Maintaining and expanding enrollment is a significant goal for Virginia’s colleges and universities, but institutions are competing with others from across the country and from other nations to retain students in the commonwealth.

Enrollment directly affects institutions’ academic offerings, finances, long-term sustainability and strategic planning.

Last year, 167 non-U.S. higher education institutions participated in a National Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair, one of America’s largest career affairs, with 19 countries represented including Canada, Japan and ones from the United Kingdom.

During the 2023-2024 school year, more than 10,300 students from Virginia were studying abroad, according to Open Doors data. In comparison, Virginia has garnered nearly 23,600 international students and is ranked 18th among the most states with students from abroad.

The number of Virginians studying abroad increased by 3.1% compared to the previous year. The leading major is business. Virginia is ranked tenth behind California with the most students studying abroad, 27,315," reports Virginia Mercury.