India once again topped the charts as the largest source of international students in the US in 2024-25, sending 3,63,019 students. It’s reportedly a 10% rise over last year, though lacking the drama of 2023-24’s 23% jump, which now seems to have set unrealistically high expectations.
Tougher visa scrutiny, longer appointment queues and jitters over work-visa routes appeared to have only mildly slowed India’s steady flow to American campuses, according to a report by a national daily.
China couldn’t arrest the five-year slide. It recorded a 4% drop to 2,65,919 students.
Overall, global international student enrolment in the US fell 7%, and early signals hinted at brewing headwinds, with the Fall 2025 Snapshot reporting a 1% dip in total international numbers and a striking 17% drop in new arrivals.
The report, published by a national newspaper, noted that Indian students spent $14 billion on education, living and other expenses in the US, almost matching China’s $14.6 billion. In 2023-24, Indians had spent $11.8 billion.
In 2024-25, undergraduate enrolments from India rose 11%, while graduate numbers fell 9.5%.
Optional Practical Training, which lets graduates gain practical work experience after their studies, surged 47%. Globally, new international student entries in Fall 2024 fell 7%, with new undergraduates up 5% and new graduate entrants down 15%. Among Indian students, 63% enrolled in public institutions and 37% chose private ones, with most heading to campuses in Texas, New York, Massachusetts, California and Illinois.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan was quoted as saying that Indian students excel wherever they go, not by chance but due to their capability and character. He added that the country’s youth were driving global classrooms, research labs and innovation economies with the same confidence they were bringing to India’s own growth story.
International students comprised 6% of the total US higher education population. They contributed nearly $55 billion to the US economy in 2024, according to the US department of commerce, and supported more than 3.5 lakh jobs across the country, data by NAFSA revealed. The US remained the top global destination for international students.
Twelve of the top 25 countries sending international students reportedly recorded their highest totals to date – Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Ghana, India, Italy, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Spain, and Vietnam.
For the upcoming admission cycle, US institutions were prioritising undergraduate outreach in Vietnam (55% of institutions in the Snapshot survey), India (49%), Brazil (39%) and South Korea (39%).
Graduate recruitment efforts were focused on India (57%), Vietnam (32%), China (28%) and Bangladesh (28%).
The Snapshot Survey of Open Doors 2025 reported a 2% rise in undergraduates and a 12% decline in graduate students. Following years of strong growth at the graduate level, OPT numbers continued to rise (+14%).
Also Read: Layering: Survival Tips For Indian Students In Cold Weather Abroad https://www.vibesofindia.com/layering-survival-tips-for-indian-students-in-cold-weather-abroad/
