International Students in the US: Visualized
Getting a sense of the patterns and trends
Students - 1.1 Million | Countries - 219
The idea of the ‘American Dream’ continues to magnetize a diverse array of individuals from across the globe. The USA is the destination of choice for thousands of international students each year. The map above illustrates the origins of the active student population (as of March 2023). Students from 219 countries* enrolled in US schools and colleges.
Let’s examine the active student population first and then analyze some year-on-year patterns using data from the past 6 years.
The Geographic Distribution across different States
California, New York, and Texas stand out as the most popular states, alluring a significant influx of international students.
Top Countries of Origin
The majority of the students come from India and China (no surprises here except maybe the scale at which they dominate).
Distribution by Degree Level
A significant proportion of Indian students are pursuing master’s degrees, in contrast to China, where the distribution between bachelor’s and master’s degree students is more evenly balanced. The fact that there is double the number of Ph.D. students from China compared to India was surprising to me. Approximately 30% of students from Brazil are currently enrolled in language learning and training programs.
Year-wise Enrollment Trends
Let’s start by taking a look at the top countries by the number of F-1 (& H-1B) visas issued in the year 2022. This differs from the active population numbers (which would have F-1 student numbers from various years combined).
How does this look over the years for the top 5 countries?
Following a decline in 2020 due to the impact of COVID, the numbers for India have significantly rebounded, surpassing its pre-COVID figures and exhibiting a notable surge. On the other hand, the numbers for China have had a significant reduction since COVID. While the other three countries have remained relatively stable, India has successfully filled the void created by China’s falling numbers.
India emerged as the clear leader in H-1B visa issuances, surpassing every other country by a significant margin. I had to use a log scale to accommodate the representation of the remaining three countries on the same chart.
The United States continues to be an attractive educational destination, accommodating students from all around the globe. China and India emerge as the primary contributors to the international student population, reflecting the significance of the U.S. education system for these rapidly developing economies. The U.S.-China tensions and evolving foreign policies are introducing significant complexities into the student and H-1B visa processes. This not only impacts individual students and professionals but also has broader implications for U.S. higher education.
Data Source
*Including regions not recognized by the UN as a country.