MICHIGAN — Michigan’s  diverse population gives an advantage that many other states don’t have. 

International students are a crucial part of the region’s diversity. Along with the different cultures, religions and languages they bring to the region, they also help boost Michigan’s economy. 

According to the 2013 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange,  the number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 7 percent to a record high of 819,644 students in the 2012-13 academic year.

It also stated that $24 billion was also spent by those same international students in the U.S. in the 2012-13 academic year.

How many of those students are studying in Michigan? How much are they spending? 

According to Global Detroit, “Michigan has over 23,500 international students studying at its colleges and universities, the 8th international students of any state. These international students contribute nearly $600 million annually to our local economies, effectively making higher education one of the state’s larger exports.”

Global Detroit began the International Student Retention with a goal of maintaining and increasing the number of international students studying and working in Michigan. 

International students are more likely to look to Michigan for education because of the emphasis universities and college put on subjects they want to study. 

“International students look to Michigan because we have some of the best universities in the world, especially for the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM),” said Steve Tobocman, director of Global Detroit.

This is a good sign, because the majority of jobs in Michigan come from the automotive and health industries. More students studying those fields will lead to more qualified people for the important jobs that need to be filled in Michigan. 

According to the International Talent Retention in Michigan: A Pathway to National Competitiveness report, “The international students utilizing the work authorization portion of their student visas are almost exclusively pursuing advanced degrees, preparing them to fill high-skilled jobs or to become entrepreneurs, starting businesses critical to the new economy.”

These international students see the potential in Michigan as a whole,  in terms of both education and jobs. They major in subjects they know will lead to jobs, which makes it more likely they will stay in the state. Both ways provide a boost in the local economy.

Michigan has the nation’s first international student retention program, but more can be done to grow the international student interest in the state. 

“The number one thing we can do to attract more international students is to ensure that the international students we already possess have a fantastic experience while studying here and seeking work after graduation,” Tobocman said. “The success of these students will resonate with future students seeking the education of U.S. institutions.”

With all international talent coming to learn and work in Michigan, Detroit will have the talent to become the Silicon Valley of the Midwest.