The University of Colorado expects its students' interest in China study abroad programs to pique, mirroring a national trend.

The number of Americans studying in China increased by 25 percent, according to a report released by the Institute of International Education released last week. In that report, CU's Boulder campus ranked No. 8 in the nation for sending students for semester programs abroad.

China ranks No. 8 on the list of the most popular destinations for CU students studying abroad, with Spain, Italy and Semester at Sea leading the list.

But Sarah Westmoreland, study abroad program manager at CU, said she expects students' interest in China to grow over the next few years. The university this year signed an exchange agreement with Sichuan University in Chengdu, China. Also, a new $1.2 million donation to CU that was announced last week will allow a dozen students and a faculty member to participate in an annual study abroad program in China and neighboring countries.

Westmoreland said students are no longer studying abroad in China to learn the language, but there's a growing interest in business.

The emerging China summer program will be available to faculty and students in all disciplines.

During the 2007-2008 academic year, 33 CU students studied in China and there are 19 studying there this year, according to Westmoreland.

Chinese students are enrolling at U.S. universities in record numbers, encouraged by aggressive recruiting combined with China's booming economy and growing middle class. Their enrollment grew by 8 percent in the fall of 2006 and by 20 percent last year, according to the international institutes figures.

At CU, the number of Chinese undergraduates grew from 10 to 12 over the past year, said Larry Bell, director of the Office of International Education. There are 180 graduate students from China, up from 158 last year, Bell said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at 303-473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com.