Recently, the Institute of International Education released the 2022 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange (Open Doors 2022 Report), which comprehensively presents the most authentic data on international students in the United States in the post-pandemic era.
The Open Doors report is jointly published by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Institute of International Education (IIE), and has served as a key reference for international student mobility to the U.S. for over 70 years. This year, approximately 3,000 U.S. higher education institutions participated in the survey.
CheersYou（清柚教育） will provide a detailed interpretation of the 2022 Open Doors report, covering overall study-abroad trends, analysis of top sending countries, popular fields of study, popular study-abroad states, and popular institutions.
Overall Trends in Studying in the U.S.
International Student Enrollment
The impact of the pandemic on enthusiasm for studying in the U.S. is gradually fading. According to the data, total international student enrollment in the 2021-22 academic year reached 948,519, a 3.8% increase from the previous year. The number of international students coming to the U.S. is rising and gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels.
It is worth noting that the count this year includes students engaged in both online and in-person learning within the U.S., those taking online courses from other countries and regions, and students on Optional Practical Training (OPT).
As vaccination rates in the U.S. continue to rise and pandemic prevention measures mature, the proportion of students taking in-person classes increased rapidly, from 47% last year to 90% this year. This indicates that most U.S. universities have resumed in-person instruction.
Types of Study
According to the data, in the 2021-2022 academic year, undergraduate enrollment dropped by 4%, while graduate enrollment rose by 17%; the number of students on OPT decreased by 9%; and non-degree programs (such as language programs and exchange programs) increased by 61%.
New International Students
The data shows that there were 261,961 new international students, an 80% increase over last year, gradually approaching the pre-pandemic level of 267,712.
China Remains the Top Sending Country to the U.S.
The report surveyed international students from over 210 countries and regions. Chinese students remain the top sending group, with 290,086 individuals, accounting for 31% of all international students, followed by India at 21% and South Korea at 4%.
Among Chinese students, 38% were enrolled in undergraduate programs, 43% in graduate programs, 2% in non-degree programs, and 18% were on OPT.
Although the post-pandemic rebound in the number of Chinese students coming to the U.S. has been less pronounced than that of Indian and other regions due to pandemic and policy factors, Chinese students still constitute the largest share of the current international student population.
According to the data, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Colombia are among the countries/regions with rapidly growing numbers of students coming to the U.S.
In addition to China, India, and South Korea, other regions such as Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan (China), Saudi Arabia, and Brazil also send substantial numbers of international students.
Mathematics and Computer Science Become the Most Popular Fields
STEM fields have always been popular among international students, and the 2021-22 academic year was no exception: 54% of international students chose STEM majors, with 40% of undergraduates and 62% of graduate students doing so.
Data shows that for the first time, mathematics and computer science surpassed engineering as the most popular field of study among international students. Besides mathematics/computer science and engineering ranking first and second, the traditionally popular business and management field ranked third.
As can be seen from the table, among undergraduates, 19% chose business and management, 13% chose engineering, 16% chose mathematics and computer science, 7% chose physical and life sciences, and 12% chose social sciences.
Among graduate students, 14% chose business, 23% chose engineering, 23% chose mathematics and computer science, 11% chose physical and life sciences, and 8% chose social sciences. Mathematics/computer science and engineering are more popular at the graduate level.
In addition to the three traditional popular fields, social sciences, physical and life sciences, fine and applied arts, health professions, communications, education, and anthropology are also relatively popular disciplines.
Popular Study-Abroad States: California Remains Dominant
California, New York, and Texas remain the three most popular states for international students, hosting one-quarter of all such students.
This year, the most popular state is California, with 134,043 international students enrolled, a 1% increase from last year. California is home to many prestigious institutions, including the University of California system, University of Southern California, Stanford, and Caltech, and boasts pleasant weather and a safe, welcoming environment, making it consistently the top study-abroad destination.
Arizona saw the most significant surge in international student numbers, with a 21% increase. In addition, New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois also experienced notable growth: Massachusetts up 7.2%, and New York up 6.3%.
New York State boasts elite schools such as Cornell University, Columbia University, and New York University; Massachusetts is home to Harvard, MIT, Boston University, and Northeastern University, among others.
Most Popular Universities: NYU Continues to Top the List
As with last year, the top five most beloved institutions among international students remain unchanged, with the top three spots still dominated by schools in the U.S. East Coast:
1. New York University
2. Northeastern University
3. Columbia University
4. University of Southern California
5. Arizona State University
As a consistently popular institution among international students, New York University has generously extended many offers. According to the data, 21,081 international students enrolled at NYU.
Other universities are not far behind: Northeastern had 17,836 international students, Columbia had 16,956, USC had 15,729, and Arizona State had 15,293.
Other popular universities include:
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Boston University
- University of California, San Diego
- Purdue University
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, Berkeley
These institutions all have over 10,000 international students.
For the full 2022 Open Doors Report, please visit:
https://opendoorsdata.org/annual-release/international-students/
It is evident that the impact of the pandemic on international student mobility to the U.S. has gradually dissipated, and U.S. higher education institutions have returned to pre-pandemic enrollment conditions.
In terms of field of study, STEM remains strong, being popular at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with mathematics and computer science gaining increasing favor.
The Fall 2023 application season is in full swing, and some students have already received offers! For those still waiting, don't be overly anxious—persistence leads to victory!
We wish everyone success in securing offers from their dream schools this application season!
