The United States has always been an attractive hub for students. Young people across the globe target US higher ed institutions for world-class instruction, unprecedented research infrastructure, and extensive post-graduation employment opportunities.
Let’s look at the key findings on international students in USA at a glance:
- There are nearly 1.2 million international students in the US.
- The three most common student origins are India, China, and South Korea.
- The number of international students has increased across 45 states over the last few years.
- The majority of international students pursue education in STEM fields.
- The majority of international students choose public schools for their studies, with community colleges showing the largest growth.
- Graduate is an academic level that hosts the most international students.
International Students in the US Statistics
So, how many international students are in the US? According to the Open Doors 2025 Report on International Educational Exchange, their total number is 1,177,766 (as of 2024-2025). This accounts for 6.1% of the total student population in the country.
Currently, the annual growth rate in the number of international students is 4.5% – in the 2023-2024 academic year, there were 1,126,690 students. In the years 2010-2011, their number was only 723,277, making a massive growth of 62.8% over 15 years.
Among international students currently enrolled in American schools are people from 25+ countries. Yet, the biggest origin groups are:
- India: 363,019 students
- China: 265,919 students
- South Korea: 42,293 students
The contribution made by international students in the US economy in 2025 is $43 billion. Although this number sounds impressive, this is actually a 2% decline compared to the record-breaking year of 2023-2024.
International Student Enrollment Trends Over Time
According to historical data from Statista, international student enrollment has been steadily growing since the 2005-2006 academic year until 2018-2019. Throughout this time, the total number of international students in the US has changed from just 564,766 to 1,095,299.
In the following years, there was a notable decline in enrollment caused by COVID-19. First, there was a slight decrease to 1,075,496 students in 2019-2020, followed by a sharp drop to 914,095 students in 2020-2021.
It took two years for international student enrollment to recover to a nearly pre-pandemic level - 1,057,188 in 2022-2023. After this year, the growth resumed, reaching record numbers of students in the years 2024-2025.
The main factors that influenced changes in international student enrollment throughout the years include:
- Global recognition and demand for US degrees
- Changing Visa policies
- Increased post-pandemic mobility
- Challenging economic conditions in students’ home countries
Which Countries Send the Most Students to the United States?
Among over a million international students in United States, there are representatives of over 25 countries from all over the world. Yet, the following countries make up the largest share of students:
- India: 363,019 (30.8% of all international students)
- China: 265,919 (22.6%)
- South Korea: 42,293 (3.6%)
- Canada: 29,903 (2.5%)
- Vietnam: 25,584 (2.2%)
- Nepal: 24,890 (2.1%)
- Taiwan: 23,263 (2.0%)
- Nigeria: 21,847 (1.9%)
- Bangladesh: 20,156 (1.7%)
- Brazil: 17,277 (1.5%)
China, India, South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, and Taiwan have been leaders in enrollment in the US from 2021 to 2025. In the 2021-2022 academic year, Chinese students surpassed Indian students – 290,100 (30.6%), but in subsequent years, the number of Indian students enrolling in the US has increased.
The decline in enrollment among Chinese students is largely explained by shifting geopolitical environments and expanding educational opportunities inside China and other countries. Indian students, on the contrary, are driven to the US because of advanced STEM & tech programs and Optional Practical Training (OPT) pathways.
What Do International Students Study in the US?
In 2024-2025, the primary fields of study pursued by international students in United States include:
As you can see from the table above, STEM fields tend to attract the majority of international students. In fact, the number of foreigners studying them surpasses the number of domestic students in the same programs.
Partly, this is due to a globally recognized quality of STEM education in the US. Yet, the main reason, according to the Educational Testing Service (ETS), is the post-graduation visa perks offered by STEM OPT. The practical training program enables STEM graduates to live and work in the US for up to 36 months without employer sponsorship.
Economic Impact of International Students in US
International students have a massive impact on the US economy. They bring outside capital to the country to pay for their:
- Tuition
- Housing
- Transportation
- Consumer spending
Together, these expenses have brought an additional $43 billion to the American economy in 2025.
Apart from direct economic contribution, international students can become valuable assets in the US labor market and even create new jobs through entrepreneurship. They also create jobs needed to support their academic journeys. This includes jobs in the faculty, administrative staff, campus services, retail, public transportation, and other sectors.
Additionally, international students make the following contributions:
- Provide funds for the subsidization of domestic students’
- Create diversity in college campuses
- Create vitality in towns tied to the university’s population (by increasing its size)
- Support research and innovation
United States Scholarships for International Students
Although the American quality of instruction and research infrastructure attracts many international students, the high cost of tuition and living often becomes a major stumbling block to pursuing a degree in the country. Below, we’ve compiled some of the best scholarships for international students in USA that help reduce the cost of attendance:
Sanders Prize in the History of Early Modern Philosophy 2026
Funding: partial, $5,000
Eligible degrees: Master’s, PhD
Application deadline: 1 Oct, 2026
The first opportunity is an essay competition hosted by the Marc Sanders Foundation. It aims to reward students who demonstrate original thought and outstanding research in the history of philosophy. The scholarship is open to students of all nationalities and can be used at any institution. To participate, students must write original essays of 7,500-15,000 words that are not under review elsewhere.
Golf Ontario Scholarship Program 2026
Funding: partial, the sum varies
Eligible degrees: Bachelor’s
Application deadline: 30 Jun, 2026
This scholarship program is created by Golf Ontario. It’s available to all nationalities and fields of study. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in a full-time post-secondary course and be members of the Golf Ontario club, the Golf Canada club, or the Public Player program. Additionally, candidates must maintain a solid academic average of 75%.
Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards 2027-28
Funding: full, up to $50,000 + additional perks
Eligible degrees: Master’s
Application deadline: 1 Aug, 2026
The next opportunity is provided by Fulbright New Zealand and offers full funding for recipients. This program is designed to support New Zealand nationals seeking to pursue their degrees in the US. The scholarship can be used for any course, except medical sciences, dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, and psychological counseling. Additional eligibility requirements include having a completed undergraduate degree with 480 points. The program also prioritizes students who have not received Fulbright awards before.
GPSTab Scholarship 2026
Funding: partial, $2,500
Eligible degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s
Application deadline: 1 Sep, 2026
This program is supported by GPSTab – a fleet management and telematics platform. It offers a scholarship of $2,500 to help fund education in any subject pursued in one of the accredited universities or trade schools in the United States. The goal of the program is to secure perseverance and continued growth of local communities. This opportunity is open to all nationalities.
Navigate Your Future Scholarship 2026
Funding: partial, $2,500
Eligible degrees: Bachelor’s
Application deadline: 26 Jun, 2026
The last option on our list is a partial scholarship provided by the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). The application for this program must be completed while still in high school. And it’s designed specifically for students planning to pursue education in the field of aviation. To participate, students must demonstrate acceptance into an aviation-related course taught at one of the accredited colleges or universities in the country.
Conclusion
2024-2025 was a record-breaking year for the number of international students in the United States. Currently, they account for 6.1% of the total student population in the country, and we expect their number to continue growing in the future. The growth in international students is a direct injection into the US economy, which can also positively affect local colleges and communities. Not without reason, there are multiple scholarship opportunities and visa benefits aimed at driving more foreigners to American schools.