Education Services (US)
Overview
Education is mandatory in the United States until the age of 16, and the majority of students do finish high school. After completing 12 years of primary and secondary school, students often begin post-secondary learning, or higher education.
Many of the world’s most prestigious higher education institutions are in the United States. Known as colleges and universities, these institutions focus on one or more study areas, such as vocational, business, engineering, technical or liberal arts.
Unlike in many other countries, the United States’ central government does not control the educational system. Rather, the higher education systems are controlled by independent groups of people (private schools) or are shared between local and state governments (public schools). Private schools are generally much more expensive to attend.
International students in the United States are a significant part of U.S. higher education. A recent report by the Institute of International Education (IIE) noted a record number of international student enrollments at more than 600,000. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs receives 25 million inquiries annually from prospective students worldwide who are interested in U.S.-based studies.
An important emerging trend is online higher education that makes use of Internet technologies and systems known as Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). This type of education, sometimes known as distance learning or e-learning, gives students flexibility for when and where they undertake their studies and enables remote collaboration with peers and instructors.
By The Numbers
More than 15 millions students attend 7,000-plus higher education institutions in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Education (DOE). International students make up a substantial part of the enrollments for many schools.
The DOE estimates that about 70 percent of all undergraduate students attend public institutions, which include undergraduates at two-year, community colleges and four-year colleges and universities.
It is estimated that more than 2 million students in the United States make use of online higher education, with growth for online degrees expected to be strong.
Contact
For opportunities in the US Education Services sector, please contact the National US India Chamber of Commerce:
700 17th Street, Suite 2000, 20th Floor
Denver, CO 80202, USA
Phone: 720-323-3728
Fax: 303-273-9337
Email: info@nuicc.org
