While the number of American students fell slightly amid the recession in 2009, U.S. universities continued to attract students from abroad, according to a 2010 report by the Institute of International Education. Chinese students in the U.S. helped drive the overall increase of foreign scholars studying here -- a record 690,923. Aside from China, students from India, South Korea, Canada and Taiwan accounted for more than half of all foreign students studying in the U.S.
For the most part, they pursued studies in business and management or engineering. The universities hosting the largest number include the University of South California, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and New York University.
So while China and Germany may outrank the U.S. as being the world's biggest exporter of goods, America clearly tops as the exporter of education (the U.S. Commerce Department regards money spent by foreign students at U.S. universities an export service).
If only U.S. policies did more to keep such talent here.
Long-term interest rates are already low and they aren't doing much to spur economic growth. How will 'Operation Twist' change that?
