India, the 2nd largest contributor of incoming international students in USA Colleges: Pew Research Center

Indians made up 18 per cent of the total international student population in the United States for the academic year 2020-21

The Pew Research Center examined international students' contributions to American colleges for the academic year 2020-21, as well as the amount and pattern of change from the previous academic year 2019-20. On December 6, 2021, the study was released and circulated.

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The enrolment of less than 1 million foreign students fell 15% year over year in the academic year 2020-21, with the percentage of international students in the United States falling to 4.6 percent. Chinese origin students accounted for 35% of the total, followed by Indian students (18%), South Koreans (4%), and Canadians (3%).

Considering the COVID19 pandemic limitations and concern that persisted during the previous school year, the statistics revealed a predicted decline. South Korean students had a 21% reduction year over year, while Chinese students saw a 15% decrease and Indian students saw a 13% decrease.

In addition to the COVID19 pandemic effect, Pew looked into why China's enrollment numbers were dropping.

According to the Research Center, the decline in the Chinese student population began well before the 2020-21 academic year. The reasons for this are the tumultuous China-US ties under Donald Trump's administration, as well as the prohibition on Chinese students pursuing specific degrees. 

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The decline is a big loss for US institutions, according to the organisation, because Chinese students provided $15 billion in tuition income in 2018-19.

On the other hand, the public opinion in the United States, which is overwhelmingly in favour of international students (80% support), sees a decline in Chinese origin students as a positive indicator (55 per cent approval).

It is projected that, as a result of the easing of pandemic restrictions and the reopening of international borders, the number of overseas students studying in the United States would increase within the next academic session.