Office of the President

University statements

July 8, 2020

To the Binghamton University Community,

Binghamton University recruits the best students from across the U.S. and around the world. International students are 12% of our enrollment and a vital part of our community. They bring a variety of perspectives and experiences that contribute to the diversity of our campus and enrich the education of all students.

International students also provide significant economic benefits to our region, state and nation:

• International students contribute $41 billion annually to the U.S. economy and make higher education the nation’s fourth largest export behind only autos, aeronautics and pharmaceuticals.
• Tuition paid by international students at public universities helps to keep in-state tuition low and has enabled public universities to function with decreasing state support.
• Recruiting smart, highly motivated students from across the globe contributes to the nation’s intellectual capital and economic productivity: international students earning graduate degrees in science and engineering enrich our innovation economy as evidenced by the fact that, according to the World Bank, a 10% increase in international graduate students produces a 4.5% increase in patent applications and a 6.8% increase in university patent grants.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life on our campus and at universities around the world. But it has made life especially challenging for international students. They are separated from family and friends at a stressful time, and if they left the country in March, they will have a difficult time getting back to campus to resume educational programs in which they have made significant investments. Federal regulations also limit students who are studying in the U.S. from taking all of their classes online.

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