The Institute of International Education (IIE) has just released the 2025 Open Doors Report.
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). It has been a key reference for international students studying in the U.S. for over 70 years. Approximately 3,000 U.S. higher education institutions participated in this year's survey.
CheersYou（清柚教育） will provide a detailed interpretation of the 2025 Open Doors Report, covering overall trends, analysis of top source countries, popular majors, popular states, and popular institutions.
International Student Total Reaches New High, Exceeding 1.17 Million
In the 2024/25 academic year, the total number of international students enrolled in the U.S. reached 1,177,766, a 4.5% increase from the previous year, marking four consecutive years of growth.
Undergraduate study in the U.S. is warming up, while graduate study is cooling down.
The number of international undergraduate students increased by 4%, reaching 357,231, marking the first significant growth since the pandemic. This indicates that more families are planning for overseas study at an earlier stage.
In contrast, after three years of growth, the number of international graduate students declined by 3% to 488,481. International graduate students remain the largest academic group among international students in the U.S.
Additionally, the number of international students staying in the U.S. for practical training through OPT increased by 21%, reaching 294,253.
As for new international students, the number decreased by 7% to 277,118, returning to pre-pandemic levels.
India Is the Top Source of International Students in the U.S.
India and China remain the top two source countries, together accounting for more than half of all international students in the U.S. India continues to surpass China as the largest sending country, with a 10% increase from the previous year.
Among Chinese mainland students, undergraduate enrollment plummeted by 10.2% to just 78,583, while graduate enrollment also declined slightly to 120,229.
The number of OPT participants rose slightly to 61,981, indicating a growing trend of graduates staying in the U.S. for employment.
Math & Computer Science Still the Hottest
STEM fields have always been popular among international students. This was no exception in the 2024/25 academic year, with 57% of international students choosing STEM majors.
Math & Computer Science remained the most popular field among international students, chosen by over 300,000 students, a 9% increase from the previous year.
Other popular fields include Engineering, Business & Management, Physical and Life Sciences, Social Sciences, etc.
Popular Study Destinations: California Dominates, Texas Nears 100,000
California, New York, and Texas remain the top three popular states for international students, each hosting over 90,000 students. Among them, Texas saw a significant increase of 8.4% and is nearing the 100,000 mark.
The most popular state this year is still California, with 139,351 international students enrolled. California is home to many prestigious universities such as the UC system, USC, Stanford, and Caltech, and is known for its pleasant weather and safety, making it the perennial top choice.
New York State boasts Ivy League and top-tier institutions like Cornell, Columbia, and NYU; Texas is home to Rice, UT Austin, and Texas A&M; Massachusetts features Harvard, MIT, Boston University, and Northeastern.
Most Popular Universities: NYU Remains at the Top
The top five most popular universities among international students remained unchanged, with the top three still dominated by East Coast institutions:
1. New York University
2. Northeastern University
3. Columbia University
4. Arizona State University
5. University of Southern California
As a perennial favorite among international students, NYU generously admitted many international students. According to data, 27,532 international students are enrolled at NYU.
Other universities are not far behind: Northeastern has 22,465 international students, Columbia has 20,733, USC has 20,368, and Arizona State has 17,884.
Other popular universities include:
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- University of North Texas
- Purdue University
- Boston University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- University of Washington
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, San Diego
These universities each enroll over 10,000 international students.
Despite the ever-changing international landscape, the U.S. remains the top choice for families worldwide, and application competition remains fierce.
The 26Fall application season is in full swing. We wish everyone success in gaining admission to their dream schools!
Source: Open Doors
