Saudi Arabia student numbers drop

Many U.S. colleges and universities have grown accustomed to seeing a steady and large number of students from Saudi Arabia apply for admission. That trend has reversed as Saudi Arabia's fortunes have declined because of reduced oil revenue. The sponsorship program that fully funded most Saudi students has been modified and now requires higher academic performance and more selectivity of students and institutions.

The change in Saudi student enrollment varies across institutions but is reflected in an overall 11.5% decline in F and M visas that allow international students to study in the U.S.  Institutions and admission officials from a variety of campuses report that the drop in Saudi enrollment should be balanced by greater diversification of students from other countries in the future.

Examination of why international students study at U.S. institutions stands as the biggest and most important question going forward. There are a variety of motivations students seek to study in the U.S. - quality, access, cultural exposure, credibility, pride. Some would propose that sorting through these motivations and appealing to better students' highest motivations will result in a longer-term and more sustainable outcome.