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International Students Give Graduate Schools an Enrollment Boost

By WTOP Staff

The number of people headed to graduate school is increasing, and that’s largely thanks to international students, according to a report from the Council of Graduate Schools. The results of an annual survey, released today, include responses from 655 institutions.

Overall there was a 1 percent increase between fall 2012 and fall 2013 of graduate students who were enrolling for the first time. The increase for first-time enrolled temporary U.S. residents, though, was 11.5 percent, according to the report.

[Learn which schools topped the 2015 Best Graduate Schools rankings.]

The surge in new international graduate students falls in line with data from previous years. Between fall 2011 and 2012 there was an 8 percent increase, and between 2010 and 2011 there was a 7.8 percent increase, says Jeff Allum, director of research and policy analysis at the Council of Graduate Schools. Admissions offers for prospective international graduate students increased 9 percent between 2013 and 2014, according to an August report from the council.

The new “Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 2003 to 2013” report explores enrollment trends for graduate students by discipline, gender, race, nationality and other factors.

International students are typically drawn to certain concentrations. “They come here to study STEM,” says Allum, referring to the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Math and computer sciences had the largest one-year change in graduate applications between fall 2012 and fall 2013 — an 11.2 percent increase. The increase in computer sciences is being driven largely by international students, Allum says.

Some international students are better equipped to handle the financial obligations and cultural differences that come with studying abroad.

“Students from emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil are more likely to afford the US tuition than before,” Xiu Chen Cravens, associate dean for international affairs and an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, said in an email. “Universities in these countries are internationalizing their curricula and many courses are taught in English, and undergraduate students often spend time abroad and feel comfortable doing their graduate studies internationally.”

[Follow seven steps for finding the right graduate school.]

U.S. citizens and permanent residents are strongly represented in other areas of study, such as health sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and education. Business has the largest number of first-time enrolled students of any broad field, Allum says, and education is second.

First-time enrollment among U.S. citizens and permanent residents between fall 2012 and 2013 decreased by 0.9 percent.

The report also highlights other graduate student trends, such as the number of women going to school.

[Find out which business schools have the most full-time female students.]

“Women earned about two-thirds (66.2%) of the graduate certificates awarded in 2012-13, 59.2% of the master’s degrees, and 52.2% of the doctorates,” it states. “Academic year 2012-13 marked the fifth consecutive year in which women earned the majority of the degrees awarded at the doctoral level.”

Within racial groups, first-time enrollment at the graduate level among Hispanics increased by 5.7 percent, but it fell 4.9 percent for American Indians and Alaska natives, 0.1 percent for African-Americans and 2.1 percent for white students.

Searching for a grad school? Get our complete rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

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International Students Give Graduate Schools an Enrollment Boost originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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