International students made up nearly 6% of all US higher education enrolments in 2023/2024—the highest share since 1948, up from just 1.1%

  • In 2023, international students made up 5.9% of total US higher education enrollment.
  • This is the highest share ever recorded since tracking began in 1948.
  • The share has grown steadily from 1.1% in 1948 to nearly 6% today.
  • Peak growth occurred from the late 1970s through the 2010s.
  • The total enrollment base in 2023 was 18.9 million, down from the 2011 peak of 21.2 million.
  • International student share remained resilient even as overall enrollment declined post-2010.
  • The 2020 dip (4.6%) resulted from the COVID disruption, but recovery was swift.

America’s universities have grown more globally connected, even as domestic enrolment has fluctuated. In 2023, international students made up 5.9% of total enrolment—the highest share ever recorded since 1948, when the figure was just 1.1%. While overall student numbers peaked in 2011 at over 21 million, they’ve declined to 18.9 million by 2023.

Yet the share of international students kept rising. Even the COVID-era dip in 2020 didn’t derail the trend for long. Foreign enrolments bounced back quickly, reflecting the continued global appeal of UShigher education.

Source:

Institute of International Education

Period:

1949–2024
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