Ibrahim Gardner
The US has historically been a popular destination for international students, including those from China and India. However, recent political tensions and visa restrictions have led to a decrease in Chinese students in the US and an increase in students from India and sub-Saharan Africa. Despite these changes, the US remains a top destination for engineering students due to its highly ranked engineering programs and the promise of high-paying jobs after graduation. For Chinese students, US universities have lost some of their appeal due to concerns about gun violence and tense bilateral relations. In contrast, Indian students continue to be attracted to the US by its highly ranked engineering programs and the availability of scholarships and financial aid. Top US engineering universities for Indian students include Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), while popular universities for Chinese students have included Harvard University and Columbia Law School.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Chinese students in the US | 277,398 in 2025 |
| Percentage of international students in the US who are Chinese | 25% |
| Number of Chinese students at Harvard | 1,000+ |
| Number of Chinese students in the US in 2022/23 | 289,526 |
| Number of Indian students in the US in 2022/23 | 268,923 |
| Percentage of Chinese students in the US studying STEM subjects | 45% |
| Percentage of Chinese students in the US studying engineering | 17% |
| Percentage of Chinese students in the US seeking graduate degrees | 44.3% |
| Percentage of Chinese students in the US enrolled as undergraduates | 32% |
| US universities with large numbers of Chinese students | MIT, Purdue, Johns Hopkins, Harvard |
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What You'll Learn
Stanford University
The most popular degrees at Stanford among international students are Business Administration & Management, Liberal Arts General Studies, and Electrical Engineering. Stanford University also offers a range of courses and programs specifically related to East Asian Studies, such as a Master's degree program that combines language training in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean with interdisciplinary area studies and a disciplinary concentration. The Center for East Asian Studies also offers a postdoctoral fellowship in Chinese Studies each year, as well as various types of funding for new and continuing students.
In addition, Stanford University offers the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, a multidisciplinary and multicultural graduate fellowship program that provides financial support for up to three years to graduate students who demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to addressing global challenges. In its 2024 cohort, the program included seven Indian-origin students, the largest cohort to date. These students are pursuing degrees in a range of fields, including cancer biology, electrical engineering, law, and medicine, with a particular focus on global health and technology.
Overall, Stanford University is a highly sought-after destination for both Chinese and Indian international students, particularly those interested in business, liberal arts, electrical engineering, and East Asian studies. The university's strong academic reputation and diverse program offerings make it an attractive choice for students from around the world.
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$62.36 $88
$305.74
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the most renowned educational institutions in the world. MIT was founded in 1866 under the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, which aimed to fund institutions promoting "the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes". MIT's early years saw the introduction of programs in electrical, chemical, marine, and sanitary engineering, and the institute has since become known for its engineering and science programs, often rivalled only by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). MIT's engineering programs are popular among international students, with General Business/Commerce, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering being the most sought-after degrees at the university.
MIT is a popular choice for international students, with 3,274 international students on campus out of a total of 11,254 students in 2020. Of these international students, 448 were undergraduates. MIT is particularly popular among Chinese students, with approximately 805 Chinese students enrolled at the university in 2020. MIT is ranked 92nd out of 1,079 colleges and universities for popularity among Chinese students, and the university is committed to providing a quality educational experience to these students, ranking 29th out of 842 colleges.
MIT's proximity to Harvard University has led to several research collaborations, including the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and the Broad Institute. Students at the two schools can cross-register for credits without additional fees, and MIT has similar partnerships with other universities, including Wellesley College, the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London.
MIT has a history of producing prominent alumni, with graduates leading institutions such as the University of California system, Harvard University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Purdue University. MIT alumni have also founded independent colleges, such as the Berklee College of Music, and the institute has educated astronauts, with MIT graduates making up more than one-third of the United States' crewed spaceflight participants.
MIT has recently faced challenges in maintaining a diverse incoming class, with the university blaming the U.S. Supreme Court's decision barring race-conscious admissions for lowering diversity. Despite initiatives to broaden access, MIT's incoming class in 2024 had a lower proportion of Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander students compared to previous years.
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Purdue University
Purdue's international students pay only $310 more than out-of-state students. The yearly tuition of an out-of-state student with eight or more credit hours is $28,794, compared to the $29,104 an international student in the same bracket would pay. This is significantly lower than the average cost of international student tuition in the US, which is $24,914.
In 2025, the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent Purdue President Mung Chiang a letter demanding information on students from China and their research on US campuses. The letter stated that "America's student visa system has become a Trojan horse for Beijing," and that the presence of Chinese national students jeopardizes national security. Purdue has not responded to the letter.
Purdue's engineering program has a large Asian population, with one student reporting that there are "tons of Asians" in the program. However, black, Hispanic, and Native American students are underrepresented in the engineering program, and women are still a minority.
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University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park neighbourhood, near Lake Michigan. The university is composed of an undergraduate college and four graduate divisions: Biological Science, Arts & Humanities, Physical Science, and Social Science. UChicago also operates eight professional schools, including business, social work, divinity, and medicine. The university has satellite campuses and centres worldwide, including in Beijing and Delhi.
UChicago has a strong research presence in India, with its Center in Delhi providing a space for conferences, lectures, and training programs. The university has also established research and educational partnerships with Indian institutions, such as the Indian School of Public Policy. These partnerships have led to joint initiatives, such as the Anubhav Lecture Series and the development of a new certificate program for students.
UChicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering was founded in 2019 with a $75 million donation from the Pritzker Foundation. The school is housed in the William Eckhardt Research Center and is an expansion of the Institute of Molecular Engineering, established in 2011.
While I cannot find specific information about the number of Indian and Chinese students at UChicago, it is known that the majority of international students in the United States are from China and India. In the 2022/23 school year, there were 289,526 Chinese students and 268,923 Indian students in the US. Many of these students pursue STEM fields, including engineering, and choose renowned universities like those in the Ivy League.
UChicago's reputation as a leading research university, its focus on innovation, and its global presence likely make it an attractive option for Indian and Chinese students seeking a world-class education in engineering and other disciplines.
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Wright State University
In recent years, the United States has seen a surge in the number of international students from China and India. In the 2022/23 school year, there were 289,526 Chinese students and 268,923 Indian students enrolled in US institutions, with almost half of these international students pursuing undergraduate degrees in STEM fields.
The university also encourages its students to participate in global exchange programmes and expand their international experience. Wright State University President Sue Edwards has been actively involved in discussions with institutional partners in Japan to broaden student exchange programmes, fostering a diverse educational environment.
The university also offers scholarships and career development opportunities for its engineering students. Colby Anderson, a computer engineering major, received a scholarship from Booz Allen Hamilton, while Nathan McDowell, an electrical engineering student, secured a job after attending a GE Aerospace career programme.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of the top engineering universities in the USA for Indian students include Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Wright State University.
It is difficult to answer this question due to the recent announcement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the Trump administration would work to "aggressively revoke" the visas of Chinese students. However, before this announcement, some Chinese students attended Purdue University and the University of Chicago.
There are a few reasons why fewer Chinese students are attending US universities. Firstly, there are concerns about gun violence and violent protests in the US. Secondly, there are tensions between the US and Chinese governments, with the former banning students who came from Chinese schools with strong links to China's military. Finally, some students have reported being unfairly questioned and sent home upon arrival at US airports.
