China News Service, the second largest state news agency in China, recently cited U.S. government statistics reporting that the number of foreign students receiving undergraduate and higher education in the United States exceeded 1.12 million in the 2023-2024 academic year. This was the highest number on record since data collection began in 1948. The figure represents a seven percent year-over-year growth in the international student body studying in the U.S., with international students accounting for 5.9 percent of all higher education students in America.
More international students came from India than any other country, numbering approximately 332,000 (a year-over-year increase of 23.3 percent) and accounting for 29.4 percent of all international students in the U.S. Chinese students were the second-most numerous, numbering approximately 277,00 (a year-over-year decrease of 4.2 percent), accounting for 24.6 percent of international students. This was the first year since 2009 that the number of Indian students in the U.S. exceeded the number of Chinese students. Korean students students were the third most-numerous, with approximately 43,000 Koreans receiving higher education in the U.S., a year-over-year decrease of 1.6 percent.
About 280,000 international students are studying mathematics and computer science, which are the most popular majors among the international student body. Around 210,000 are studying engineering, and approximately 160,000 students are majoring in business and management. New York University has the largest number of international students. Northeastern University ranks second, and Columbia University ranks third. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students contributed approximately $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023.
Source: China News Service, November 19, 2024
https://www.chinanews.com/gj/2024/11-19/10321795.shtml