A recent report on international students in the United States shows that India remains the number one country sending students to the US.
The 2025 Open Doors Report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), which is supported by the US State Department, covers the academic year 2024-2025.
Key findings on student numbers
The report revealed that the total number of international students studying in the U.S. grew by 5 per cent to 1.17 million in 2024-25 compared to the previous year.
India was the top origin country with 363,019 students—a 9.5 per cent increase from the year before. India was followed by China, which had 265,919 students, a 4 per cent decline. South Korea was the third-leading place of origin.
However, the data also showed a significant decline in new international students: new enrolments dropped by about 7 per cent overall. The only level that saw an increase in new students was undergraduate, which rose by 5 per cent.
Trends among Indian students
Among the Indian students:
- 39 per cent were on their Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows them to work in a related field after finishing their studies. The number of Indian students on OPT soared by 47 per cent.
- 49 per cent were graduate students. However, the number of new Indian graduate students dropped by about 9.5 per cent.
- Undergraduate students from India totaled over 40,000, an increase of 11 per cent.
Fields of study and location
The most popular fields of study chosen by Indian students were heavily concentrated in technology and engineering:
- Over 43 per cent chose Computer Science.
- Nearly 23 per cent chose Engineering.
- About 11 per cent chose Business management.
Overall, international students favored STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, with 57% choosing them. One in four studied math/computer science.
In terms of location, 45 US states saw an increase in international students. The largest numbers were in California, Texas, and New York. States like Texas, Illinois, and Missouri saw the highest percentage increase. Most international students (59 per cent) attended public institutions.
Immigration and enrollment concerns
The report's findings, particularly the drop in new enrolments, come after President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025. Changes to immigration laws and higher education rules by his administration have led many international students to worry about, or choose against, studying in the US.
