Amid escalating tensions between the US and China, India has surged ahead of China as the top source of international students in the United States for the first time in approximately 15 years, according to new data released on November 18.
The latest figures from the Institute of International Education (IIE), supported by the US State Department, reveal that India sent 331,602 students to the US during the 2023-24 academic year, surpassing China’s 277,398 students.
Indian student numbers increased 23% from the previous academic year, while Chinese student enrollment dropped by 4%, continuing a steady decline that began in the 2019-20 school year when China sent 372,532 students to the US.
This shift marks the first time since the 2009-10 academic year that China is no longer the leading source of international students in the US. The shift in numbers reflects a broader trend as the geopolitical tensions between the US and China continue to escalate.
In contrast, Indian student enrollment has shown remarkable growth since the 2020-21 academic year. Over the past three years, the number of Indian students has nearly doubled, cementing India’s place as a key educational partner for the United States.
The growth of Indian students comes as part of a wider trend of rising international student enrollment in the US.
According to the Open Doors 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange, the total number of international students in the US reached a record high of 1,126,690 for the 2023-24 academic year, marking a 7% increase from the previous year.
Additionally, new international student enrollments remained strong, with 298,705 students, mirroring pre-pandemic levels.
Several other countries, including Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, and Spain, have also seen significant increases in their student numbers, contributing to the overall growth of the international student body in the US.
Notably, according to the new report, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest regional growth, with a 13% increase in students, the second consecutive year of strong growth.
The growth in international students has proven economically beneficial for the US, with international students contributing more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023.
The US also saw a major increase in students opting for Optional Practical Training (OPT), with 242,782 international students gaining work experience, a 22% increase from the previous year.
On the other hand, from 2022-23, the number of Americans studying in China rose by 122%, reaching 469, up from a decade-low of 211 in the previous year.
Despite China easing COVID-19 restrictions and promoting student exchanges, American students have been slow to return. By the start of the 2024-25 academic year, only about 800 Americans were studying in China, a significant drop from over 11,000 in 2018-19.
While Chinese students study a wide range of subjects in the US, Americans typically focus on language, politics, economics, and Chinese society.
However, concerns over geopolitical tensions, safety, declining program support, and logistical challenges like adapting to China’s digital ecosystem have led many to consider alternatives, such as Taiwan.
US-China Tensions Fuel Shift In Student Trends
The recent shift in rankings of international student sources in the US comes amid growing concerns among Chinese nationals residing in the US, particularly since Donald Trump’s stunning win.
During Trump’s first term, a series of stringent travel and immigration policies were introduced, including a presidential proclamation restricting the entry of Chinese graduate students and researchers, especially those in sensitive fields.
This shift is further compounded by US government officials signaling a preference for Indian students over their Chinese counterparts in specific academic disciplines, driven in part by national security considerations.
In June, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell suggested that more Chinese students should focus on humanities and social sciences rather than more technical subjects like particle physics.
The statement points to the increasing challenges in academic and research exchanges between the two countries.
However, Marianne Craven of the US State Department said that Chinese students are still “very much welcome” in the US, and the country remains the leading destination for Chinese students studying abroad.
She pointed to recent initiatives, such as the opening of a new student advising and recruitment center in Wuhan, that aim to strengthen educational ties with China.
Despite these assurances, there is a growing contradiction between the US government’s public stance and the reality on the ground. Reports have emerged indicating that US agencies are increasingly scrutinizing Chinese students’ political backgrounds and research activities.
There are rising concerns that some students may have been allowed entry on the condition of providing insider information about the Chinese government.
This is further exemplified by accusations from China in February 2024, which claimed that the US was targeting Chinese students arriving at American airports for political purposes, allegedly trying to recruit them as spies.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin revealed that at least eight students with valid travel documents were allegedly harassed, interrogated, and even deported from Dulles International Airport, a key hub for flights between Beijing and Washington, since November of the previous year.
Wang denounced these actions as “unprincipled” and “discriminatory” under the guise of law enforcement, accusing the US of carrying out operations driven by a “strong ideological bias.”
In April, China again accused the US of forcibly deporting Chinese students without any legitimate grounds, vowing to take “resolute measures” to protect the rights and interests of its nationals.
At the time, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized the US for abusing the concept of national security, alleging that the US had arbitrarily canceled Chinese students’ visas, banned their entry, and deported them without sufficient evidence.