International Students and Study Abroad

 

International Students in Minnesota

According to the Institute of International Education Open Doors 2018 report, 15,695 students from outside the U.S. attended Minnesota postsecondary institutions during the academic year 2017-2018; increasing two percent from the previous year. Minnesota ranked 19th out of all states in the number of international students attending institutions in the state, unchanged from previous three years. Nationally 1.09 million international students studied in the U.S.
Of 2017-2018 international students attending a Minnesota institution:

• The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranked 21st of all leading institutions in the country hosting international students, with 7,212 international students.
• China was the leading country of origin for international students in Minnesota comprising 28 percent of all international students. India and South Korea were the next two leading countries of origin of international students in the state followed by Nepal and Saudi Arabia.
• Five Minnesota institutions accounted for 74 percent of international students studying in Minnesota: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, St. Cloud State University, Minnesota State University-Mankato, University of St. Thomas and Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students contributed $42 billion to the U.S. economy in 2017-2018 through tuition, room and board, and other expenses. Within Minnesota, international students contributed over $474 million to the states economy.

Open Doors Fact Sheet for Minnesota

Study Abroad: Minnesota Colleges

Some Minnesota colleges lead the nation in sending students to study abroad programs.

Search and compare Minnesota colleges to those nationwide.
Search destinations of Minnesota study abroad students.

About the Data

The Open Doors® Report on International Educational Exchange is published by the Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States. IIE has conducted an annual statistical survey of campuses regarding the international students in the United States since 1919, and with support from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since the early 1970s. The census is based on a survey of approximately 3,000 accredited U.S. institutions. Open Doors also conducts and reports on separate surveys on U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit (since 1985), and on international scholars at U.S. universities and international students enrolled in pre-academic Intensive English Programs.