India overtakes China as top source of international students at US colleges

India has overtaken China as the top source of international students for U.S. colleges, according to a report from Open Doors.

For the 2023-2024 school year, India saw a massive 23 percent increase in the number of college students sent to America, up to 331,602.

China, meanwhile, saw a 4 percent decrease in the number of students sent to U.S. colleges and universities, according to Open Doors, which is published by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education.

The U.S. saw a record number of international students overall in the 2023-2024 year at 1.1 million, an increase of 7 percent from the previous year.

Together, China and India, which last ranked No. 1 in 2009, make up more than half of those.

A majority of international students in the U.S. pursue STEM fields, such as engineering, computer science and math.

“As we celebrate 75 years of Open Doors, we are thrilled to report that this year marks a record high of international students in the United States,” said Allan Goodman, the CEO of Institute of International Education. “International students enrich our campuses, foster cultural exchange, and contribute significantly to our economy, and we remain dedicated to supporting these bright minds and ensuring that the U.S. continues to be a premier destination for global education.”

On the flip side, more students in the U.S. are also going abroad to study.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, more than 280,000 U.S. students left the country to study, a 49 percent increase from the prior year, which was during the pandemic.

“Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France remained the leading host destinations, with nearly half (45%) of all students studying in these top four destinations,” the report read.