The latest analysis from NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, found that international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $42.9 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 355,736 jobs during the 2024–25 academic year.
Tennessee attracted 11,261 international students who contributed $384.8 million to the state economy and supported 3,344 jobs.
This data confirms that international students provide social and cultural benefits to our campus, helping our region’s economy remain healthy and sound.
For Fall 2025, MTSU had approximately 656 international students enrolled from 77 different countries. This is a slight decrease, about 1%, from Fall 2024.
Welcoming these students from different cultures, religions, and backgrounds isn’t just the right thing to do. It benefits our campus, community, and state in terms of our economy, our cultural richness, and the career readiness of our students.
During the 2024–25 academic year, 274 MTSU students participated in education abroad programs, representing seven MTSU colleges. Looking ahead, the Office of Education Abroad aims to boost participation across all colleges.
Our Faculty-Led Signature Programs are excellent options for students to study abroad and are among our most popular offerings. During the 2024–25 academic year, scholarships totaling over $331,000 were awarded to students.
This includes five students who received the esteemed Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The Office of Education Abroad strives to continue these efforts and in doing so helps to meet the workforce needs of Tennessee.