Last year, the enrollment of international students at US universities experienced a significant surge, recovering from a decline during the pandemic. The rebound was notably supported by a remarkable 35% increase in the number of students arriving from India. According to data from the State Department and the nonprofit Institute of International Education, the 2022-23 academic year witnessed a 12% growth in the international student population in the US. This represents the largest single-year increase in over four decades, with over 1 million students arriving from abroad, marking the highest figure since the 2019-20 school year. Allan E. Goodman, CEO of the Institute of International Education, emphasized that these trends underscore the enduring appeal of the US as the preferred destination for international students, a position it has held for more than a century.
American universities registered a record number of approximately 269,000 students from India, surpassing previous figures and ranking second only to China. The majority of Indian students pursued graduate programs, particularly in the fields of science, technology, and business. Marianne Craven, the acting deputy assistant secretary for academic exchange at the State Department, highlighted the strengthening educational ties between the US and India.
While China continued to have the highest number of foreign students in the US, totaling 290,000, it marked a third consecutive year of declining figures. This reflects a shift in trends, with decreasing demand from China due to strained international relations, increased competition from UK and Canadian universities, and extended travel restrictions in Asia during the pandemic. US universities have actively targeted recruitment efforts in India, recognizing its growing population, predicted by the United Nations to surpass China's this year. Notably, students from India now outnumber those from China in 24 US states, including popular destinations like Illinois, Texas, and Michigan.
The study also revealed that, for the second consecutive year, graduate programs in the US remained the primary attraction for international students. Graduate enrollment saw a significant 21% increase, while undergraduate numbers experienced a modest 1% rise. This contrasts with the previous decade, which witnessed a larger influx of undergraduate students. The growth in the past year is attributed to math and computer science programs, which attracted the highest number of students, experiencing a 20% enrollment boost compared to the previous year. Engineering and business programs followed closely behind, collectively representing over half of all international students in the United States. This surge brings international student numbers nearly back to their pre-pandemic peak in 2018, where enrollment reached almost 1.1 million students before declining in the subsequent years due to the impact of COVID-19 on academic exchange.
