When we think about the benefits of F and M students in the United States, discussions usually focus on the additions you make to the economy, the way your American peers benefit from international students in the classroom, and the advantages you gain from attending U.S. schools and experiencing U.S. culture. An often-missed key advantage of F students is the effect you have on research in graduate schools. According to Forbes, “research is important because it attracts and retains high quality professors at U.S. universities, which in turn helps U.S. students by keeping science and engineering programs at a high level.” By contributing to the research capabilities of U.S. graduate schools, you help strengthen their academic programs.

The National Foundation for American Policy conducted a study to show the benefits international students have on U.S. graduate schools. According to the study, while you bring cultural benefits to the American classroom, you also “provide a key source of talent for U.S. employers and are crucial to enhancing the ability of U.S. universities to conduct research and offer high quality academic programs to U.S. students.”

The enrollment of F students in U.S. graduate programs is currently high in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. STEM is a priority for the United States. Forbes reported that international students make up 70 percent of electrical engineering students, 63 percent in computer science programs and more than 50 percent in “industrial engineering, economics, chemical engineering, materials engineering and mechanical engineering.”

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Sources:

• International Students Are 70% Of EE Grad Students In U.S.; Forbes
• The Importance of International Students to America; The National Foundation for American Policy