New data shows that the United States hosted 1.18 million international students in the 2024/25 academic year, marking a 5% increase and reinforcing the country’s position as the world’s top study destination.
According to the Open Doors 2025 Report, released by the Institute of International Education (IIE), it also reveals sharp differences across academic levels, new enrollments, and sending countries, offering a mixed picture of recovery and emerging challenges.
The findings arrive alongside a Fall 2025 Snapshot from more than 825 colleges, showing that while overall international student numbers remain stable, new enrollments for 2025/26 have dropped by 17%. The contrasting trends highlight a year of growth driven by continuing students and strong post-study work participation, even as visa difficulties and political tensions reshape who is arriving on US campuses for the first time.
Overall Growth Driven by OPT and Undergraduate Gains
According to Open Doors, US colleges and universities hosted 1,177,766 international students in 2024/25, representing 6% of the total US higher education population. The economic impact of these students rose sharply, contributing nearly $55 billion to the US economy in 2024 and supporting more than 355,000 jobs nationwide. Education leaders say these numbers demonstrate the continued importance of international students to American campuses and local communities.
“International students come to the United States to advance their education and contribute to U.S. colleges and communities,” said Jason Czyz, Institute of International Education President and CEO.
“This data highlights the impact international students have in driving innovation, advancing scholarship, and strengthening cross-cultural understanding.”
Enrollment patterns varied widely by academic level:
- Graduate students: 488,481 total, down 3% after three years of growth.
- Undergraduate students: 357,231 total, up 4% — the first major increase since the pandemic.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT): 294,253 total, up 21% year-over-year.
- STEM fields: pursued by 57% of all international students across levels.
New enrollment trends painted a more complicated picture. While total undergraduate newcomer numbers rose by 5%, new graduate enrollments fell by 15%, contributing to an overall 7% decline in students enrolling in US institutions for the first time in fall 2024.
India Surges While China Declines
India strengthened its position as the top source of international students, sending 363,019 students — a 10% increase from the previous year. China followed with 265,919 students, a 4% decrease, continuing a trend of gradual declines.
Twelve of the top 25 sending countries reached their highest-ever totals, including Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Spain, and Vietnam. The growing diversification of international student origins reflects evolving global mobility patterns and broader interest in US institutions outside the traditional top senders.
States See Significant Growth, Led by Texas, Illinois, and Missouri
International students studied in all 50 US states, with 45 states posting year-over-year increases. Some of the strongest growth occurred in:
- Texas: +8% (+7,497 students)
- Illinois: +7% (+4,336 students)
- Missouri: +11% (+3,694 students)
Most international students (59%) attended public institutions. Community colleges recorded the fastest rate of growth, rising 8% year-over-year as affordability and flexible pathways attracted more students.
However, early indicators for the 2025/26 academic year suggest that growth may slow. The Fall 2025 Snapshot shows an overall decline of 1% in total enrollments, including a 12% drop in graduate numbers and a 17% drop in new international students. OPT participation, by contrast, continued to climb by 14% in fall 2025.
More US Students Studying Abroad
The Open Doors report also tracks outbound mobility. In the 2023/24 academic year, 298,180 US students studied abroad for academic credit — a 6% increase from the prior year. Europe remains the top destination, with Italy, Spain, the UK, and France together hosting 45% of all US study abroad participants.
Japan rose to the fifth-largest destination for the first time, driven by 16% growth, while seven countries — Denmark, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, and Spain — reached all-time highs for US study abroad participation.
“The Open Doors report provides a comprehensive picture of the destinations where U.S. students study abroad,” said Dr. Mirka Martel, IIE Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning. “For U.S. students, studying abroad is an integral part of the higher education experience that prepares them to thrive in a global economy.”
The combined data from Open Doors 2025 and the Fall 2025 Snapshot illustrate a shifting global education landscape: strong overall growth fueled by returning students and OPT, uneven performance across academic levels, and a notable decline in new international arrivals driven by external political and visa pressures. For institutions, policymakers, and host communities, these trends signal both continued demand for US education and emerging challenges that will shape student mobility in the years ahead.
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