International when looking for a higher education overseas, students continue to prioritize the United States. Data from the most recent Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange shows that during the 2022–2023 academic year, the nation welcomed over a million foreign college students. The figures represent the strongest growth rate in over 40 years and an approximately 12% increase from the prior year. According to a 2023 study published by the Institute of foreign Education and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, the number of new foreign students enrolled increased by 14% in 2022–2023, building on an 80% growth the previous year.
According to Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of state for Educational and Cultural Affairs, “students from around the world are continuing to recognize the United States’ global leadership in higher education, ranging from two-year community colleges to four-year universities and beyond.”
“The U.S. government and American colleges and universities are glad to welcome them, and there is enough of capacity to boost foreign study here,” Satterfield adds. “There are approximately 4,000 recognized institutions of higher education in the United States in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. “Whether learning a trade or going for a tech degree, there’s something for everyone.”
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a rebound in the number of international students; nonetheless, positive trends are continuing in many countries of origin, fueled by continued outreach and recruitment efforts by U.S. higher education institutions,” notes Martel.
Enrollment increased for the first time since the 2014–2015 academic year in all degree levels and subject areas, but it was mostly focused on graduate programs, which witnessed a 21% rise.
An all-time high of Indian international students
Every state and territory in the United States is seeing an influx of new foreign students, with 48 states reporting a rise in this demographic. The number of Indian students enrolled in the 2022–2023 academic year increased by 35% to 268,923. International students should feel welcome at U.S. colleges and institutions, according to Adarsh Khandelwal, a college counselor and admissions coach located in New Delhi. “The United States is a clear leader because of its proactive response to inquiries, hosting of workshops, and strong representation in India,” he stated in an email.
According to Karan Gupta, the founder of Mumbai-based education and career advice company Karan Gupta advice, the United States is a major lure for Indian students because of its prestigious colleges and possibilities for cutting-edge research. According to Gupta’s email, significant subjects of interest are engineering, computer science, and business. She also mentioned how appealing the U.S. employment market is, namely in the tech and business sectors. Approximately 166,000 Indian students are studying in the United States for master’s degrees or other advanced degrees, primarily in universities in California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Illinois. After China, India is the country that sends the most students to the United States.
Because of our popularity, we hope to double from the present number and overtake China in the next three years, according to Khandelwal.
Among the 198,793 students who sought Optional Practical Training (OPT), which assists students looking for real-world employment experience after completing their academic courses, are Indian students as well. One of the main benefits of graduating from a U.S. college is that it frequently leads to international professional prospects, according to Gupta. He points out that graduates of American colleges are able to stay in the nation on an OPT student visa for a year or two more years on STEM OPT “without having to worry about H-1B visas.” Employers can sponsor a temporary worker status for a speciality occupation (H-1B visa, also called the “work visa”).
Growth in Sub-Saharan African Students
at 2022–2023, Ghana accounted for about 6,000 students enrolled at American universities, making it among the top 25 countries for student exports. With an 18% growth rate, Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of growth among world regions, according to Martel. “Ghana is in the top 25 places of origin for the first time, and two sub-Saharan African countries are in the top 25 for the first time in over a decade.” She points out that some African nations have had rapid increases in enrolment in the United States, including:
- Nigeria, 17,640 students
- Ghana, 6,468 students
- Kenya, 4,059 students
- Ethiopia, 3,006 students
- South Africa, 2,713 students
According to Martel, “the Fall 2023 Snapshot found that many U.S. institutions are still strongly recruiting in the region.” For instance, 75% of schools expect a rise in new enrollment from Nigeria in 2023–2024, while 40% of institutions mentioned concentrating on graduate recruiting in Nigeria. Satterfield notes that in fiscal year 2023, the State Department granted over 40,000 student visas to African students—the highest number in the previous ten years. “We are bringing African students into direct contact with HBCUs, community colleges, specialized graduate programs, and other entities that reflect the many opportunities available to study in the United States,” say representatives from American universities visiting the region.
The COVID-19 Pandemic's effects
Early in 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic caused significant disruptions to worldwide schooling. Approximately 1,075,000 foreign students studied in the United States during the 2019–2020 school year; by the following year, that number had dropped to roughly 914,000.
According to Martel, “the United States is still the top country for hosting international students, and we’ve almost reached pre-pandemic levels again.” According to her, 95% of foreign students enrolled in 2022–2023 were physically enrolled on American campuses, indicating that overseas students choose to come to the United States for their academic studies. We have seen that COVID-19 limitations continue to impact inbound travel from some countries of origin, such as China. We expect that as a result, there could be more rebounds in the future, according to Martel.
Fall 2023: Foreign Education in the United States
For the academic year 2022–2023, math and computer science, engineering, business and management, social sciences, and physical and biological sciences were the most popular study areas for foreign students in the United States. Experts predict that interest in US higher education will not decline. The rising trend is expected to continue in autumn 2023, according to a parallel IEE survey of over 630 institutions. In 2023–2024, there will be 8% more foreign students enrolled in courses or taking part in work-training programs than the previous year.
“We’re reaching international students where they are through outreach by U.S. higher education institutions as well as through our more than 430 Education USA advising centers around the world, in-person education fairs, talks and webinars from program alumni,” Satterfield adds.