Indian students now account for 20% of UA’s international student body. Salil Gupta, Arizona International’s chief advisor for South Asia, said there are mutual benefits from this surge.
Indian students now account for 20% of UA’s international student body. Salil Gupta, Arizona International’s chief advisor for South Asia, said there are mutual benefits from this surge.
The University of Arizona (UA) has witnessed a seminal shift in its international student demographic. The number of Indian students has, for the first time in nearly 20 years, overtaken that of Chinese students.
This development, reflective of broader national and international trends, calls for an in-depth analysis to understand the underlying factors and implications.
Indian students now account for 20 percent of UA’s international student body. Salil Gupta, Arizona International’s chief advisor for South Asia, said there are mutual benefits from this surge.
“The prevalence of STEM education in India and the superior infrastructure at US universities have always attracted Indian students… Combined with scholarships and funding opportunities, studying in the US becomes especially appealing for high achievers. Additionally, research opportunities in the U.S. far surpass those in other popular destinations,” he said.
“We had the largest graduating class in the spring… So, in other words, although we had a 30 percent increase in terms of new incoming students, it didn’t cover the number of students who graduated. So, we had a net loss, in terms of total enrollment, but we’re trending towards increasing,” Gupta added.
The population of Indian students at the University of Arizona has shown a consistent rise following a decrease in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The figure has surged by 26 percent compared to the previous year and has grown by 121 percent since 2020.
Moreover, the US Embassy in India granted over 90,000 student visas for the fall of 2023, a significant increase from the previous year’s 80,000 visas.
On the flip side, UA Senior Director of Asian Engagement Bruce Wang attributes the decline in Chinese student enrollment to the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and China. He stated that the trend is nationwide, and not solely confined to the UA.
“The year 2019 had the largest number of Chinese students coming to campus, and the students from 2020 and 2021 were choosing other countries rather than the US,” Wang explained.
According to the Institute of International Education, there was a national decline of 8.6 percent in Chinese student enrollment from the previous year, which implies that this trend is not an isolated incident.
Despite experiencing its largest graduating class this spring, UA has had a net loss in total enrollment. However, Wang states that the university aims for increased enrollment, possibly indicating a more aggressive international recruitment strategy in the future.
The University of Arizona’s membership in the Association of American Universities and its recent ranking as the 25th best public college in America could be instrumental in attracting a diverse international student body. Such credentials reinforce its position as a sought-after educational institution, which could be particularly appealing to Indian students looking for high-quality STEM programs.
In the context of Arizona’s higher education landscape, UA has a significantly smaller international student population compared to Arizona State University, which boasts over 15,000 international students. Northern Arizona University also has over 1,400 international students and has observed a similar trend of increased Indian student numbers and declining Chinese enrollment.
The shift in student demographics at UA reflects larger trends in the U.S. educational sector and geopolitical landscape. As the US and China grapple with multifaceted challenges, from trade wars to human rights issues, the appeal of American education among Chinese students may be waning.
Conversely, the strengthening of US-India relations, buoyed by shared democratic values and economic interests, appear to be reflected in educational exchanges as well.
The shift in international student demographics at the University of Arizona is a microcosm of broader socio-political and educational trends. While the increase in Indian student enrollment could signify strengthening ties between India and the US, the decline in Chinese student numbers may hint at the challenges that lie ahead in Sino-American relations.
UA, and other American universities, would do well to carefully strategize their international enrollment plans, keeping in mind the volatile geopolitical landscape that directly influences student choices.
This pivot in international student demographics at UA is not just an isolated academic occurrence but a nuanced indicator of geopolitical, educational, and diplomatic currents that are shaping our world today.
