International students represent a significant share of the US higher education sector. According to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2015 report, 25 of the most popular US universities have international students.
For several years, California has held the top spot in this list. The state’s universities serve more than one million foreign students.
New York is home to two of the 10 most popular US universities. These two colleges have more than 30 percent international student populations.
Purdue University, located in northwest Indiana, is known for its high-ranked business programs. But this university suffered a 6% drop in its international enrollment from the 2019/20 to the 2020/21 academic year.
Other universities with a large percentage of international students include Boston University, Cornell University, and the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. These schools have earned the recognition of the Association of American Universities as top research universities.
UCLA, which is one of the smaller University of California campuses, hosted ten of the most international students in the 2020/21 academic year. This school’s international student population also includes many Nobel Prize winners.
While many people assume that all international students are rich, the majority are not. Many are self-funded, supported by family or loans, and work part-time to help pay for their studies.
During their studies, many international students take on internships, gaining work experience. Those who are interested in obtaining a graduate degree often receive support from U.S.-based funding sources.