Image of a blackboard pencils and a book
Education Service Exports
Learn about education service exports and how we can assist your institution in connecting to high school counselors, agents, potential partner universities, recruit international students, and meet with companies or government entities.

Education Service Exports

U.S. Education Service Exports

According to the latest data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), education-related travel exports were valued at $50.2 billion and ranked 7th among service exports in 2023. According to IIE’s Open Doors 2024 Report, the United States hosted 1,126,690 international students in the 2023-2024 academic year, which accounts for a six percent increase over the previous academic year. NAFSA: Association of International Educators finds that international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 academic year. According to HolonIQ, global education and training expenditure is expected to reach $10 trillion by 2030.

Education is an important element of our trade relationships with countries worldwide. Promoting study in the United States strengthens our economic development through innovation, workforce development, and attracting foreign direct investment.  In 2019, the U.S. Commercial Service launched the USA: A Study Destination industry engagement initiative to assist the U.S. international education industry to compete. In 2022, U.S. international education was highlighted in the National Export Strategy, a governmentwide strategic plan to carry out the export promotion and export financing activities of the U.S. government. Increasing trade and investment opportunities for U.S. educational institutions and entities is, therefore, a priority of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. 
 

What the U.S. Commercial Service Can Do for You

The U.S. Commercial Service (CS) is the export promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration. Strategically located in 106 U.S. and 127 foreign locations in 80 countries, our global network of trade and investment professionals are well-positioned to help U.S. companies, including U.S. educational institutions, succeed internationally. Our global network of trade professionals can help you recruit your first international student or expand your international student recruitment efforts to additional countries. We offer the expertise you need to assist you with your international outreach to students, foreign education institutions, and potential partners.

How We Can Help Your Institutions

The CS Global Education Team provides export counseling, market intelligence, the delivery of customized services and value-added programming, and client outreach at key events designed to foster global partnerships. We can help your institution connect with high school counselors, student educational recruitment agencies, and potential partners to build international student recruitment pipelines and partnership channels through various offerings unique to the education sector. Our team can also assist educational state consortia efforts and overseas promotion. We can provide you with the resources and information you need to develop your international student recruitment strategy. 

U.S. Commercial Service Programs and Services Available to Your Institution

  • International Market Research. Receive market research reports on target markets around the world. 
  • International Partner Search. Find pre-screened foreign partner schools, student educational recruitment agencies, and/or other educational organizations. 
  • Gold Key Matchmaking Service. Meet contacts at foreign high schools and/or universities, student educational recruitment agencies, and other partners.
  • Single School Promotion. Deliver a customized event featuring your educational institution and meet key players in the international education field. 
  • Trade Fairs and Catalog Shows. Identify the right international education fairs for your institution. 
  • Virtual Education Fairs and Virtual Connection Programs. Connect with student educational recruitment agencies using online platforms—without leaving your office. 
  • Trade Missions. Participate in a trade mission for high-level visibility among key market contacts. 
  • Website Globalization Reviews. Improve your online international reach and receive Search Engine Optimization (SEO) recommendations.
     

Find the U.S. Commercial Service at These Key Industry Events

  • NAFSA Annual and Region Conferences 
  • EducationUSA Forum
  • EnglishUSA Annual Conference
  • Alliance for International Exchange Annual Conference
  • American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) Annual Conference
  • ICEF Workshops 
  • Community Colleges for International Development (CCID) Annual Conference

Contact Us

For questions regarding the above programs, please contact:
 
LeeAnne Haworth
Global Education Team Leader
leeanne.haworth@trade.gov