NEW DELHI: After a 15-year gap, India has reclaimed its position as the leading source of international students in the United States for the 2023-24 academic year, surpassing China. According to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange 2024 report released on Monday, India registered a 23% year-over-year increase, sending over 3.3 lakh students to the US.
The development mirrors India’s performance in UK, where it became the top source of non-European Union students in 2022-23, with a 39% increase to 1.7 lakh students, surpassing China. The growth in Indian students in the US is most notable in graduate programmes, which saw a 19% increase to almost two lakh students, and in optional practical training participation, which surged by 41% to over 97,000.
US made $50 billion from international pupils in 2023, 20% of it from Indians
Most Indian students (64.5%) enrolled in public institutions, while the remaining 35.5% attended private universities.
As per the global trends in international enrolment, US hosted an all-time high of over 11 lakh international students in 2023-24, a seven percent increase from the previous year.
India and China together accounted for over half (54%) of this total. However, while India’s numbers surged, China’s enrolment declined by four percent to 2.7 lakh students.
Indian students’ contribution to the US economy in 2023 was significant, generating $11.8 billion, as per the International Student Economic Impact 2023.
The percentage of Indian students pursuing mathematics/computer science as per the latest report is 42.9%, followed by 24.5% studying engineering, and 11.2% studying business/management.
There are 5.4% of Indian students pursuing physical/life science programmes.
Across all international students in the US, 56% pursued STEM fields, with mathematics and computer science (25%) and engineering (19%) being the most popular disciplines. Business and management (14%) and physical and life sciences (8%) follow.
International students were distributed across 44 states, with the largest populations in California, New York and Texas. States like Missouri (+35%), Michigan (+14%), and Illinois (+13%) saw the highest growth in student numbers. For Indian students, Texas, New York, California, Massachusetts and Illinois were the top destinations.
In 2023, international students made up six percent of the total US higher education population and contributed over $50 billion to the US economy.
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest growth rate among all regions, increasing by 13% for the second consecutive year. Among the top 25 countries sending students to US, eight reached record highs – Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, India, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan and Spain.
Scott Weinhold, senior bureau official for the US state department’s bureau of educational and cultural affairs, emphasised the broader impact of international education: “The experience of studying in the United States not only shapes the lives of individuals but also the future of our interconnected world.”
“The ties formed between the US and international students today are the basis for future business, trade, science, innovation and govt relations.”
In 2023-24, over half a million graduate students (5,02,291) studied in the US, marking an eight percent increase. Additionally, 2,42,782 students engaged in OPT programmes, a 22% increase, highlighting the growing trend of students seeking practical work experience post-study.