10 Most Internationally-Influenced Universities

  1. University of Southern California
    Having the greatest number of international students of any higher education institution in the nation, USC has demonstrated a commitment to increasing its cosmopolitan student body and its international presence. USC offers the unique Office of Globalization, which is dedicated to “[advancing] the strategic objective of increasing the international visibility, reach and impact of USC’s research, scholarship, art, education and service programs – thereby securing USC’s place as a truly global university…” The Office of Globalization actively recruits international students and offers a wealth of information for domestic students wishing to study abroad.
  2. The New School
    Representing over 100 countries, the international student body at The New School comprises 22% of the total student population. The countries that the school’s international students hail from are especially diverse. The top countries of origin are Korea, Japan, Canada, India, Turkey, Germany, Israel, and Mexico, among others. Located in the heart of the diverse, bohemian Greenwich Village in New York, The New School has a slightly artsy bent among its students. The school provides several resources for its international students to integrate in the United States and to share their own culture with others.
  3. Columbia University
    One of the most prestigious universities in the country, Columbia boasts an astounding 10,000 internationals studying or teaching at its institution. The International Students and Scholars Office grants international students a strong support system. The Office provides a peer advisory system, cultural events and excursions, informational workshops, and the unique International Spouse Network, which welcomes spouses and family members from abroad in a series of luncheons and events.
  4. New York University
    NYU’s decidedly urban campus hosts almost 6,000 international students. Like the New School, NYU’s central location in one of the most diverse cities in the world draws many foreign students every year. More than just a diverse student body, NYU has a particularly international focus, as evidenced by its Office of Global Programs and its International Houses. The International Houses consist of eight different houses, each focusing on a different country or region of the world, where scholars meet with prominent international guest lecturers, pursue international research, and develop a global perspective.
  5. Harvard University
    The country’s top rated university overall is also home to a legion of international students from 191 countries. Approximately 23% of the Harvard student body is international. Over the past decade, international student enrollment at Harvard has increased by 35%. Harvard is also generous with its international student financial aid, awarding the greatest amount of financial aid money to its foreign students-over $20 million dollars– than any other American institution.
  6. Carnegie Mellon University
    Carnegie Mellon, located three miles from downtown Pittsburgh, considers itself a “global research university.” And with good reason–20% of CMU’s student body come from 93 countries around the world. What’s more, CMU has several affiliated degree-granting institutions worldwide, like its Carnegie Mellon Qatar campus in the Middle East. CMU offers both the Office of International Education, which is dedicated to supporting its overseas students and enabling study abroad options, and the Intercultural Communication Center, which endeavors to meet the needs of its nonnative English speaking population. For the past twenty years, CMU has hosted the International Festival, a three-day series of events that includes renowned international speakers, multicultural performances, food, and more.
  7. University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign
    This branch of the University of Illinois has earned the distinction of having the most international students out of any public university in the United States. The student population of UI originates from 119 different countries, 80% of whom are from Asia. The top five countries represented in the student body are China, South Korea, India, Taiwan, and Canada. The University of Illinois has an interesting array of events for both international and domestic students alike, including the Indoor World Cup and Cosmo Club Coffee Hours, which are weekly sessions that feature coffee, tea, and a different international dessert for every meeting.
  8. Mount Holyoke College
    Mount Holyoke, located in old New England town in Massachusetts, is one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the nation. The school is also a top-rated all-girls university. Its international student population comprises nearly 20% of the undergraduate body. Mount Holyoke internationals come from over 70 different countries. Holyoke’s impressive McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives hosts international conferences and events, and it also provides internationals with advising services and immigration information.
  9. University of Pennsylvania
    UPenn’s international profile is significant–the number of foreign students enrolled at this top-rated school totals over 3,500, comprising a little over 10% of its student population. Moreover, Penn ranks first among the Ivy League schools in number of students who study abroad. The school’s Office of International Programs provides foreign students with many resources, including an extensive orientation. Penn also has many programs that cater to students seeking a global perspective and community. Penn’s unique International Residential Program enables foreign and domestic students to room together, with the specific purpose of fostering a shared multicultural mindset.
  10. College of the Atlantic
    By all means, the College of the Atlantic is a tiny school–only 305 undergraduates and 5 graduate students make up its student body. But, for such a small liberal arts school, COA is impressively international, with 14% hailing from 35 different countries. Perhaps COA’s biggest draw for internationals is its focus on global ecological issues, since all undergraduate students earn a B.A. in Human Ecology. COA’s International Services department is also extensive.