International students are indeed showing resilience despite visa restrictions in the US. In fact, India has retained its position as the top source of international students in the US for the second consecutive year, with over 363,000 Indian students enrolled in American universities in 2024-25, marking a 10% increase from the previous year .
Key Highlights:
– Indian Students Lead the Way: Indian students account for around 31% of the total international student population in the US.
-*Undergraduate Enrollments Up: There’s been an 11.3% increase in undergraduate enrollments from India, while graduate enrollments have dipped slightly.
– OPT Program a Major Draw: The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, allowing graduates to work temporarily in the US, has seen a 47% surge, with over 144,000 Indian students participating.
-Economic Impact: International students contributed approximately $55 billion to the US economy in 2024 .
Despite these positive trends, new international student enrollments have declined by 17% in fall 2025, largely due to visa application concerns and travel restrictions.
