India Becomes Largest Source of International Graduate Students in US, Surpasses China

India has become the largest source of international graduate students in the US, surpassing China with a 63% increase. The number of Indian students in the US reached 1.65 lakhs. Indian undergraduate students in the U.S. have also witnessed a significant surge of 16%. This is the first time in 15 years that India has overtaken China in terms of the number of students in the U.S.

According to the Open Doors report, Indian students constitute 27% of international students in the US. China stands second in the list with 25%, Korea has a 4% share, and other nations together make up 44%.

The study also showed that optional practical training (OPT) is gaining popularity among Indian students, with 69,062 individuals opting for this temporary work authorization option. The study sheds light on the fact that Indian students no longer prioritize engineering over other subjects. Instead, they are increasingly pursuing mathematics and computer sciences, with 41.2% of students selecting mathematics and computer sciences as their majors.

This is a 26% increase compared to the previous decade. Now, Indian students exceed Chinese students in 24 US states, including highly sought-after destinations such as Illinois, Texas, and Michigan.

China and India constitute 52% of the total international students in America.