Over 9 lakh international students studied at US higher education institutions in 2021-2022 academic year: Report

MUMBAI: The Open Doors 2022 Report on International Educational Exchange, released on Monday by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE), found that 948,519 international students from more than 200 places of origin studied at US higher education institutions during the 2021-2022 academic year, a 4% increase compared to the previous academic year.
The report shows a strong year-over-year rebound in new international student enrollments (an increase of 80%) in the United States following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and demonstrates the United States’ ongoing commitment to international educational exchange.
The Open Doors data is evidence of the strong interest among international students to travel to the United States, the top destination for international students worldwide, and pursue their studies in person. 90% of enrolled international students have returned to in-person learning across US campuses.
According to the US department of commerce, international students contributed $32 billion to the US economy in 2021. “We are thrilled to see international student numbers on the rise, and to see the United States maintain its global leadership as the top destination of choice for international students,” said Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
“US colleges and universities are places of inspiration, innovation, and opportunity – providing the skills and networks necessary to solve global challenges.” Satterfield added, “welcoming international students to American campuses and communities is at the heart of people-to-people diplomacy and a foundational component of our US foreign policy strategy to attract the top talent to the United States.”
New international student enrollments return to pre-pandemic levels international students enrolled for the first time at a US college or university increased by 80% year-over-year, a return to pre-pandemic levels. New international students continued to study in every US state and territory, and nearly all US states (44 out of 50) experienced an increase greater than 50% in new international student enrollments. “The incredible rebound we have seen in international student mobility demonstrates the United States’ and its higher education institutions’ unwavering commitment to welcoming students from around the world,” said IIE CEO, Allan E Goodman. “The Open Doors 2022 report emphasizes that, despite the complexity and uncertainty that accompany pandemics, international educational exchanges continue. Investment in international exchange remains the best way for educational institutions and countries to connect people and ideas around the world.”
In addition to enrolled international students, more than 184,000 students pursued Optional Practical Training (OPT), a program allowing individuals to gain practical work experiences after academic study. India, Canada, Mexico, and Nigeria send pre-pandemic levels of international students China and India represent the majority (52%) of all international students in the United States. China remains the top sending country in 2021/22, with 290,086 students on U.S. campuses (- 9% year-over-year). India, the second top-sending country, sent 199,182 international students in 2021/22, an increase of 19% year-over-year.
Twelve of the top 25 places of origin increased the number of international students enrolled in the United States by double digits in the 2021/22 academic year. In addition, other places of origin, including Canada, Mexico, and Nigeria, returned to pre-pandemic international student numbers. Notably, Nigeria saw its largest increase (+12% year-over-year) in international students studying in the US since the 1980s.
Early indications during the 2020/2021 academic year point to the return of study abroad The Open Doors 2022 Report also measures study abroad by US students during the 2020/2021 academic year, a time when global mobility was largely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collected during the 2020/2021 academic year shows US study abroad halted amid the pandemic to protect the global health and the safety of students in the United States and abroad.
This is reflected in the total number of US students studying abroad for academic credit, declining by 91% to 14,549 students. In addition, over 400 US institutions reported an additional 32,990 US students participating in online global learning opportunities in the same year. US institutions reported a 523% increase in students going abroad in summer 2021, with 58% of all American students in 2020/21 choosing to study abroad in the summer.
These early indications show that demand for international study remains high, and more students will return to study abroad programs in the coming years. According to IIE’s Spring 2022 Snapshot, 83% of institutions noted an increase in study abroad numbers for 2022/2023 compared to the previous year. “As study abroad reemerges for American students, the Biden Administration is expanding the tools available to students to provide greater affordability and accessibility for all students to ensure it reflects the rich diversity of the United States,” Satterfield said. “Study abroad is of strategic importance, as we prepare American students to compete in an increasingly interconnected world.”