India surpasses China as top source of international students in US

A record 331,602 Indian students among an all-time high of over 1.1 million international students coming in 2023/2024

By Arun Kumar

For the first time since 2009, India surpassed China as the top-sending country of students with a record 331,602 among an all-time high of more than 1.1 million international students coming to the US in 2023/2024.

Reflecting a 23% increase from the prior year, India enrollments of students to pursue higher education in the United States increased primarily at the graduate (196,567; +19%) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) academic levels (97,556; +41%), according to the Open Doors® 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange.

READ: Vivek Ramaswamy defends Trump plan for mass deportations (November 14th, 2024)

India and China together made up over half of all international students in the United States with China taking the second leading place of origin, despite a 4% decline to 277,398 students, according to Open Doors published by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE).

China remained the top-sending country for undergraduates and non-degree students, sending 87,551 and 5,517, respectively. Chinese students pursuing OPT increased by 12% to 61,552.

Many other countries sending students to the United States experienced strong growth, with eight of the top 25 reaching all-time highs: Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, India, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, and Spain. Sub-Saharan Africa totals grew by 13% in 2023/24 and had the highest growth rate among all world regions for the second consecutive year, building on the 18% increase in 2022/23.

An all-time high of more than 1.1 million (1,126,690) international students in 2023/2024, reflecting a 7% increase from the previous academic year, coincides with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Open Doors Report.

International students accounted for 6% of the total US higher education population and, according to the US Department of Commerce, contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023.

International graduate students and students on OPT hit record highs. Over a half million international graduate students (502,291) pursued study in the United States in 2023/2024, an 8% increase and an all-time high.

Additionally, the number of international students who remained in the United States to gain practical work experience through Optional Practical Training (OPT) reached a record high of 242,782 students, an increase of 22% from the prior year. The number of international undergraduates (342,875) remained stable, decreasing by a moderate one percent from 2022/2023.

The number of new international students enrolling at a US college or university for the first time remained robust, with 298,705 new international students in 2023/2024, matching last year’s total (0.1%) and pre-pandemic levels.

The number of international students in 44 states increased year-over-year. California, New York, and Texas welcomed the most international students. Among the top 10 states hosting international students, three Midwestern states saw the greatest growth: Missouri (+35%), Michigan (+14%), and Illinois (+13%).

More than half (56%) of international students across academic levels pursued STEM fields of study. One in four (25%) studied math and computer science, while nearly one in five (19%) studied engineering.

The Fall 2024 International Student Enrollment Snapshot reports a 3% rise in international student enrollment across US institutions as of the start of the 2024/25 academic year, building on sustained increases over the last three years. Undergraduate enrollments increased by 6%, while graduate enrollments decreased by a modest 2%. OPT continues to increase by 12%.

Many institutions are focusing on international undergraduate outreach in India, Vietnam, China, and South Korea. International graduate recruitment efforts are being prioritized in India, China, Ghana, and Nigeria. Over 680 higher education institutions participated in the Fall 2024 International Student Enrollment Snapshot.

“The experience of studying in the United States not only shapes the lives of individuals, but the future of our interconnected world,” said Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “The ties formed between US and international students today are the basis of relationships for future business and trade, science and innovation, and government relations.”

“International students enrich our campuses, foster cultural exchange, and contribute significantly to our economy, and we remain dedicated to supporting these bright minds and ensuring that the US continues to be a premier destination for global education,” said Allan Goodman, IIE CEO.

First published by American Bazaar