China and India remain the two leading places of origin among international students at U.S. colleges and universities, according to Open Doors 2023, an annual survey of international students in the United States. At least 53 percent of all international students in 2022/23 were from China and India with India accounting for 25 per cent of the students.
International students from India increased by 35 per cent reaching an all-time high of 268,923 students with India replacing China to become the largest host of international students in the United States for the first time since 2009-2010. The number of Indian graduate students also soared by 63 per cent to 165,936 students, an increase of nearly 64,000 students compared to last year. In addition, there was a 16 per cent rise in the number of undergraduate students.
India also remains the leading place of origin for international students pursuing optional practical training, with a modest increase of one percent, according to the report.
India also remains the leading place of origin for international students pursuing optional practical training, with a modest increase of one percent, according to the report.
Open Doors 2023
The majority of leading places of origin also experienced rebounds with 23 of the top 25 places of origin increasing with 14 returning to pre-pandemic enrolment levels. Further, eight of the top 25 countries sending students to the United States reached an all-time high including India, Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, and Spain. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest rate of growth among world regions growing by 18 percent. Notably, Ghana entered the top 25 places of origin for the first time since Open Doors reports have been compiled. This is the first time in over a decade that two Sub-Saharan African places of origin are in the top 25.
All major fields of study noted an increase as student enrolment with students having options to pursue many types of majors. The majority of students study in the STEM fields (55 percent), and math and computer science continued to grow as the leading field of study for international students in 2022/23. Approximately 23 percent of international students (240,230 students) studied math and computer science, followed by 19 percent of students studying engineering (202,801 students).
The majority of students study in the STEM fields (55 percent), and math and computer science continued to grow as the leading field of study for international students in 2022/23.
Open Doors 2023
A total of 467,027 international graduate students studied at U.S. higher education institutions, a 21 percent increase and the highest level of graduate students ever recorded in Open Doors. There were nearly 82,000 more international graduate students in 2022/23 than in the prior year, driven by an increase in master’s students. The number of master’s students grew by a robust 37 percent to reach 294,923 students.
The number of international undergraduates grew for the first time in five years, with a one percent increase. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in smaller cohorts several years ago, have slowed growth at the undergraduate level. Since then, there has been growth among entering cohorts at the associate’s (+5 percent), freshman (+10 percent), and sophomore student levels (+15 percent).
A total of 467,027 international graduate students studied at U.S. higher education institutions, a 21 percent increase. The number of international undergraduates also grew for the first time in five years, with a one percent increase.
Open Doors 2023
Meanwhile, at least 188,753 American students studied abroad for academic credit, a return of study abroad programming following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The total number of U.S. students studying abroad has increased almost 13-fold, or by 1,197 percent, from the low of approximately 15,000 study abroad students in the prior year. Study abroad programs in Europe rebounded faster than other world regions with 73 percent of students studying in this region. This is the highest proportion of students studying in Europe in more than thirty years (1989/90).