The American international education sector had strong momentum going into 2024, after achieving impressive growth in the 2023 fiscal year.1 And, with new data showing the number of F-1 student visas2 issued by the United States over fiscal year 2024, it’s clear the US remains a top-tier destination. In fact, the US welcomed international students from over 200 countries in 2024. However, fewer F-1 visas were issued than in both prior years, indicating the rising influence of study abroad destinations beyond the ‘Big 4’ of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Today, we’ll dive into U.S. Department of State data3 to understand how specific student populations have shifted, look at the total number of American F-1 student visas issued in 2024, and detail trends that may affect the international education sector moving forward.
Key Insights at a Glance
- The U.S. Department of State issued around 401,000 F-1 student visas in the 2024 fiscal year, 10% fewer than the 446,000 F-1 visas issued in 2023.
- Visa issuance volumes were very similar over the first halves of 2023 and 2024. However, an average of 17,800 fewer visas were issued in June, July, and August 2024 versus the same months in 2023.
- Shifts in student visas issued were often country-specific, rather than regional trends. South Asia and Southeast Asia had some of the fastest-growing鈥攁nd fastest-declining鈥攕tudent populations in the US in 2024.
- 2024 was the third year in a row Indian students received more US student visas than students from any other population.
Number of US Student Visas Issued Dropped in 2024, Remained Above Late-2010s Levels
In 2024, new student visa issuances fell by nearly 45,000 year-over-year, dropping to around 401,000. However, new issuances remained higher than they were in fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019. This may signal a levelling-out of the growth caused by the ‘double cohort’ effect which helped to drive student numbers in 2022 and 2023:
This drop in visa issuance may seem counter to the fact that the total population of international students in the US reach its highest level ever in 2024. However, the chart above only shows how many new F-1 student visas were issued over the most recent fiscal year. This means it doesn’t capture the full picture of the American international education sector. F-1 issuances don’t account for students already pursuing their studies, or those working at job placements through post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). Yet these lower issued volumes mean that as new graduates complete their studies or finish their placements, we may see the overall international student population in the US decline in the coming years, especially if enrolments don’t climb at a faster rate in the 2025 fiscal year.
A new record for OPT placements was set over the 2023/24 academic year, accounting for almost 243,000 student visa holders.
Issued Visas Decline in Summer 2024
The 2024 fiscal year started off with student visa issuance volumes similar to 2023, but F-1 issuances fell year-over-year during the summer months:
June, July, and August are key issuance months for students planning to start classes in September. However, an average of over 17,800 fewer student visas were issued from June through August 2024 compared to the same time frame in 2023. This reduction was likely caused by a variety of factors, including a through early 2024. An unfavourable exchange rate could have swayed some students towards more affordable destinations, or caused them to defer their study abroad plans. The lead-up to the American presidential election also began in spring 2024, and the accompanying rhetoric may have influenced some students’ decisions.
2025 is likely to be a year of continued change. Take a closer look at four of our top predictions for how the international sector may evolve.
Indian Students Issued the Most US F-1 Visas in 2024
Six of the top ten student populations that received the most US student visas in 2024 came to the US from Asia. Students from India received the most visas, continuing a three-year trend, followed closely by students from mainland China:
Compared to the 2023 fiscal year, the majority of top international student populations received fewer student visas in 2024. While Indian students were issued 86,000 F-1 visas in 2024, this was only slightly more than the number of visas issued to Indian students in 2021 (80,000), and a significant drop from the heights of 2022 and 2023. If this decline continues, new Indian student populations may be surpassed by new Chinese students in 2025.
In fact, the number of visas issued to students from mainland China appears to have stabilized around the 80,000 mark, after dipping in 2022. This is still a sizeable drop from pre-pandemic levels, possibly driven by Chinese students’ evolving expectations amid a slowed domestic economy4 and a strong US dollar. Some Chinese students may be choosing other destinations or staying closer to home, but many Chinese academic institutions have also become global powerhouses over the past decade. For example, Tsinghua University ranked 12th worldwide in , followed by Peking University at 13th, along with five other Chinese universities in THE’s top 100 list. These institutions are likely attracting students who might previously have considered studying overseas, and this rising trend of strengthening domestic postsecondary education could influence student flows towards the US in the coming years.
