International students in New Jersey have a few key state features working in their favor. In fact, the particular confluence of factors surrounding this state makes New Jersey a Mecca for international students coming to the United States. To begin, the state is the third smallest state in the nation, yet boasts the highest population density, third highest median income, and second-highest per capita income. The results of such a mixture are a boon to international students deciding if they want to study in New Jersey.
Throughout its history, the Garden State has been a major immigration hub and the site of the “melting pot” type of cultural exchange on which the United States of America thrives. The existence of already established immigrant and international student communities are extremely relevant facts when considering whether to study in New Jersey or any other state in the Union. In fact, 1.6 million people (just under 20 percent of the entire state’s population) are foreign-born residents. The existence of such communities helps provide those students who study in New Jersey the ability to transition and acclimate to their new location in a much smoother manner than they would in the absence of such communities.
International students in New Jersey are poised to take advantage of the ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity of the state (one of its most well-known features). The state boasts the second highest Jewish population, the second largest Muslim population, the third largest Asian population, the third largest Cuban population, the third largest Italian population, the third largest Indian population, the third largest Korean population, the fourth largest Chinese population, and the fourth largest Filipino population. With such celebrated diversity throughout the state, it is no surprise that these communities support major non-English speaking enclaves. In fact, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Gujarati, Hindi, Tagalog, and Mandarin Chinese are spoken prominently throughout the entire state. There is also an enclave of Korean, Telugu, Tamil, Malayam, Portugese, Turkish, and Russian speakers. Such a diverse mixture of people from across the world ensures international students in New Jersey will find a community wherein the familiar traditions of home may find an outlet.