More foreign students seek US degrees

The number of foreign students attending U.S. colleges and universities increased 6 percent during the 2011-12 academic year, an enrollment report indicates. The 2012 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange released Tuesday shows a record 764,495 foreign students studied in the United States last year, providing more than $22.7 billion to the U.S. economy, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports. The Open Doors Report said the rise in international students was largely driven by a 23 percent increase in the number of Chinese students. California hosted more than 100,000 international students followed by New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Illinois. Pennsylvania, Florida and Indiana had the largest percentage increases with the number of international students growing by nearly 10 percent in each of those states. "International education creates strong, lasting relationships between the U.S. and emerging leaders worldwide," said Ann Stock of the Institute of International Education, which publishes the report. "Students return home with new perspectives and a global skill set that will allow them to build more prosperous, stable societies."