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Indian Students in the United States increase for Fifth Consecutive Year as per Open Doors Report

New Delhi, November 13, 2018 – The number of Indians studying in the United States increased by 5.4 percent over the last year to 196,271, according to the 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released today.  This marks the fifth consecutive year that the total number of Indians pursuing their higher education in the United States has grown.

Speaking at the U.S.-Indian Educational Foundation (USIEF), Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs Joseph Pomper said, “Looking at the past 10 years of data, the number of Indians going to the United States has doubled.  The reasons are clear: Indian students are looking for a great education and the United States continues to offer this.”

Mr. Pomper also stated that the Embassy continues to see well qualified Indians applying to study in the United States as well as record attendance at U.S. university fairs held across the country.

Per the report, Indians make up nearly 18 percent of all international students in the United States, surpassed only by China.  India provided the second highest amount of graduate students and fourth-most undergraduates.  Also of note, the number of American students studying in India increased to 4,704 – 12.5 percent more than the year before.

“I am thrilled to see a significant increase in the number of American university students choosing India as a study abroad destination,” said Adam Grotsky, Director of USIEF. “At USIEF, we believe that student exchange programs are one of the best ways to foster meaningful relationships and promote mutual understanding between American and Indian citizens.”

In 2017-18, U.S. colleges and universities hosted more than one million international students for the third consecutive year.  This marks the twelfth consecutive year of continued expansion.

Top Places of Origin and Host States for International Students in the U.S.

The top places of origin for international students studying in the United States were China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil.  The top host states were California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.

About Open Doors

Open Doors is published by the Institute of International Education (IIE), which has conducted an annual statistical survey on international students in the United States since its founding in 1919 and in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since 1972.  Open Doors also reports on the number of international scholars at U.S. universities and international students enrolled in pre-academic Intensive English Programs.  Further details on the Open Doors 2018 surveys and their findings is on the Open Doors website.  The full 100+ page report will be available in January and can be ordered from IIE Books.  For more data, infographics and resources visit www.iie.org/OpenDoors.

About the fall 2018 online survey

The survey was carried out in October 2018 by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in cooperation with American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), American Council on Education (ACE), Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), College Board, Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

About IIE

The Institute of International Education works to build more peaceful and equitable societies by advancing scholarship, building economies and promoting access to opportunity.  As a not-for-profit organization with 19 offices and affiliates worldwide, IIE collaborates with a range of corporate, government and foundation partners across the globe to design and manage scholarship, study abroad, workforce training, and leadership development programs.  Its Generation Study Abroad initiative aims to double the number of Americans studying abroad by 2020, while its International Academic Partnerships Program among others, help academic institutions establish global networks for the exchange of students, faculty and researchers.  Visit www.iie.org.

About the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State builds relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private sector exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs.  Approximately 50,000 participants annually embark on these exchange programs, including the flagship Fulbright Program and the International Visitor Leadership Program.  ECA also sponsors the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarships for U.S. undergraduates with financial need, the Critical Language Scholarship Program in support of U.S. foreign language study abroad, and the EducationUSA network of over 400 advising centers worldwide, which provides information to students around the globe who wish to study in the United States.  For more information on the Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange activities, visit eca.state.gov.

About the United States-India Educational Foundation

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) is a binational organization that promotes mutual understanding between the United States and India through educational and cultural exchanges.  USIEF administers the prestigious Fulbright-Nehru and other fellowships for outstanding students, scholars, and professionals of India and the U.S., enabling strategic dialogue, collaboration, and thought-leadership on critical issues affecting the two nations and the world at large.  USIEF also hosts five EducationUSA advising centers in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi.