Janice Lozano
The United States is a popular destination for international students seeking higher education. In the 2022/23 academic year, there were 1,057,188 international students studying in the US, with California, New York, and Texas welcoming the most students. International students contributed around \$40 billion to the American economy in 2022/23, supporting over 375,000 jobs across the country. The US attracts international students due to its outstanding university reputation, diverse curriculum programs, and job prospects. China and India are the top two countries of origin for international students, with India experiencing a significant increase in the number of students choosing to study in the US.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of international students in the US in 2022/23 | 1,057,188 |
| Total number of international students in the US in 2023/24 | 1,100,000+ |
| Number of international graduate students in 2023/24 | 502,291 |
| Number of international undergraduate students in 2023/24 | 342,875 |
| Number of international students in OPT in 2023/24 | 242,782 |
| Number of new international students in 2023/24 | 298,705 |
| Number of international students from India in 2023/24 | 331,602 |
| Number of international students from China in 2023/24 | 277,398 |
| Number of international students from India in 2024/25 | 337,630 |
| Number of international students from India in 2022/23 | 268,923 |
| Number of international students from China in 2022/23 | 289,526 |
| Number of international students from India in 2021 | 167,582 |
| Number of international students from South Korea in 2022/23 | 43,847 |
| Number of international students from India in 2030 (predicted) | 1,000,000+ |
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What You'll Learn
International students make up 5.6% of the US student population
International students have long been a feature of the US higher education system, and their numbers have been increasing. In the 2022/23 academic year, there were 1,057,188 international students in the US, making up 5.6% of the total US student population. This figure represents an increase from the previous year, when 948,519 international students were studying in the United States.
International students are attracted to the US by the outstanding reputation of its universities, the curriculum programs on offer, and the prospect of gaining valuable work experience. The US benefits from the presence of international students in a number of ways, including their financial contributions, which support jobs and stimulate local economies. In the 2023-2024 school year, international students contributed a combined $43.8 billion to the US economy and supported more than 375,000 jobs across the country.
The majority of international students in the US come from India and China, with these two countries making up over half of all international students in the US. In 2023/2024, India was the largest source country, sending 331,602 students to the US, a 23% increase from the previous year. China was the second-largest source country, with 277,398 students, a 4% decline from the previous year. Other countries that feature prominently as places of origin for international students in the US include South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, Nigeria, Japan, Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, and Spain.
International students are well-represented in STEM fields, with over half choosing to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. This is particularly true of students from India, with 34.8% choosing to study math or computer science, and 33.5% choosing engineering.
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They contributed $40 billion to the US economy in 2022/23
International students contributed a significant amount to the US economy in 2022/23. The figure is estimated to be around $40 billion, with over one million international students studying in the US during that academic year. This marked a 19% increase in economic impact compared to the previous year, with new enrolments growing at the fastest pace in 40 years.
The economic activity of international students supported approximately 368,000 jobs in the US. This includes positions in higher education, accommodation, dining, transportation, and various service sectors. For every three international students, one job is either created or supported in the US economy, showcasing the importance of international students in sustaining and growing the US economy.
Certain states benefited more from the economic impact of international students. California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Florida were among the top states, with nine states surpassing the $1 billion mark in economic contributions. The spending of international students in these states stimulated local economies and provided essential revenue to universities.
The contributions of international students go beyond just economic factors. They bring a diversity of experiences and perspectives to US campuses, enriching the educational environment for domestic students. Additionally, international students are essential to the exchange of ideas, intercultural understanding, and technological advances, further highlighting their value to the US.
The growth in international student enrolments is driven by an increase in graduate student enrolments, with a notable rise in students from India and Sub-Saharan Africa. The reputation of US universities, curriculum programs, and job prospects continue to attract a significant number of international students each year.
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Over half of foreign students study STEM subjects
The United States is a top destination for international students, with more than 1.1 million international students contributing about $43 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-24 academic year. The number of international students in the US has been steadily increasing, with a record high of international students enrolling in U.S. colleges and universities in 2023-24.
In 2023-24, there were 331,602 Indian students studying in the United States, making it the largest source country for international students. This number has been increasing, with a 35% increase in 2022-23 and a 23% increase in 2023-24. China, the second-largest source country, had 289,526 students in 2022-23, although this number has been decreasing over the years. Other countries that have seen strong growth in the number of students coming to the US include Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, and Spain.
