Foreign-born students studying in the U.S. spend billions in local economies and their talents should be more deliberately harnessed, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution.
International students contribute close to $35 billion in tuition and living costs to over 100 metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. The students disproportionately study science, technology, engineering, and math – or STEM – careers and the number of people coming to U.S. institutions is growing. The Brookings report author, Neil Ruiz, said that's good for the students, and their host communities. Ruiz said even as Congress has stalled on immigration reform that could increase meaningful opportunities for students post-graduation, there's a lot local officials can do to take advantage of the trend. That could include linking students to local employers in their fields and establishing programs that connect students to business owners who want grow internationally.
Read a full version of this report at the website of Keystone Crossroads, a new statewide public media initiative reporting on the challenges facing Pennsylvania's cities.
