By Eryk Yunk
STARKVILLE, Miss. (Take 30 News)---A new study shows a trend with Mississippi immigrants and higher education.
In 2018, the USA recorded a record high population of immigrants, a population of over 44 million. Mississippi has one of the lowest percentages of immigrants of any state in the nation, at roughly 2% of its population being foreign born. However, a new study shows that Mississippi has one of the highest percentage gains of college educated immigrants in the country this past year.
Allen hall here at Mississippi state has its very own International Institute where students from the university can learn about study abroad programs but also where international students learn about Mississippi state.
Students like Silvia De La Pena.
"Education for us has always been like really important to me, most of my family members have an education" said De La Pena.
Silvia’s family owns a couple businesses in her hometown, this helped her decide to pursue a business degree here at Mississippi State.
"Doing some research i found that it was a pretty big school, and that it had a lot of diversity" said De La Pena.
At Mississippi State, international students make up 4% of the student population, this does not include immigrant students with legal residents in the united states.
The study done by the New American Economy, showed Mississippi with a 32% increase in college educated immigrants, that was the highest increase in the nation.