These Student Populations Drove Overall Enrollment in US Undergraduate and Graduate Studies in 2024/25
What student populations are filling seats in US undergraduate and graduate studies? The Institute of International Education (IIE) released its 2025 Open Doors Report in November, and the report shared that growing Optional Practical Training participation (OPT) participation led to the US hosting the highest number of international students ever.
However, analysis showed that new international student enrollment in the US was down 7% year-over-year in 2024/25, leading to a total enrollment figure of 884,000—the same as the previous academic year. Here’s a look at international student populations in American post-secondary classrooms in 2024/25.
The top 10 student populations enrolled in US undergraduate studies in 2024/25
A total of 357,000 international students were enrolled in undergraduate studies at an American institution in 2024/25. This was 4% higher than enrollment levels in the previous academic year. Chinese students accounted for over one in every five of those enrollments:
Nearly 79,000 Chinese students pursued an undergraduate education in the US in 2024/25. Although this was a drop of 10% compared to the previous academic year, it remained nearly double that of the next largest student population. That scale means Chinese students remain a cornerstone of undergraduate cohorts in the US.
Indian students were the next largest cohort enrolled in American undergraduate programs. Over 40,000 Indian students pursued education at this level in 2024/25, 11% more than in 2023/24.
Beyond China and India, the undergraduate landscape is diverse. The remaining top 10 is a mix of long-standing East Asian populations alongside faster-growing cohorts from South and South East Asia and the Americas. The sharpest year-over-year gains from these student populations came from Nepal (+69%), Vietnam (+17%), and Canada (+9%), pointing to expanding undergraduate demand beyond the two largest populations even as several mature sources like South Korea (-6%), Japan (-2%), and Saudi Arabia (-11%) all declined.
The fastest-growing student populations enrolled in US undergraduate studies in 2024/25
Nepal stood out among the top 10 total enrollments not only because it has become a sizeable undergraduate student community in the US, but also because it posted the fastest year-over-year growth. Nearly 12,700 Nepalese students pursued an undergraduate education in 2024/25, up 69% over the previous academic year:
Undergraduate enrollment momentum rose across student populations of all sizes. South Asian countries were significant drivers of increased campus diversity in 2024/25. The 4,600 Pakistani students in American undergraduate classrooms represented a year-over-year increase of 26%, while the 4,000 Bangladeshi students represented growth of 20%. Several African student communities also expanded significantly, led by Ghana (+41%) and followed by Zimbabwe (+22%) and Kenya (+19%). Undergraduate enrollments from students from Kyrgyzstan (+43%), Mongolia (+27%), the Philippines (+22%), and Kazakhstan (+21%) were also up over this period.
For institutions, diversification with depth is vital. Sustainable growth is not concentrated in a single emerging student population, nor limited to very small cohorts. Several of these student communities are now large enough to support sustained intake strategies and student services. As affordability pressures and visa conditions evolve in parallel with this growth, institution teams must adapt to provide effective recruitment and student support and compliance planning.
The top 10 student populations enrolled in US graduate studies in 2024/25
A total of 488,000 international students were enrolled in graduate studies at an American institution in 2024/25. This total was 3% below that of the previous academic year. Indian students accounted for over one in every three of those graduate enrollments:
India remained the clear anchor of US graduate enrollment in 2024/25. Nearly 178,000 Indian students were enrolled at the graduate level, and even after a 10% year-over-year decline, India’s graduate cohort still exceeded every other student population by a considerable margin. That concentration means even modest shifts in demand from prospective Indian international students can materially shape overall graduate trends.
Chinese students were the next largest cohort: over 120,000 Chinese students pursued a graduate-level education program in the US in 2024/25. However, this total was 2% below the previous academic year.
Combined, India and China accounted for 61% of enrollments at the graduate level. Even so, American graduate classrooms reflect a broad mix of student communities. The strongest enrollment momentum among the top 10 largest graduate student populations came from South Asian and African countries, namely Nepal (up 42% year-over-year), Ghana (+34%), Bangladesh (+14%), and Nigeria (+4%). Meanwhile, the 10,000 Canadians pursuing American graduate studies in 2024/25 represented a year-over-year decline of 5%.
The fastest-growing student populations enrolled in US graduate studies in 2024/25
Enrollment momentum within graduate studies, when assessed by student population, is increasingly similar to the US undergraduate enrollment landscape.
Nepal, Ghana, and Bangladesh appear both among the ten largest graduate student communities and as three of the fastest-growing. Their presence in both categories suggests a sustained interest in American degrees that extends beyond a single academic level. While the overall graduate enrollment saw a slight contraction, these high-growth cohorts are effectively offsetting declines among other student populations:
The most striking surge came from Zimbabwe, where graduate enrollment nearly doubled in a single academic year (+89%). This spike, alongside strong gains from Ghana (+34%) and Kenya (+17%), highlights a broader trend of African students seeking advanced degrees in the US.
South Asia and South East Asia also remain powerhouses of growth even beyond the massive Indian cohort. Nepal (+42%), Pakistan (+18%), Vietnam (+11%), Indonesia (+8%), and Sri Lanka (+7%) highlight a continued appetite for graduate education at American institutions. These students are often highly focused on STEM and business-related programs that offer high returns on investment.
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In a year where enrollment drivers can shift quickly, institutions need visibility they can act on. Capio Engage supports early-stage student engagement by answering prospective student questions in real time and improving inquiry-to-application conversion across growing international markets.
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Key findings
Total undergraduate enrollment rose 4% year-over-year in 2024/25, with China still the largest cohort (79,000; -10%) and India growing strongly (40,000; +11%).
Graduate enrollment fell 3%, and remained heavily concentrated in India (178,000; -10%) and China (120,000; -2%). Together, these two countries accounted for 61% of all international graduate enrollments.
The fastest enrollment growth came from emerging cohorts in Africa and South/Southeast Asia. Nepal, Ghana, and Bangladesh were among the fastest-growing student populations in both undergraduate and graduate studies.
