Savanna Hoffman
International students make up a significant portion of graduate programs in the United States, with over half a million international graduate students (502,291) pursuing studies in the country in 2023/2024, an 8% increase from the previous year. This growth in international graduate student enrollment has contributed to an all-time high of more than 1.1 million international students in U.S. higher education institutions. While the majority of international students in the U.S. pursue STEM fields, particularly computer science and engineering, the presence of international students varies across different fields of study and institutions. The percentage of international students in graduate programs can be influenced by factors such as the field of study, the reputation of the institution, and the geographical location of the university. Additionally, the country of origin of international students plays a role, with India and China being the top two places of origin, followed by other countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Bangladesh.
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What You'll Learn
International students in the US
International students are a primary source of talent for the US, especially in the tech sector. The US hosted an all-time high of more than 1.1 million international students in 2023/2024, with 502,291 of them being graduate students, a 7.6% year-over-year increase. International students made up 5.9% of all students at US colleges and universities in 2023. The majority of international students in the US study STEM fields, with one in four choosing math and computer science, and nearly one in five studying engineering.
International students are vital to the sustainability of graduate programs in the US. Economist Kevin Shih concluded that "at the graduate level, international students do not crowd out, but actually increase domestic enrollment." International students provide the tuition, research assistants, and economies of scale that make many graduate programs available for American students. In electrical engineering, international students make up the majority of full-time graduate students at 88% of US graduate school programs with at least 30 students. Similarly, in computer and information sciences, they make up the majority at 78% of graduate school programs.
However, there has been a decline in the number of international students enrolling in US graduate programs in recent years. Between 2015 and 2019, the number of full-time international students enrolled in graduate-level electrical engineering fell by 19.5%, and in graduate-level computer and information sciences by 9.5%. This decline is partly due to US policies that prevent or discourage students from India and China—the top two places of origin for international students—from studying in America. For example, long waits for employment-based green cards and rejections of H-1B registrations have made it difficult for Indian graduate students to come to the US. Additionally, many Chinese graduate students are now denied visas due to a proclamation by the Trump administration that is being carried out by the Biden administration.
Despite these challenges, international student enrollment in the US is predicted to remain stable or continue growing. There is increasing interest from students in India, Ghana, and other South Asian and African nations, and universities are focusing their recruitment efforts on these regions. Additionally, more students are applying for and receiving nonimmigrant visas, and institutions have increased financial aid for international students.
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STEM subjects
International students are an important part of the graduate student body in STEM subjects, particularly in the United States, where the number of international students in graduate STEM programs exceeds domestic ones. In 2019, 49% of STEM master's degrees and 57% of STEM doctorate degrees were awarded to international students. In the same year, 72% of graduate students in computer science were international, and fields like petroleum engineering have international student enrollment rates as high as 81%. STEM degrees, particularly the STEM MBA, are appealing to international students due to the extended visa perk called the STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training) that comes with some of those degrees.
The United States benefits from international students in STEM subjects. International students in the United States contribute to the economy, with each foreign-born STEM worker and PhD student contributing between $12,225 to $13,568 to the US GDP annually, and the collective contribution of the postgraduate STEM workforce reaching $409 billion in 2019, or 1.9% of the GDP. International students also help universities and employers remain competitive globally, and provide valuable experience in a diverse learning environment for domestic students.
However, the United States is facing challenges in attracting and retaining international students in STEM subjects. While three-quarters of prospective advanced STEM students surveyed in 2021 and 2024 expressed interest in remaining in the US to work after graduation, restrictive immigration policies and limited green card pathways are forcing talent to leave after being trained in the US. The number of international students remaining in the US to work after graduation is low, with only 10 to 20% of international student graduates doing so. Countries like Canada are actively targeting these students, marketing its "Path to Canada" policy as a solution to the "uncertainty of the US visa system".
To address these challenges, the United States can consider implementing policy changes that improve the visa application process and provide clear pathways to green cards for international students in STEM fields. Such changes would enable the US to attract and retain top talent, maintain its competitiveness, and reduce STEM-related talent shortages.
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International students from India
International students make up 5.9% of all students at U.S. colleges and universities. Between 50% and 82% of full-time graduate students in key technical fields at U.S. universities are international students. However, U.S. universities have experienced declines in new international student enrollment. This decline is due to U.S. policies that prevent or discourage students from India and China from studying in America.
