OPEN DOORS FACT SHEET: BRAZIL
INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Educational Exchange Data from Open Doors 2014
In the 2013/14 academic year, 13,286 students from Brazil were studying in the United States (up 22.2% from
the previous year). Brazil is the tenth leading place of origin for students coming to the United States.
Academic Level: The majority of Brazilian students in the U.S. study at the undergraduate level. In 2013/14,
their breakdown was as follows: 38.3% undergraduate; 23.5% graduate students; 31.8% other; 6.4% OPT
(Optional Practical Training)
Economic Impact: Last year Brazilian students in U.S. colleges and universities contributed $333 million to the
U.S. economy. (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Historical trends: The number of Brazilian students in the U.S. increased steadily in the 1990s, peaking at
8,972 students in 2001/02. The number of Brazilian students declined for a few years and then began to rebound
in 2006/07, finally reaching the 9,000 level in 2011/12. In 2011, the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program was
launched, beginning a period of strong growth. 2013/14 marks the second consecutive year of double-digit
percentage growth for Brazilian students, as the scholarship program funded by the Government of Brazil and
administered by IIE has brought thousands of Brazilian students to study at U.S. universities.
Year
# of Students
From Brazil
% Change from
Previous Year
2013/14
2012/13
2011/12
2010/11
2009/10
2008/09
2007/08
2006/07
2005/06
2004/05
2003/04
2002/03
2001/02
2000/01
1999/00
1998/99
1997/98
13,286
10,868
9,029
8,777
8,786
8,767
7,578
7,126
7,009
7,244
7,799
8,388
8,972
8,846
8,860
8,052
6,982
22.2%
20.4%
2.9%
-0.1%
0.2%
15.7%
6.3%
1.7%
-3.2%
-7.1%
-7.0%
-6.5%
1.4%
-0.2%
10.0%
15.3%
13.2%
# of U.S. Study Abroad
Students Going to
Brazil
n/a
4,223 (up 4%)
4,060 (up 16.5%)
3,485(up 12.5%)
3,099 (up 11.6%)
2,777
2,702
2,524
2,328
1,994
1,554
1,345
1,064
760
717
594
555
Note: Study abroad figures from Open Doors reflect credit given by U.S. campuses during the survey year to their students who studied abroad in the
academic year just completed, including the summer term. Study abroad in 2013/14 will be reported in Open Doors 2015, once credit is awarded by the
home campus. Source: Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange, published annually by IIE with support from the U.S.
Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. For more information, including press releases on foreign students in the
U.S. and U.S. study abroad, and FAQs, including definitions of foreign students and foreign scholars, visit www.iie.org/opendoors or contact
IIE's Public Affairs office at: +1(212) 984-5360