IE Releases Intensive English Program (IEP) Data on 2017 International Student Enrollments

NEW YORK, NY – Overall, 86,786 international students participated in an intensive English program (IEP) in the United States in 2017, according to recently released IIE data. IEP programs in U.S. are offered by higher education institutions and independent providers, and are one way for international students to initiate their education in the United States. In 2017, 51 percent of IEP students intended to further their study in the United States following the completion of their program.

The latest figures represent a 20 percent decline in IEP enrollment from 2016 to 2017, following a decline of 19 percent the year prior. IEP students studied in the U.S. for an average of 14 weeks in 2017, consistent with the average of 14 student-weeks in 2016. Fluctuations in IEP enrollments are contingent on a variety of factors, but the sharpest declines can be traced to changes in foreign government-funded scholarship programs.

The number of IEP students from Saudi Arabia, the top-sending place of origin from 2010 to 2015, fell by 46.5 percent from 2016 to 2017. Declines in Saudi enrollments are attributable to changes in Saudi Arabia’s government scholarship program. Mexican IEP student enrollments also fell by 58.6 percent, after growing 40 percent from 2015 to 2016.

China is currently the leading place of origin for IEP students, sending 19,756 students in 2017, despite a 7.7 percent drop in enrollment numbers. Of the top-10 sending countries, Brazil was the only place of origin to see an increase in enrollments at 11.1 percent, a reversal from the previous two years of declining Brazilian IEP enrollments after the end of Brazil’s Scientific Mobility Program.

About the Institute of International Education
For nearly a century, IIE has been a world leader in international education. We work to build more peaceful and equitable societies by advancing scholarship, building economies and promoting access to opportunity. As a not-for-profit with 18 offices and affiliates worldwide, IIE collaborates with a range of corporate, government and foundation partners across the globe to design and manage scholarship, study abroad, workforce training, and leadership development programs. For more information visit www.iie.org.

Featured

  • Three U.S. Universities Install Acre Security Access Control Platform

    Cloud-native physical and digital security solutions company Acre Security recently announced that it has deployed its access control platform at three major universities in the U.S., according to a news release. Acre partnered with Atrium Campus to provide coverage for more than 69,000 students at the University of Virginia (UVA), George Mason University, and Rockhurst University.

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • Kenall Introduces Millenium Flair Series

    In a move aimed at modernizing institutional lighting without compromising on durability or performance, Kenall has launched its new Millenium Flair series, according to the Kenall website.

  • K–12 Safety Trends Report Reveals Reliance on Training, Technology

    Wearable safety technology provider CENTEGIX recently released its 2025 School Safety Trends Report, according to a news release. The report is based on more than 265,000 incidents during the 2024–25 school year as reported through the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, used by more than 800 school districts across the U.S.

Digital Edition