Asian and African Populations Continue to Lead US Student Visa Growth
Students from Asia not only represent the largest new student populations in the US, they are also among the fastest-growing.5 Students from five Asian countries were issued at least 25% more F-1 visas in 2024 compared to 2023. Leading the pack are Nepalese students, who collectively received 130% more student visas than they did in 2023 and 114% more than in 2022. But they weren’t the only student population to achieve sustained growth over the past two years:
These fast-growing student populations are a mix of well-established source countries like France, Nepal, and Vietnam, along with a few emerging student populations like those from Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, and Zimbabwe. The recent growth of these student flows towards the US is good news for American institutions: as half of these countries have , they represent strong potential future growth. Urbanization, particularly in eastern Africa and central Asia, will likely also continue to play a key role in driving sustained student interest in, and access to, international study options including the US.
Learn more about which international student populations are driving growth in the US with our deep-dive into Open Doors 2024 data.
Diverse Student Populations See Visa Issuances Slow in 2024
As evident in the overall decline of new international students, many student populations experienced lower F-1 visa issuances in 2024. Beyond students from India and mainland China, major student populations from many global regions saw a drop in F-1 visas issued compared to 2023:
Iranian students received decade-high numbers of F-1 student visas in 2022 and 2023, before experiencing a 43% decline in 2024. These students’ journeys are complicated by legal factors including , and long-tail ripple effects of the Muslim travel ban enacted in 2018. While President Biden repealed that ban on his first day in office in 2021, that visa processing never returned to pre-ban speeds. Meanwhile, other destinations are becoming increasingly popular among students from Iran: in 2024, .
Likewise, students from India are also seeking out more affordable study destinations like Germany, Poland, and South Korea. In 2024, nearly 43,000 Indian international students alone. Still, despite visa complexities and the higher cost of living, the US remains a top choice for Indian student prioritizing academic prestige and extensive career networks.
Building Towards Continued Growth
As the new Presidential administration establishes itself, and as American institutions face shifting student demands towards more affordable destinations, 2025 could be a telling year for the US’ international education sector. As we’ve seen with other destinations including Canada and Australia, it’s vital for institutions to clearly communicate about any policy changes affecting both current and future international students. This not only helps students to feel connected to their campus community, it helps them remain confident in their choice of the US as their study destination.
Despite a long history of high-demand for American postsecondary education among international students, it’s important to keep in mind that students also have access to an expanding range of study destinations, many of which are investing in new programs and infrastructure to support their education systems. And, these policy changes and investments are already showing signs of success: countries including , Ireland, and hosted more international students in 2024 than ever before.
As such, it’s vital for American institutions and policymakers to invest strategically in communicating what makes studying in the US special. Whether it’s flexible program options, cutting-edge research opportunities, or the diverse range of people and cultures students can learn from on American campuses, there are many key draws for international students. But, without thoughtful outreach and a collaborative approach, American institutions may risk losing ground over the next decade amidst a growing crowd of study abroad options.
Subscribe to ApplyInsights
Sign up for the latest insights on international education.
About the ApplyInsights Team
FOOTNOTES:
1. Here and throughout this piece, when a year is stated, it is in reference to a fiscal year unless noted otherwise. Fiscal years in the US run from October to September.
2. As F-1 student visas are the most common visa status used by international students in the US, we’re confining our analysis to that specific visa type. Here and throughout this article, “student visa” refers to F-1 student visas. For reference, the US government has three student visas: F Student visas are academic (for study at an accredited K-12 school, college, or university, or studying English at an English language institute; the study must lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate); J Exchange visas are for participants in an exchange program either at the high school or university level; and M Student visas are for non-academic study (not including language programs), or vocational study or training.
3. The student visa data used throughout this article is from the U.S. Department of State’s and data reports. While the U.S. Department of State advises against aggregating monthly totals as this may not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date, our test calculations found an average overcount of just 0.1% across source countries for previous years.
4. Ulrica Lin, CNBC. “.” May 2024.
5. Countries with a minimum of 1,000 student visas issued in 2024.
