SFSU Ranked No. 2 Nationwide Among Master's Institutions for Int'l Students

Number of students from India, Philippines increase significantly over last fall

San Francisco State University remains an increasingly hot destination for students from more than 100 countries across the globe, as the number of matriculated international students reached an all-time high for the seventh consecutive year this fall.

In addition, data released today by the Institute of International Education illustrates that SFSU has more international students than any other master’s degree-granting institution in the United States except City University of New York-Baruch College, according to 2001-02 figures. It is the second consecutive year that SFSU ranked No. 2.

The number of matriculated international students on campus increased by 3.1 percent over last fall to reach 2,230. The number of international students has more than doubled since 1994. They now represent 110 countries of origin.

Yenbo Wu, SFSU director of international programs, attributes the ongoing increase to more recruiting efforts at Bay Area community colleges and the University’s dedication to providing more extensive, top-quality support services to international students such as advising, counseling, activities and an intensive orientation program. Wu said word of mouth is “the most powerful tool for recruiting.”

“San Francisco State has built a strong reputation around the world for its outstanding academic programs, a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for international students, and its location in the world’s most popular city,” Wu said. “We hope the numbers continue to increase in the future, as the education of foreign and domestic students alike mutually benefit from their presence on campus.”

Wu added that he believes this year’s increase would be even greater if not for new regulations and delays in obtaining student visas after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

A welcome reception for international students will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. today in the Vista Room, located on the fourth floor of Burk Hall on the SFSU campus, as part of the University’s celebration of International Education Week. SFSU President Robert A. Corrigan and the SFSU Office of International Programs will host the reception. Reporters are welcome to attend the
reception, which is expected to draw a large crowd of international students.

SFSU remains a top destination for students from Asian countries this fall, comprising 74.4 percent of the University’s international student body. Japan still tops the list with 469 students, as it has since SFSU began tracking countries of origin in 1994. The other top countries of origin are Taiwan (300 students), China (175), Indonesia (136) and Korea (134).
Several countries showed significant increases over last fall. India, the sixth top country of origin for SFSU international students, showed a 21.6 percent increase with 107 students. The Philippines reached No. 10 with an increase of 25.7 percent, with 44 students.

Business administration is by far the most popular field of study (385 students), followed by computer science (218), business computer information systems (118) and international business (108).

Of the 2,230 matriculated international students, 876 are graduate students. For some countries, graduate students significantly outnumber undergraduates. For example, there are 85 graduate students from India, compared to 22 undergraduates. There are 60 graduate students from Thailand, compared to 16 undergraduates. Graduate students from Turkey also significantly outnumber the undergraduates, 54 to 12.

Matriculated students do not include those enrolled through SFSU’s College of Extended Learning or American Language Institute, as well as some other short-term visitors, students and scholars. Data on non-matriculated students for this fall is not yet available.
For detailed nationwide data on international students, visit the Institute of International Education’s Web site at: http://opendoors.iienetwork.org.

For more information on SFSU international programs, call (415) 338-1293 or visit: www.sfsu.edu/~oip.

One of the largest campuses in the CSU system, SFSU was founded in 1899 and today is a highly diverse, comprehensive, public and urban university.

NOTE: Yenbo Wu, SFSU director of international programs, may be contacted directly at
(415) 338-6377 or ywu@sfsu.edu. To schedule interviews with SFSU international students, contact Matt Itelson of the SFSU Office of Public Affairs at (415) 338-1743 or matti@sfsu.edu.