASU, UCLA are in top 25 schools for international enrollment

Editor's Note: Arizona State University basketball will take on the University of California, Los Angeles, on Jan. 7. The men’s teams will play at 7:30 p.m., in Anaheim, Calif., and the women’s teams at 4 p.m., in Tempe. Read more about ASU's collaborations with Pac-12 schools.

International students are increasingly enrolling at Arizona State University and the University of California in Los Angeles, each of which ranks in the top 25 schools in the nation for international enrollment.

Both universities are a top choice for students from around the world because of their excellence and international reputation in a wide range of disciplines. The only other Pac-12 school listed in the top 25 is the University of Southern California.

ASU had a record 4,934 international students enrolled in fall 2010, while UCLA enrolled 6,249. The IIE report counts an additional 1,000 ASU students in the total international enrollment than does ASU, since IIE includes students who are in a practical training program or are enrolled in the American English and Culture Program.

ASU draws students from 120 countries around the world. The top countries of origin for ASU internationals are China, India, South Korea, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. UCLA draws the most students from China, India, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

International students contribute more than $21 billion to the U.S. economy through their expenditures on tuition and living expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Higher education is among the United States’ top service sector exports.

While the economic impact in Arizona is large, an estimated $279.1 million, multiple California universities draw so many international students that the impact is almost $3 billion.

The IIE compiles its ranking each year based on the previous year’s enrollment numbers. ASU’s 15 percent international enrollment increase this fall, one of the highest on record at ASU, will be reflected in next year’s ranking.

Written by Sarah Auffret