According to the 2014 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released today, the number of international students at US universities and colleges reached a new record of 886,052 in the 2013/14 academic year – an increase of 8% compared to the previous year. This confirms the US as the world’s most popular study destination, hosting more of the world’s 4.5 million international students than any other country.
The biggest increases came from Chinese and Saudi Arabian students, who together account for almost three quarters (73%) of increased international enrolments at US universities in 2013/14. A further 18% of growth was contributed by students from India, Brazil, Iran and Kuwait.
After three years in which fewer Indian students chose to study in the US, 2013/14 saw their numbers grow again by 6%, to 102,673. Chinese students continue to make up the largest group of international students in the US (31%), followed by students from India (11.6%), South Korea (7.7%), Saudi Arabia (6.1%) and Canada (3.2%).
New York University becomes leading host institution
International students now comprise just over 4% of those studying at US universities and graduate schools. Some 41 states increased their international enrolments in 2013/14, and for the first time, four US universities reported more than 10,000 international students: New York University, the University of Southern California, the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, and Columbia University.
For the first time, New York University became the leading host institution, following 12 years in which the University of Southern California claimed that position. However, California remains the leading host state, with 121,647 international students enrolled. New York is the next most popular state, followed by Texas, Massachusetts and Illinois.
Percentage of US students abroad remains low
The Open Doors data also shows that the number of US students choosing to study abroad in 2012/13 climbed by 2%, to reach 289,408; this represents a slight slowdown in growth compared to the previous year. The most popular destination for US students remains the UK, chosen by 12.5% of US study-abroad participants in 2012/13. Italy and Spain are close behind (10.3% and 9.1%), followed by France (5.9%) and China (5%).
While the number of US students studying abroad has more than doubled in the past 15 years, fewer than 10% of undergraduate-level US students spend any part of their degree studies abroad. The largest increase in international study in recent years has come from those studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs, particularly health sciences.
The Institute of International Education, which publishes the Open Doors report annually, launched the Generation Study Abroad campaign earlier this year, setting a target of doubling the number of US students abroad by the end of the current decade.
