Student enrolments touch 3.63L

India has retained its position as the largest source of international students in the United States during the 2024-25 academic year.

- Simple Vishwakarma

According to the latest Open Doors 2025 report on International Educational Exchange, 3,63,019 Indian students are currently studying across American universities, which is up 10% year on year, underlining India's growing presence in the global education landscape.

Only a few years ago, China used to monopolize the international student numbers in the US. However, the trend has clearly changed. China recorded 2,65,919 enrolments this year, which is a 4% decline and the fifth consecutive year of reduced numbers in that country. This trend, experts feel, reflects a new global student mobility pattern, with India emerging as the main driver of growth in the US higher education space.

International students continue choosing the US

The US is again the global leader in international education, despite increased visa scrutiny, longer appointment wait times, and questions about work-visa pathways. All told, 1.17 million international students enrolled at US institutions in 2024-25, up 5% overall, and international students now comprise 6% of the total US higher education population. The contribution goes beyond academics. This shift, experts believe, indicates a new global student mobility pattern, and India has now become the main driver of growth in the US higher education space.

As per the US Department of Commerce, international students contributed nearly $55 billion to the US economy in 2024, while estimates from NAFSA suggest that they supported over 3.55 lakh jobs across the country.