The Student
America has been a destination for people seeking better and stable education and has welcomed international students pursuing higher education since the mid-19th century. The first international students came from Latin America. In 1921, more than 8,000 international students, mostly from China, Canada, and the Philippines were studying in U.S. institutions. By 2021, there were about one-million international students, a lower number than previous years because of the global pandemic. China continues to be the number one country of origin for international students, followed by India, South Korea, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, and Nigeria. The many top-ranked universities and colleges in metropolitan Washington, D.C. and subsequent top-quality job opportunities have drawn students specifically to this area where many have settled in Montgomery County.
America has been a destination for people seeking better and stable education and has welcomed international students pursuing higher education since the mid-19th century. The first international students came from Latin America. In 1921, more than 8,000 international students, mostly from China, Canada, and the Philippines were studying in U.S. institutions. By 2021, there were about one-million international students, a lower number than previous years because of the global pandemic. China continues to be the number one country of origin for international students, followed by India, South Korea, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, and Nigeria. The many top-ranked universities and colleges in metropolitan Washington, D.C. and subsequent top-quality job opportunities have drawn students specifically to this area where many have settled in Montgomery County.
Washington, D.C. International student assembly. Indian delegates, left to right: Sita Guha Thakurta; K.Z. Fournadjiadieff, Satiavati E. Cotelingan, Kamala Kosambi. September, 1942. Photo by Gordon Parks. (Library of Congress, LC-USW3- 007562-C )
World wars, the Cold War, political movements, economic booms and crises in home countries, and the immigration policies of the U.S. have contributed to the flow of international students to the U.S. In the 1930s, German and European students fled Nazi control to study in the U.S. where anti-immigrant sentiment was on the rise. Just after WWII, the Fulbright program, set up to encourage shared understanding between the U.S. and other countries, contributed to approximately 26,000 international students studying in the U.S., though enrollment has dropped after the events of 9/11. Today, close to a million international students study in U.S. universities and colleges. Many, especially those studying science and technology, remain in the U.S., taking on jobs that boost this country's competitiveness in the global economy.
World wars, the Cold War, political movements, economic booms and crises in home countries, and the immigration policies of the U.S. have contributed to the flow of international students to the U.S. In the 1930s, German and European students fled Nazi control to study in the U.S. where anti-immigrant sentiment was on the rise. Just after WWII, the Fulbright program, set up to encourage shared understanding between the U.S. and other countries, contributed to approximately 26,000 international students studying in the U.S., though enrollment has dropped after the events of 9/11. Today, close to a million international students study in U.S. universities and colleges. Many, especially those studying science and technology, remain in the U.S., taking on jobs that boost this country's competitiveness in the global economy.
Explore the following stories on the theme of immigration and the student:
Explore the following stories on the theme of immigration and the student:
