Report: CU-Boulder No. 1 in state for sending, receiving students internationally

CU-Boulder students participate in the International Coffee Hour (Photo by Patrick Campbell/University of Colorado)

The University of Colorado Boulder enrolled more international students during the 2011-12 academic year and sent more students abroad during the 2010-11 academic year than any other higher education institution in Colorado.

The data, released by the Institute of International Education in its annual Open Doors Report, shows that CU-Boulder was home to 1,681 international students during the 2011-12 school year. CU-Boulder sent 1,316 students overseas during the 2010-11 school year.

The University of Colorado Denver also landed in the top five in the state, with 1,116 placing it at No. 4.

“Global student experiences enrich the academic and cultural environment of our campus and beyond,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “They create some of our best ambassadors around the world who do our community great honor.”

In his State of the Campus Address on Oct. 16, DiStefano described CU-Boulder’s goal to increase the international student population on campus to 3,240 -- 10 percent of the student body.

CU-Boulder has held the No. 1 spot in Colorado for sending and receiving international students for more than 10 years, according to Larry Bell, director of CU-Boulder’s Office of International Education.

“For over a decade, we’ve been a leader in the state for international education, which -- by the way -- contributes more than $48 million annually to the Boulder economy,” Bell said. “But more importantly, international education through our students’ pursuit of some of the greatest academic, research and service endeavors around the globe brings invaluable diversity and growth to individuals and our communities.”

CU-Boulder also ranked No. 12 in the nation for study abroad participation in semester-long programs.

The Open Doors Report on the flow of students to and from the United States is released annually in conjunction with International Education Week, which this year is Nov. 12-16. The week of celebration is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.

Other top-ranking Colorado institutions recognized in this year’s Open Doors Report include the University of Denver and Colorado State University.