International students are attracted to the US by the outstanding reputation of its universities, the curriculum programs offered, and the prospect of jobs after graduation. The US also offers a high-quality education system that differs from the quantity-focused education in some other countries, such as China.
Over half of foreign students in the US study STEM subjects. For example, in 2021, out of 167,582 Indian applicants, 33.5% chose to pursue engineering while 34.8% chose math or computer science. In 2023-24, 25% of international students across all academic levels studied math and computer science, while 19% studied engineering. The presence of STEM-focused international students is especially important for the US economy, as they contribute to a highly skilled technical workforce that enables technological innovation and economic growth.
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China and India are the top two countries of origin
The United States remains the top destination for international students, with 1,057,188 international students studying in the country in the 2022/23 academic year. This number has been increasing since 2003, with a small decrease in 2019, reaching 1,095,299 in 2018, the highest point.
Indian students have been rapidly catching up with their Chinese counterparts. In 2022/23, 268,923 Indian students chose the US for their higher education, a 35% increase. In 2023/24, there were 331,602 Indian students studying in the US, a 23% increase from the previous year. This made India the top-sending country for the first time since 2009. The number of Indian students enrolling in American universities is projected to surpass 1 million annually by 2030.
The popularity of the US as a study destination among Chinese and Indian students can be attributed to various factors. The US has been a global leader in higher education since the mid-20th century, attracting students worldwide due to its well-funded institutions, extensive academic programs, and the prestige of gaining "American experience." Chinese students also prefer the US education system's focus on quality over quantity. Additionally, traditional Chinese culture values well-educated scholars highly, and studying in the US is seen as a cultural goal for Chinese international students.
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The US is a global leader in higher education
The United States has long been a global leader in higher education. The country's elite universities have, in the past, dominated global rankings, making them attractive to international students, professors, and researchers. The US higher education system functions as an institution of knowledge with several secondary functions. According to Marcus Ford, the primary function of US higher education has gone through four phases: preserving Christian civilization, advancing the national interest, research, and growing the global economy.
The US has a strong tradition of higher education, with small colleges helping young men make the transition from rural farms to complex urban occupations. These schools promoted upward mobility by preparing ministers and providing towns with community leaders. Elite colleges, such as Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton, played a role in the formation of a Northeastern elite.
The US higher education system has also been shaped by competition between private and public institutions, resulting in a mixed public-private character. For-profit higher education institutions, operated by private, profit-seeking businesses, have attracted students with their ease of enrollment and financial aid, but have been criticized for the poor quality of education they provide.
In recent years, the US has faced challenges in maintaining its position as a global leader in higher education. While the country's performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has been criticized due to the higher percentage of disadvantaged children compared to other OECD countries, data from the OECD reveals that the US has a proportion of disadvantaged students that is around the OECD average. The US has also faced challenges in educating a diverse range of students, with issues such as rising tuition fees, increasing student loan debt, and underemployment among graduates.
Despite these challenges, the US remains a top destination for international students. In the 2022/23 academic year, there were 1,057,188 international students studying in the US, an increase from the previous year. International students contributed around $40 billion to the US economy in 2022/23, supporting over 368,000 jobs nationwide. The US is also a top destination for students from China and India, the two largest sources of international students.
The US is taking steps to maintain and improve its position as a global leader in higher education. Teachers and their organizations are more engaged at the policy level within the global education community, and new coalitions of philanthropic and business actors have come together to support global education. The US has also invested in education through the American Rescue Plan, which aims to transform the US school system.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of international students in the US has been increasing, with 19 million students enrolled at US colleges, and 6% of those students (slightly more than 1.1 million) are international, according to data from the 2023-2024 academic year.
In 2022/23, China and India were the top two countries that international students came from, with 289,526 and 268,923 students, respectively. In 2023/24, India became the top country, sending 331,602 students, while China sent 277,398 students.
International students are attracted to the US because of the outstanding reputation of US universities, the curriculum programs offered, and the prospect of jobs in the US.
International students contributed around $40 billion to the US economy in 2022/23. In 2023/24, this increased to $43.8 billion, and international students supported more than 378,000 jobs.
