India surpasses China as top source of international students in the US: Here are top streams chosen by Indian students

India has once again emerged as the top source of international students in the United States for the 2023-24 academic year, surpassing China for the first time in 15 years. This milestone is part of a broader trend that highlights India's growing prominence in global education.

The Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange reveals that India has experienced a 23% increase in student numbers, sending over 330,000 students to the US, a development that reflects the country's expanding educational influence.

In fact, Indian students contributed $11.8 billion to the US economy in 2023, making up 20% of the total revenue from international students.

This surge in Indian students mirrors similar gains in the UK, where India has also outpaced China as the leading source of non-EU students.

Overall, the US overall hosted over 1.1 million international students in the 2023-24 year, a 7% increase from the previous year, with India and China together accounting for more than half of this total.

While India¡¯s enrollment surged, China saw a slight decline of 4%.

What are Indian students studying in the US?

In terms of academic focus, 42.9% of Indian students are pursuing mathematics and computer science, 24.5% are studying engineering, and 11.2% are in business and management.

Notably, the growth in Indian students in the US has been most significant in graduate programs, which saw a 19% rise, and in optional practical training (OPT), where participation surged by 41%.

A majority of Indian students (64.5%) enrolled in public institutions, while the rest attended private universities.

Indian students were spread across various states, with California, New York, and Texas having the highest populations.

States like Missouri, Michigan, and Illinois saw the most growth.

As for the broader international student body, STEM fields are the most popular, with 56% of all international students in the US enrolled in these areas.

In total, international students represent 6% of the US higher education population and made a significant economic impact in 2023, contributing over $50 billion to the economy.

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