India has overtaken China as the leading origin for international students in the U.S. for the first time in nearly 15 years, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report. During the 2023-24 academic year, 331,602 Indian students enrolled in U.S. institutions, a 23 percent increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, Chinese enrollment fell by 4 percent to 277,398.
The report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), funded by the U.S. State Department, reveals that students from India and China together account for more than half of all international students in the United States. The surge in India's numbers was fueled by a strong interest in graduate programs and STEM fields, with 56 percent of international students focusing on the latter.
Overall, international student enrollment in the U.S. hit a record 1.1 million, up 7 percent from last year, representing 6 percent of the total U.S. higher education population and contributing more than $50 billion to the economy. Graduate students reached 502,291 (+8 percent), and Optional Practical Training (OPT) participants surged 22 percent to 242,782. Undergraduate enrollment remained steady at 342,875.
California, New York, and Texas hosted the most international students, while Midwestern states like Missouri saw significant growth. Additionally, U.S. study-abroad participation rose 49 percent to 280,716 in 2022-23, with Italy, the UK, Spain, and France as top destinations.
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