Number of Americans studying at Jordanian universities 'increased by nearly 40% in 2018'

AMMAN — The number of US students enrolled in Jordanian institutions of higher learning has increased significantly since 2018, growing by 38.4 per cent over the last year’s figures, according to an annual report released by the Institute of International Education (IIE). 

The Open Doors report for 2017/2018, issued by the IIE with support from the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, shows that there were 1,017 Americans studying at Jordanian universities during the most recent academic year for which data is available, according to a US embassy statement. 

“This growing number of Americans enrolled in Jordanian universities reflects the high calibre of Jordan academic institutions and an increased interest in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic language learning in Jordan among American students,” John Hishmeh, assistant cultural affairs officer at the US embassy, was quoted in the statement as saying.

The number of Jordanian students enrolled in US universities and colleges grew slightly, by 0.6 per cent, to 2,435.  This number, according to the statement, does not include students with Jordanian/American dual citizenship.  

Jordan also ranked sixth in the region for the overall number of students going to the United States, marking an improvement from last year’s seventh place ranking.  

With an increasing number of American students coming to Jordan, the ratio of Jordanians studying in the United States to Americans in Jordan has improved dramatically, to approximately 2 to 1, respectively, the statement stressed.

Overall, the number of international students at US colleges and universities was 1,095,299 for the 2018-19 academic year, surpassing 1 million for the fourth year in a row.