The Importance of Recruiting and Retaining International Students

A steady decline in enrollment among postsecondary institutions and cuts in educational funding, both at the state and federal level, have caused these institutions to look for alternative sources of revenue. With postsecondary institutions struggling to financially survive, international enrollment has become the focus of higher education. The purpose of this study is to provide a better understanding on the importance of recruiting and retaining international students. This study used a phenomenological approach and epistemology was used to provide the conceptual framework of the study. Qualitative methods were used to conduct this study. A series of semi-structured interviews provided the data for this study and was collected from a group of higher education administrators. The results from the data were coded and emergent themes identified from the data. The themes from the data provided awareness on how administrators and institutions view the impact international students have on postsecondary institutions. Although five participants from five separate institution participated in this study, the responses from the participants were strikingly similar. Due to the participants’ similar views regarding international students, the implications and recommendations from this study can provide invaluable insight to administrators and U.S. postsecondary institutions