Economic Value Statistics of International Students and Scholars

NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA provides annual statistics including economic value of international students and visitors.  NAFSA's latest analysis finds that international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $41 billion and supported 458,290 jobs to the U.S. economy during the 2018-2019 academic year.  NAFSA reports that for every seven international students, three US jobs are created and supported by spending occurring in the higher education, accommodation, dining, retail, transportation, telecommunications and health insurance sectors.

NAFSA conducts an annual state-by-state and congressional district analysis of the economic contributions of international students and their families to the U.S. economy. Massachusetts specific data shows that the 71,098 international students have contributed $3.2 Billion and 38,799 jobs during the 2018-2019 academic year. The economic contributions of international students are in addition to the immeasurable academic and cultural value these students bring to our campuses and local communities.