India Rises as the Driving Force in US Campuses as China’s Presence Recedes

Indian enrolments in US universities hit 3.63 lakh in 2024–25, widening the gap with declining Chinese numbers. Despite visa hurdles, Indian students boosted spending and OPT participation, strengthening their economic impact. China’s drop reflects policy concerns and shifting preferences. With 1.18 million international students overall, the US remains the top destination, though future enrolments face visa‑related pressures.

Indian students are increasingly shaping the international student landscape in the United States, with new data from the 2024–25 academic year confirming India’s position at the top. More than 3.63 lakh Indian students are currently enrolled at American universities—a 10% increase over last year and a clear sign of India’s expanding influence in global education. Though the growth rate has eased compared to the sharp jump seen in 2023–24, the steady climb underscores India’s long-term commitment to overseas study.

China, once the undisputed leader in foreign enrolments, continues its downward trajectory for the fifth straight year. Chinese enrolments fell by 4% to around 2.66 lakh students, widening the gap with India. Overall, the US saw a 7% dip in international enrolments, reflecting broader challenges faced by global student mobility.

Despite tougher visa interviews, long processing times, and uncertainty around work opportunities, Indian students show remarkable resilience. Their economic contribution is also surging: spending by Indian students reached approximately USD 14 billion in 2024–25, up from USD 11.8 billion the previous year. While Chinese students still spend slightly more—around USD 14.6 billion—the narrowing difference highlights India’s fast-growing

investment in US education.

Career opportunities remain a major draw for Indians. Undergraduate admissions for Indian students climbed 11%, even as the number of postgraduate students fell by nearly 10%. Participation in Optional Practical Training (OPT), however, jumped a striking 47%, reinforcing the strong appeal of US work experience. Public universities remain the preferred choice, enrolling 63% of Indian students, with Texas, New York, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois emerging as the most popular states.

The US Department of Commerce noted that international students collectively contributed almost USD 55 billion to the American economy in 2024, supporting more than 3.5 lakh jobs. With such economic and cultural impact, the US continues to position itself as a top destination for global talent.

The 2024–25 academic year also marked record enrolments from twelve other countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Spain. Looking ahead, US universities are placing strategic emphasis on attracting students from India, Vietnam, Brazil, and South Korea—especially for undergraduate programs. The latest Open Doors snapshot shows a mixed trend: a small rise in undergraduate numbers, a noticeable drop in graduate enrolments, and a significant increase in OPT participants.

Indian leaders have celebrated this momentum. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan noted that Indian students excel wherever they go, while IIE President Jason Szig emphasized the essential role international students play in strengthening US education and research.

Meanwhile, China’s decline reflects a combination of shifting student preferences and rising geopolitical tension. Anxiety among Chinese students grew after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, following a first term marked by visa restrictions and limits on Chinese researchers. Recent comments from US officials have also signaled a tilt toward encouraging Indian enrolments, while maintaining tighter scrutiny of Chinese applicants in sensitive fields.

Over half of Chinese students in the US continue to pursue STEM disciplines, although enrolments across undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs all fell this year. Indians remain even more STEM-focused, with nearly 72% studying in technical and scientific fields.

The second Trump administration has introduced a series of measures affecting international students—from visa delays to proposed changes in the H-1B program. Chinese nationals, in particular, face heightened vetting, including possible visa revocation for students linked to certain political organizations or research-sensitive areas. However, these steps came after the period covered by the current IIE data.

Preliminary indicators for 2025–26 suggest a 17% drop in new international enrolments, with most institutions citing visa challenges and travel barriers. Even so, a vast majority of US colleges—84%—still prioritise recruiting international students, with nearly a third focusing on China for graduate programs.

Despite these fluctuations, the US remains the single largest host of international students worldwide, with about 1.18 million enrolled in 2024–25—a 5% increase from the previous year. Experts warn, however, that continued declines from key countries could threaten America’s competitiveness, especially in STEM fields.

In contrast, American student interest in China is slowly rebounding from pandemic lows. The number of US students studying in China rose to 1,749 in 2023–24—still far below the peak of 11,600 in 2018–19, but a notable increase from the previous year.

As global education patterns shift and geopolitical dynamics evolve, India’s prominence in US universities stands out as one of the defining trends of the current academic landscape—reshaping not only enrolment charts but also economic flows, cultural exchange, and the future of global mobility.