This week, Colorado State University announced its seventh consecutive year of record enrollment, citing a surge in graduate, non-resident and international students. International student enrollment, up 23 percent from last year with the addition of 353 students, reached an all-time high of 1,859. This is the fifth year in a row that CSU has welcomed a record number of international students, including increased numbers of both international graduate and undergraduate students.

“International student enrollment continues to increase dramatically at CSU,” said Jim Cooney, vice provost for International Affairs. “Growth is particularly striking at the undergraduate level where the number of international students has more than doubled in the past five years.”

Just two months after the attention of Colorado State University was focused on the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, the South American country has now turned its attention to CSU – 89 Brazilian undergraduate students are now enrolled at the University, more than 11 times as many as last year. Representing the most significant international student growth, Brazilian students are just one piece of the overall picture, as international students now represent 96 countries from all over the globe. The number of Chinese students has increased significantly over the past five years, as well as Indian students, especially those studying engineering and business. Students from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Vietnam, Libya and Iran are also widely represented among the undergraduate and graduate international student population. Matriculated INTO students, those who complete their English language coursework requirement and become enrolled at CSU, now account for eleven percent of the international student population.

“International students provide the cultural diversity and global perspective that are integral to a university education,” said Mark Hallett, senior director of International Student and Scholar Services at CSU. “Students can learn from other perspectives, both inside and outside of the classroom.”

International students now represent 6.9 percent of the student population at Colorado State, an increase from 5.7 percent during the 2013-2014 academic year. CSU’s freshman class is more racially and ethnically diverse than ever before, including 81 international students from 25 countries, demonstrating the university’s commitment to access and diversity.