India Reaches All-Time High in International Student Enrollment in the USA

Highlights:

• India becomes the second largest sending country of international students to the USA, with an all-time high of 268,923 students in the 2022/2023 academic year. 
•  This represents a 35% increase over the previous year and is the largest single-year increase in Indian student enrollment in the USA on record. 
•   International student mobility rebounded strongly in the 2022/2023 academic year, with over 1 million international students studying in the United States, representing a 14% increase over the previous year. 
•   International students contributed over $39 billion to the U.S. economy in 2022.
• New international student enrollment surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with a 14% increase to 298,523.

India has reached an all-time high in international student enrollment in the USA, according to the 2023 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange released by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The report found that 268,923 Indian students were enrolled in US colleges and universities in the 2022/2023 academic year, a 35% increase over the previous year. This makes India the second largest sending country of international students to the USA, after China.

The Open Doors 2023 report on International Education Exchange states that the United States hosted more than 1 million (approx. 1,057,188) International students during the 2022/2023 academic year.  This is a 12% increase compared to the previous academic year. 

India achieved a record high with a 35% year-over-year increase. New International student enrollment also rose by 14%. China remained the top-sending country in 2022/23, with approx. 2,89,526 students studying in the U.S. India became the second largest sending country, reaching an all-time high of 2,68,923 International students in 2022/23.

The growing demand for US education among Indian students is attributed to a number of factors, including the high quality of US universities, the diverse range of programs offered, and the opportunities for employment and post-graduate study in the USA.

The most popular fields of study for Indian students in the USA are engineering, business, and computer science. These fields are in high demand in both the USA and India, and US universities offer some of the best programs in the world in these areas.

“The US remains the top destination for international students from around the world, and India is one of our fastest growing sending countries,” said Allan E. Goodman, CEO of the Institute of International Education. “This is a testament to the strength of our education system and the opportunities that the US offers to students from all over the globe.”

The Open Doors report found that international students contributed over $39 billion to the U.S. economy in 2022, through tuition, fees, and living expenses. International students also support American jobs, creating over 450,000 jobs in the US economy in 2022.

“International education is a two-way street,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “When international students come to the United States to study, they bring their unique perspectives and experiences to our classrooms, campuses, and communities. They also learn about American values and culture, and they build relationships that will last a lifetime.”

Apart from India and China, eight places of origin, including Bangladesh, Columbia, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, and Spain, reached all-time highs in International student numbers. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest regional growth (+18% year-over-year), and Ghana entered the top 25 places of origin for the first time with 6,468 international students.

The Open Doors 2023 report is a positive sign for the future of international student mobility. It shows that international students are eager to study in the United States, and that US colleges and universities are committed to welcoming them.