The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta region ranked 11th among metropolitan areas nationwide for the number of foreign college students it welcomed between 2008 and 2012, a new report shows.
Based on records obtained from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Brookings Institution report shows the Atlanta region attracted 16,699 of the F-1 visa holders during that five-year time period.
The New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island region ranked first at 101,586.
China sent the largest share of these students to the Atlanta region at 3,702 followed by South Korea, 3,405; India, 2,706; Saudi Arabia, 491; and Taiwan, 333.
The report’s author cited several possible reasons why the Atlanta region is attracting so many foreign college students, including the presence of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“You do have powerhouse universities,” said Neil Ruiz, an associate fellow at Brookings’ Metropolitan Policy Program.
The following schools attracted most of the foreign students: Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory, Georgia State, Kennesaw State and Southern Polytechnic State universities. Nearly half of the foreign students are studying science, technology, engineering and math here.
Ruiz said these students represent an important link for Atlanta area businesses seeking to export their goods or attract foreign investment.
“These students have the language skills and connections abroad and also now a home here,” Ruiz said. “So I think that is very important for policymakers to understand.”
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