
International student enrollment in the United States continued to rise during the 2024–25 academic year, according to a new survey conducted by the Institute of International Education, which gathered data from over 690 colleges and universities. The report recorded a 3% overall increase in the number of international students across undergraduate, graduate, non-degree, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) categories. This follows a 7% increase in 2023–24 and a 12% surge in 2022–23, reflecting a steady recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enrollment growth was especially notable at the undergraduate level, which saw a 6% increase, while the graduate level experienced a slight 2% decline. However, the number of new international students enrolling for the first time at U.S. institutions fell by 5%. Among the schools surveyed, 46% reported higher new international student numbers, 12% saw no change, and 42% reported a decrease.
One of the strongest areas of growth was in the OPT program, which allows international students to gain work experience in their field of study after completing their degrees. In 2024–25, participation in OPT grew by another 12%, continuing a trend of increasing interest and uptake over the past two years. This growth is largely driven by international graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
U.S. colleges and universities widely recognize the value of OPT. A majority—77%—indicated that the opportunity for post-study work experience helps attract international students, while 70% noted that OPT supports American businesses in hiring and retaining global talent. Additionally, 71% of institutions view OPT as economically beneficial to U.S. companies. Concerns remain that without OPT, many international students would choose to study in other countries, a belief held by 84% of the institutions surveyed.
India continues to be the top source of international students for U.S. schools, with 81% of institutions prioritizing graduate student recruitment from the country. In the 2023–24 academic year, 331,602 Indian students came to the U.S.—a 23% increase from the previous year.
Amazon emerged as the leading employer of OPT participants in 2024, hiring 5,379 international students both before and after graduation.
Despite its popularity and economic contributions, the OPT program is facing political opposition. Joseph Edlow, nominated by Donald Trump to lead U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has voiced intentions to eliminate the program. A bill introduced in Congress, titled the “Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025,” also proposes ending the OPT program unless it is specifically authorized by legislation.
Trump has sent mixed messages on the issue. While he has criticized the program, he has also stated that he supports allowing international students to remain in the U.S. after graduation to start businesses—something he argues is not happening under the current system.