Factors that Influence Canadian Students’ Choice of Higher Education Institutions in the United States

Business Education & Accreditation, v. 4 (2) pp. 85-95, 2012

11 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2013

See all articles by Erin E. McCarthy

Erin E. McCarthy

D'Youville College

Arup K. Sen

D’Youville College

Bonnie Fox Garrity

D’Youville College

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

This study seeks to explain the factors influencing Canadian students’ motivation for studying in the United States. The United States has continuously been the leader in international students, but is now facing increasing competition from other nations around the world. As one of the top senders of international students to the United States, Canada is of special interest to institutions of higher education in the United States due to the close social, economic, and political ties. International student mobility is influenced by push-pull factors that influence a student’s decision to study abroad, and ultimately pull factors from host nations that student’s find favorable. To understand Canadian students’ motivation for studying in the United States, a study was conducted with a sample of 411 Canadian students at a small private college in Buffalo, New York. The study found statistically significant differences in the the importance placed on reasons for not remaining in Canada for higher education, the factors that influence the selection of the United States as a study destination, and student preferences for institutions of higher education in the United States. The study concluded that there are separate push-pull factors influencing Canadian higher education students on the Canada-U.S. border, and that Canadian students are their own distinct group that are neither truly like international nor domestic students.

Keywords: International education, Canadian students, higher education.

JEL Classification: 051

Suggested Citation

McCarthy, Erin E. and Sen, Arup K. and Fox Garrity, Bonnie, Factors that Influence Canadian Students’ Choice of Higher Education Institutions in the United States (2012). Business Education & Accreditation, v. 4 (2) pp. 85-95, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2144995

Erin E. McCarthy (Contact Author)

D'Youville College ( email )

320 Porter Street
Buffalo, NY NY 14220
United States

Arup K. Sen

D’Youville College ( email )

320 Porter Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14201
United States

Bonnie Fox Garrity

D’Youville College ( email )

320 Porter Street
Buffalo, NY
United States

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