India leads as top source of International students in the US, followed by China and South Korea
For the first time in 15 years, Indian students have become the largest group of international students in the US, surpassing China. According to the Open Doors Report 2024, Indian students now make up 29.4% of the total international student body in the US, with 331,602 enrolled in the 2023-24 academic year. This marks a 23% increase from the previous year, when the number stood at 268,923.
India’s growing presence in US higher education is significant. With this milestone, India overtakes China, which had held the top spot for the last 15 years, as the leading source of international students. In comparison, China now has 277,398 students in the US. South Korea, Canada, and Taiwan round out the top five countries sending students to the US, with 43,149, 28,998, and 23,157 students, respectively.
Indian students have also dominated graduate-level enrollments for the second consecutive year, with a 19% increase in graduate students, reaching 196,567. Undergraduate enrollments rose by 13%, with 36,053 Indian undergraduates studying in the US. The number of non-degree Indian students, however, dropped by 28%.
The report, released during International Education Week (IEW), highlights the growing trend of international students in the US. In total, international student enrollment reached 1,126,690 in the 2023-24 academic year, a 7% increase from the previous year.
California continues to be the leading state for international students, hosting 140,858, followed by New York and Texas with 135,813 and 89,546 students, respectively. Massachusetts and Illinois also have significant international student populations.
STEM fields remain the most popular areas of study, with 24.9% of international students enrolled in math and computer science programs, a 16.9% increase from the previous year. Engineering and business management are also popular, making up 18.7% and 14.2% of international enrollments, respectively.
In terms of funding, the majority of international students rely on personal and family funds (54.5%), with 21.8% working while studying, and 19.0% receiving financial support from US institutions.
