Number of International Students in the US Reaches an All-Time High
The number of international students enrolled in US colleges and universities reached an all-time high last school year, with India surpassing China as the top sender and California maintaining its spot as the top destination, according to a new report.
Data Highlights
The data from the Institute of International Education said that more than 1.1 million foreign students were in the US for undergraduate, graduate or post-graduation work training programs in 2023-24, a 7% year-to-year increase.
Top Destination and Country of Origin
The largest share of international students attended institutions in California, the report said, where USC, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, and UCLA were the biggest draws, and Chinese students strongly outnumbered Indians.
However, India surpassed China as the top country of origin, with a 41% increase of Indian students participating in Optional Practical Training in the United States.
Future of Foreign Enrollment
Under a second Trump administration, education and labor experts question the future climate and availability of record-setting numbers of visas for foreign students, including Chinese researchers who have become a mainstay at several University of California campuses.
Foreign enrollment in US universities, which typically increases each year, dropped 15% during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term. The bulk of that was due to the sharp dip as borders closed and classes went online during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Experts said it is difficult to predict what international students could face under a second Trump term, as the president-elect has pledged to institute another travel and refugee ban and has described immigrants as criminals.
California Enrollment Patterns
In California, 36% of the 140,858 international students were Chinese, while 20% were Indian. One reason for the prevalence of Chinese in the state: The University of California system, which receives billions of dollars in federal grants and hosts a significant number of Chinese scholars and students.
USC accounted for the most international students, at 17,469. It was followed by UC Berkeley with 12,441, UC San Diego with 10,467, and UCLA with 10,446.
STEM Fields and African Student Growth
Across the board, STEM fields – science, technology, engineering, and math – were by far the most popular.
At the roughly 6,000 higher-education institutions the group surveyed, it also reported significant growth in students from parts of Africa. Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa were among the top or fastest-growing nations from the continent to send students to the US.
Conclusion
The report highlights the continued growth of international student enrollment in the US, with India surpassing China as the top sender. However, the future climate for foreign students under a second Trump administration remains uncertain, with experts questioning the availability of visas and predicting potential declines in enrollment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the total number of foreign students in the US last school year?
A: More than 1.1 million foreign students were in the US for undergraduate, graduate or post-graduation work training programs in 2023-24.
Q: Which country surpassed China as the top sender of international students?
A: India surpassed China as the top country of origin, with a 41% increase of Indian students participating in Optional Practical Training in the United States.
Q: What was the percentage year-to-year increase in foreign students?
A: The number of foreign students increased by 7% year-to-year.
Q: Which fields were the most popular among international students?
A: STEM fields – science, technology, engineering, and math – were by far the most popular.
