Northwest ranks No. 16 for international graduate students in 2023 Open Doors Report

Northwest Missouri State University is among the top 20 college destinations in the United States for international students seeking master’s degrees, according to a new national report. 

The 2023 Open Doors Report ranks Northwest at No. 16 – up from No. 20 in last year’s report – among master’s degree-granting institutions in the U.S.

The annual report is published by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and Institute of International Education. It surveyed nearly 3,000 U.S. higher education institutions and counted international students who are studying in the U.S. or participating in optional practical training (OPT) to gain work experience in their field of study. The data in the 2023 report is from the 2022-23 academic year.

The 2023 Open Doors Report shows Northwest enrolled a total of 1,278 international students during the 2022-23 academic year, including 419 OPT students.

According to Northwest’s fall 2023 census, however, the University’s international student population continues to grow. This fall, Northwest reported it had enrolled a total of 1,038 international students, not including OPT students. The 2023 fall census showed an increase of 21.4 percent from the previous year’s headcount and the highest international student total in the institution’s history.

The University’s international student headcount represents 11 percent of its student body with students hailing from 34 other countries and most coming from India, Nepal, Nigeria and South Africa.

“It is amazing to see where we stand nationally,” Thomas Merlot, the director of Northwest International Involvement Center, said. “We often take it for granted having this kind of diversity on campus, but it is a unique benefit for the entire Northwest community. All of our internalization efforts wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Northwest Leadership Team. It truly motivates the International Involvement Center staff to continue serving international students both on campus and abroad.”

A student from India raises her native country's flag during Northwest's annual International Flag-Raising Ceremony, which celebrates the University's international students and diversity each fall. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)

About Northwest Missouri State University

With an enrollment of about 10,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the 2021 Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 80 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their University experience, compared to 77 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.

Furthermore, 97 percent of Northwest bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners secure employment or continue their education within six months of graduation, according to the most recent data. 

Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers. Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.

The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, saving students an estimated $6,800 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program. 

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.