China is second in sending students to the U.S.—who’s first?

As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces the start of revoking the visas of some Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields, the debate around foreign students from China in the US has gained traction. The announcements from the State Department added to the uncertainty for America’s international students, who have faced intensifying scrutiny from President Donald Trump’s administration.

Notably, the number of Chinese students in the US in 2023-2024 was more than 270,000, making up roughly a quarter of all foreign students in the United States. Despite this huge number, China is the second-largest contributor of foreign students to the US, behind India.

According to the Open Doors Report 2024, more than 330,000 Indians are studying in the US, which makes India the ‘top sender’ of international students to America. The report says that the number of Indian students in 2023-24 reached an all-time high, increasing by 23 percent from the 2022-23 figure of 268,923.

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International Students in the US: China Role, Trends, and Challenges

A note shared by the US Embassy on the Open Doors Report 2024 states, “India is now the leading country of origin for international students in the United States, accounting for 29 percent of the total international student population.” The latest data suggests the biggest contributors of international students are India, China (277,398), South Korea (43,149), Canada (28,998), and Taiwan (23,157), according to Business Standard.

Moreover, the recent announcement to revoke the visas of some Chinese students came just days after the Trump administration moved to block Harvard University from enrolling any international students, a decision that has since been put on hold by a federal judge pending a lawsuit.

Earlier this year, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and tried to deport students involved in campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war, adding to the growing concerns around international students in the US.