India is the leading source of international students in the US for the 2023-24 academic year, with over 331,602 Indian students. This reflects a 23% increase from the prior year, driven by top US universities, STEM-focused programs, OPT opportunities, and competitive Indian admission challenges. The number of Indian students in the US has been increasing since 2010, when it crossed 100,000. In 2017, the number was reported to be 186,000, and in 2020, there were at least 207,000 Indian students in the United States. Indian students pumped US$7.6 billion into the US economy during the 2019-20 period.
Indian students and their families are savvy consumers when it comes to international education, given the high cost. Safety is a top concern, with nearly half of all Indian respondents in a QS survey citing safety as a top consideration in choosing a study location. The Indian media frequently reports on attacks on Indian students in other countries, which appear to impact study destination choices. For example, a series of attacks on Indian students in Australia around 2009 and 2010 was credited for a drop in Indian students in the country shortly after.
In addition to the US, the top destinations for Indian students are the other countries in the "Big Four": Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Canada is a preferred destination due to its multi-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and the strong diasporic presence of the Indian community in certain provincial areas. The UK granted study visas to 102,842 Indian nationals in 2022, and there are 92,355 Indian nationals on study visas in the country as of 2025.
Indian students are also studying in large numbers in other countries. There were 22,225 Indian students enrolled in New Zealand as of 2015, and 18,500 Indian students studying in Ukraine prior to the 2022 Russian invasion. Other top destinations include Germany, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, France, and Italy.
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US visa policies
International students make up 5.9% of all students at US colleges and universities. During the 2023-24 academic year, the number of international students rose to an all-time high of 1,126,690, an increase of 6.6% compared to the previous year. This growth was driven by international graduate students, 502,291 of whom enrolled in US institutions, a 7.6% increase.
The J-1 exchange visitor visa is another option for international students. It is designed for foreign nationals participating in work-and-study-based exchange programs, such as visiting scholars, camp counselors, au pairs, and research assistants.
In recent years, US visa policies have posed challenges for international graduate students, particularly those from India and China. Long waits for employment-based green cards and the low annual H-1B visa quota have discouraged Indian graduate students from choosing the US as their study destination. Additionally, the Trump administration's proclamation, now carried out by the Biden administration, has resulted in many Chinese graduate students being denied visas. These policies have contributed to a decline in international student enrolment in graduate-level programs, especially in electrical engineering and computer and information sciences.
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International student retention
International students make up 5.9% of all students at U.S. colleges and universities. In the 2023-24 academic year, there were 1,126,690 international students in the US, an all-time high. The number of international graduate students in the US rose by 7.6% in the 2023-24 academic year, with 502,291 international graduate students in total. The majority of these students came from India and China, with India being the top source country for the first time since 2009.
One important strategy for retaining international students is to offer support services that help them acclimate to the academic and cultural rigors of college life in the US. For example, the University of Dayton created the position of international education specialist to support international students and help faculty understand their academic and language needs. The university also offers global success workshops where foreign and domestic students meet to discuss topics such as improving reading and writing skills, writing research papers, and academic integrity.
Another effective strategy for retaining international students is to provide career guidance and planning support. Community college students, in particular, often need help navigating the college system and managing their academic careers. Chemeketa Community College in Oregon offers a required, two-credit, first-semester career planning course for which the college does not charge. The course teaches students skills for communicating with professors, setting goals, and holding themselves and the school accountable.
Pathway or foundation programs can also be helpful for international students, providing they are well-designed and executed. These programs can help international students adjust to the academic expectations of US colleges and universities, but they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Administrators should be prepared to offer additional tutoring and peer support to international students, who often feel intense pressure to succeed due to the significant investments their families have made in their education.
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Frequently asked questions
Between 50% and 88% of graduate students in key technical fields in the US are international students. Overall, international students make up 5.9% of all students at US colleges and universities.
India is the top place of origin for international students in the US, with 196,567 Indian students enrolling at the graduate level in 2023/2024.
The number of international graduate students in the US increased by 7.6% in the 2023-24 academic year, reaching a record high of 502,291 students. However, graduate enrollment decreased by 2% at the start of the 2024/25 academic year.
International students value the opportunity to gain a US education and enrich US campuses through cultural exchange. For many, studying in the US is also a way to increase their chances of working in the country after graduation.
Retention rates vary depending on the degree type. While only 17% of bachelor's degree recipients stay in the US long-term, half of master's degree recipients and three-quarters of PhD recipients remain in the country.
