The number of international students hosted by the United States recently surpassed pre-COVID enrollment numbers. Nepal, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Ghana in particular continue to experience growth. As a result, MTSU has focused recruitment efforts in these countries.
The 2024 Economic Value Report from NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, found that international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 378,175 jobs during the 2023–24 academic year. The financial contribution from international students at MTSU alone that year exceeded $18 million.
For the Fall 2025 semester, MTSU had more than 3,600 applications from international students—an increase of more than 110% from Fall 2024. More than 1,500 have been admitted, an increase of more than 33%.
These applicants represent more than 115 different countries. We are pleased to welcome these students from different backgrounds and cultures whose contributions on campus enrich the entire University.
MTSU students are also traveling the world. During the 2024–25 academic year, 278 students (a 13% increase over 2023–24) participated in overseas studies, representing six MTSU colleges.
Our faculty-led signature programs are a great pathway for students to study abroad; however, direct and exchange options are steadily becoming more popular among our student population. During the 2024–25 academic year, 354 travel abroad scholarships (totaling more than $335,900) were awarded to MTSU students. In addition, nine MTSU students were awarded the esteemed Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in the Winter and Summer 2025 terms.