The number of Chinese students studying in the United States declined for the 2024-25 academic year, continuing a downward trend. Nevertheless, they remain the second-largest group of international students after Indians and continue to make a significant financial contribution to the U.S. economy.
According to recent data, 265,919 Chinese students were enrolled in U.S. institutions, a 4% decrease from the previous year. Meanwhile, Indian student numbers rose by 9% to 363,019, marking the second consecutive year of growth. Despite fewer numbers, Chinese students contributed $14.6 billion to the U.S. economy in 2024, slightly more than the $14.0 billion contributed by Indian students.
China continues to be the largest source of undergraduate and non-degree students, although enrollment dropped across all education levels by 2% to 10%. Among Chinese students, 51.9% are enrolled in STEM fields, compared to 71.7% of Indian students.
New visa restrictions have impacted international student trends. The U.S. government has tightened visa rules, delayed processing times, and introduced stricter vetting measures, particularly for Chinese nationals. There have also been political concerns over students linked to sensitive fields or organizations.
Despite these challenges, the U.S. hosted a total of 1.18 million international students in 2024-25, a 5% increase from the previous year. Former President Trump recently expressed support for international students, recognizing their financial benefit to the U.S. education system and proposing to allow 600,000 Chinese students to study in the country.
However, international applications to U.S. colleges are falling. Applications dropped overall by 9%, with India seeing a 14% decline, Africa 18%, and China 1%. This reduction may be linked to tighter visa policies and pressure on universities to reduce dependence on full-paying foreign students.
Chinese students, international enrollment, US universities, visa restrictions, STEM education
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