According to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), of all international students studying in the United States, India had the largest percentage increase, showing a 31.9 percent jump compared to statistics from the previous year. Right behind India was Vietnam, with a 25.9 percent increase.

In total, about 1 million international students are enrolled in university and vocational training in almost 9,000 schools of higher learning throughout the United States. 74 percent of international students are enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs, and 76 percent of all international students are studying at schools in California, Texas, and New York. University of Southern California, New York University, Columbia University, University of Illinois, and Purdue University lead with the most international students in attendance.

Almost 50 percent of international students, totaling more than 400,000, are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with 29 percent of these students coming from India.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is responsible for certifying schools in the U.S. for accepting international students. SEVP works in close collaboration with the United States Customs and Border Protection Service and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service to monitor students, their families, and the academic institutions to ensure all comply with the laws of the United States.

For more information and to learn about SEVP, visit the Student and Exchange Visitor Program page on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, and to read more SEVP statistics, visit SEVIS by the Numbers.

For more information about student visas and studying in the USA, visit our Student Visa section.