The following comes from the January and February 2013 issue of International Educator, the magazine of NAFSA: Association for International Educators.

International students bring many positive things to their campuses and communities, and their financial contributions are not to be overlooked. According to NAFSA’s Economic Impact Analysis report, released in November 2011, international students and their dependents added $21.81 billion to the economy. Through tuition, fees, and other living expenses, international student spending is a significant benefit to the U.S. economy.

NAFSA produces the report using Wintergreen Orchard House data on tuition and living expenses along with enrollment statistics from the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report. Jason Baumgartner, from Indiana University-Bloomington’s Office of International Services, analyzes the data. For more information and stat-by-state reports, visit www.nafsa.org/eis/.

Editor’s note: According to the report referenced above, the net contribution of international students and their families to the economy of the state of Florida is just under $1 billion, and the contribution of international students attending the University of South Florida and their families to the Tampa Bay economy is over $53 million.