African Students at US Colleges and Universities

An Open-Door Policy?

African Students at US Colleges and Universities Author, Kyla Denwood

Abstract

Many U.S. colleges and universities take pride in their diverse international student populations. The United States proves to be a top destination for young scholars, with nearly one million foreign-born students enrolled during the 2020-2021 academic year. 1 In today ’s interconnected world, international students provide economic and social benefits to their universities and host countries. The students bring diverse perspectives into the classroom, provide cross-cultural experiences for American students, and contribute to the revenue of U.S. businesses. In 2019, international students in the United States contributed $41 billion to the national economy and supported more than 450,000 jobs, according to the NAFSA Association of International Educators. 2 Once their education is complete, many international students return to their home countries as unofficial cultural diplomats, sharing their international experiences and deconstructing stereotypes about their host country.

While the United States boasts a diverse international student population hailing from over 200 countries, the enrollment of students from sub-Saharan Africa remains minimal. In 2020, African students made up 3.9 percent of all foreign students at U.S. colleges and universities. 1 The low engagement of African students at U.S. colleges does not bode well for the future of U.S. engagement on the continent, going against the Biden administration’s hopes. In his U.S. -Africa policy, President Biden expresses a commitment to Africa, aiming to advance peace and security; promote economic growth, trade and investment; and support democratic institutions on the continent. 3

African countries have growing youthful and tech-savvy populations that are positioned to generate economic wealth and electoral accountability throughout the continent. To support Biden’s U.S. -Africa policy and improve U.S. -Africa relations for joint economic prosperity, the United States Department of Education and the Department of State should fund more recruitment efforts for international students from Africa.

Background

Africa is the fastest growing region on the planet. By 2030, one of every four people aged 15 to 24 will live in Africa, according to the United Nations. 4 The expanding population will cause an increase in demand for goods and services, and African countries are already working to produce enabling environments for trade. Opened in 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has become the world’s largest free trade area, encompassing 55 African countries and 1.2 billion people. Additionally, rapid urbanization and digitalization has catalyzed

a technological revolution across the continent. For example, phone subscriptions in Africa increased from less than 2 per 100 people in 2000 to 75 per 100 people in 2017. 5 Growing access to information technology is enabling business environments and enhancing the quality of education, skills, training and entrepreneurial spirit. In anticipation of future high returns, the Biden administration should invest in Africa’s young population by expanding their opportunities for U.S. education.

As a result of population growth and globalization, the number of African students leaving their countries for higher education is rapidly increasing. Between 2012 and 2017, there was a 26 percent increase in the number of students from Africa attending college abroad. 6 The demand for study abroad will likely intensify in the next decade as the population ages and opportunities increase. 6 Other countries are taking notice of the opportunity to engage in soft power through Africa’s student population. For example, the number of African students in China has significantly increased in the last two decades. In 2018, African students accounted for almost 16.6 percent of the total international student population in China, which is a 57-fold increase from 2000. 7 This follows China’s promotion of cultural exchange to enhance soft power as well as their growing economic presence in Africa. 8 Without similar action by the U.S, Sino-Africa relations will widen the radius of China’s activities on the international stage, backed by 53 African allies legitimizing the country ’s economic and political interests. To manage future geopolitical advantages in sub-Saharan Africa the United States must promote U.S. study opportunities to African students.

Challenges

Although there are great benefits to increasing African student enrollment, there are challenges that must be addressed for fruitful recruitment. Firstly, Africa is a large continent known for its cultural and linguistic diversity. For colleges, this creates difficulty in identifying potential students. Another barrier arising from this challenge includes limited access to U.S. standardized admissions tests. Access to SAT and ACT testing centers can be extremely limited on the continent, with some students having to travel to neighboring countries to take exams. Finally, cost of attendance remains a major barrier in growing the enrollment rates of African students. Beyond tuition, students must factor in the cost of food, housing, school materials, and plane tickets along with weak currencies relative to the American dollar.

Recommendations

1. The Department of Education should partner with community colleges and minority serving institutions to promote exchange opportunities to African students.

Minority-serving institutions (MSIs), including historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions, are a vital part of U.S. higher education, providing access to college for millions of students of color. While their success is integral to the success of our

higher education system, financial instability and enrollment declines threaten the future of minority-serving institutions. The Biden administration has shown commitment to supporting minority-serving institutions, pledging $45 billion to research and infrastructure development. 9 To further this commitment, the Department of Education should partner with MSIs and neighboring community colleges and fund scholarships, study abroad opportunities, and additional pipelines to U.S. education for African students. This would increase the amount of African students studying in the United States as well as the funding and attendance at MSIs.

2. Partner with organizations working to improve African student access to international education.

The size and diversity within Africa makes recruitment of prospective students difficult. To ensure an inclusive and equitable recruitment process, the Department of State and affiliated programs like EducationUSA should align themselves with organizations working to increase access to international education for African students. For example, the HALI Access Network is a non-profit organization in Africa that works with high-achieving, low-income students to access international higher education opportunities. By working with organizations like the HALI Access Network, the Department of Education and federal contractors can better target their recruitment initiatives towards African students.

Partnering with pre-existing organizations offers several benefits for students and educational institutions. First, this method allows for direct access to students already interested in studying abroad, reducing recruitment costs. Additionally, working with these organizations would allow U.S. colleges and universities to adopt a cohort model of recruitment, admitting more than one student from a particular country so they have familiar peers during their abroad experience. U.S. -based college cohort programs like the Posse Foundation have celebrated high college graduation rates by sending students to college in teams and supporting them through scholarships, training and mentorship. This program could be replicated with African international students.

3. Be realistic about the cost.

Recruiting more African students to study in the United States is a necessary, but expensive endeavor. U.S. colleges and universities must be willing to provide more full-funding opportunities to African students to offset education and living expenses. Along with the financial cost, there is an institutional cost of ensuring African students are supported throughout their U.S. educational experience. This means training faculty and staff to meet the unique needs of African students, whether in classroom settings or internships and career planning. To have success in increasing the African international student population, the U.S. government must invest in the students as well as the university to ensure equitable educational experiences.

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