NYU tops list of schools with most international students

New York University claimed the position of hosting the largest number of international students in the United States during the 2022 – 2023 academic year.

The latest Open Doors Report, released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, reported a total enrollment of 24,496 international students at the university.

The data indicates that international student enrollment in the United States for the 2022-2023 academic year has not only rebounded from pandemic-related declines but has also surpassed pre-pandemic levels, showing a notable increase of 12 percent compared to the previous academic year.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, the total number of international students in the United States experienced a substantial increase, reaching 1,057,188 marking a notable rise from the last academic year, which had 948,519 international students.

The significant annual surge, the fastest in nearly four decades, underscores the enduring global appeal of US universities to international students and its capacity to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over one million international students studying in the US reflects a strong rebound, with the number approaching pre-pandemic levels,” IIE CEO Allan Goodman said.

NYU with highest number of international students

New York University leads the list of institutions with the highest number of international students, followed closely by Northeastern University in Boston with 20,637 international students and Columbia University with 19,001 international students.

In addition to New York University, Northeastern University, and Columbia University, other universities in the top 15 list of institutions with the most international students include:

• Arizona State University – Campus Immersion: 17,981 students
• University of Southern California: 17,264 students
• University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign: 14,680 students
• Boston University: 13,281 students
• Purdue University – West Lafayette: 11,872 students
• University of California – Berkeley: 11,719 students
• University of California – San Diego: 10,431 students
• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor: 10,411 students
• University of Washington: 10,198 students
• University of California – Los Angeles: 9,725 students
• University of Texas – Dallas: 9,582 students
• Johns Hopkins University: 9,322 students

Beyond the top 15 universities, numerous other institutions across the United States have attracted substantial numbers of international students. Noteworthy examples include Pennsylvania State University – University Park, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of California – Irvine, Cornell University, and many more.

China and India as primary sources of international students

The report shows that China and India are once again the primary sources of international students, accounting for half of all international students at US universities. China continues to have the largest number of students in the US (289,526). However, it experienced a slight decrease of 0.2 percent. Chinese student enrollment decreased for a third consecutive year.

In contrast, India experienced a noteworthy surge in its student population, witnessing a remarkable 35 percent increase from the previous academic year, with the total number of Indian students studying in the United States reaching 268,923.

International students now constitute six percent of the total student body in US colleges and universities, reflecting an increase from the previous year’s 4.7 percent. As per the US Department of Commerce, the economic contribution of international students to the US economy in the academic year 2022-23 amounted to nearly US$38 million.