U.S. Sets New Record with 1.1 Million International Students, Finds New Report
Reprinted from Boundless, Nov 19, 2024
7% increase from the previous year, according to a report by the Institute of International Education (IIE). This includes 1,126,690 students from more than 210 countries, setting a new record.
Key findings include:
New Enrollments: Nearly 299,000 students enrolled for the first time, staying steady at pre-pandemic levels.
Graduate Students: Graduate programs saw a record high with 502,291 students, an 8% increase.
Optional Practical Training (OPT): OPT participation surged by 22%, reaching 242,782 students.
Undergraduates: The undergraduate population remained stable at 342,875, with a small 1% decline.
Non-Degree Programs: Enrollment in non-degree programs (including English and exchange programs) dropped by 12% to 38,742.
India surpassed China as the largest source country, contributing 331,602 students, a 23% increase. This growth was especially notable in graduate programs (19%) and OPT (41%). Chinese student numbers fell by 4% to 277,398 but remained the largest group for undergraduate and non-degree programs. Additionally, eight countries, including Bangladesh, Colombia, and Spain, reached record-high numbers of students in the U.S. Sub-Saharan Africa saw the highest regional growth, increasing by 13% for the second year in a row.
Popular study destinations include California, New York, and Texas, with Missouri (+35%), Michigan (+14%), and Illinois (+13%) showing the most significant growth among top states.
STEM fields remain the most popular, attracting 56% of international students, with math and computer science chosen by 25%, engineering by nearly 19%, and business and management by 14%.
