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After years of strong international enrolment growth, 2024 marked a transformation across major English-speaking study destinations. Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US all experienced declines in international student visa issuances, with rhetoric around immigration, fluctuating global economies, and growing destination alternatives impacting student behaviour. Among these destinations, the US proved the most resilient, posting a comparatively modest 10% drop.¹ Still, suggest the sector may face continued headwinds in 2025.

For institutions and local policymakers looking to plan ahead, the enrolment data offers important insights. Released this past winter, the latest dataset captures international student trends in the 2023/24 academic year.² While it precedes the most recent F-1 visa data, its multi-year scope provides critical context at the state level, showing how international enrolment has evolved over time.

So today, we’re taking a closer look at six key states: New York, California, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, and Missouri. How has international enrolment changed in each since 2018/19, both in terms of total student volume and the proportion of international students within overall enrolment? And which student populations are driving growth in each state? Learn how these state-level trends can inform smarter recruitment planning for 2025 and beyond.

Missouri’s Standout Growth Driven by Indian Enrolment

Starting our analysis in the American Midwest, we’ll first take a closer look at the Show-Me State: Missouri. Of all US states, Missouri had the highest international student enrolment growth in 2023/24, up 35% over the previous year:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in Missouri has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

As a result of this strong year-over-year growth, international students made up a higher share of Missouri’s student population. The state hosted more than 33,000 international students in 2023/24, who collectively accounted for 10% of all higher education enrolments in Missouri. That’s a four percentage point increase compared to 2018/19, reflecting a steady rise in international interest since the pandemic.

Indian students were the primary drivers of this shift. Their numbers surged to nearly 19,000 in Missouri in 2023/24, representing a 92% increase over the previous year and more than triple the total from 2018/19. Over this time period, Indian students also grew to represent 58% of all international enrolments in the state, up from 27%. This rapid shift in student composition underscores how global trends can quickly reshape the international enrolment landscape at the state level.

International students contributed about $1.1 billion to Missouri’s economy in 2023/24, a 69% increase from 2018/19.

International Students Represent Nearly One in Five Learners in Massachusetts

Missouri isn’t the only state to experience international student population growth last year. Looking east to New England, international students made up 18% of all higher education enrolments in Massachusetts in 2023/24. That’s the largest proportional share among all US states, and represents an increase of four percentage points compared to 2018/19:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in Massachusetts has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

In total, Massachusetts hosted more than 82,000 international students in 2023/24. This marked a 3% increase over the previous year and a 16% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2018/19, underscoring the state’s long-term appeal to students from around the world.

As with Missouri, Indian students were the largest international student group in Massachusetts. Their numbers doubled over the past five academic years, reaching approximately 25,000 in 2023/24. Over the same period, Chinese student enrolment declined by 16% from its peak in 2019/20. While this mirrors a national trend, the decline in Massachusetts has been more moderate than in most other states, helping the state maintain a more diverse and robust international student population.

International students contributed about $3.9 billion to Massachusetts’s economy in 2023/24, a 22% increase from 2018/19.

New York Sees Continued Growth in Chinese Enrolment

Neighbouring state New York remains one of the most internationally engaged states in the country. New York was the second most popular state destination for international students in 2023/24:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in New York has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

In 2023/24, New York hosted more than 136,000 international students, a 7% increase over the previous year. Additionally, international students accounted for 12% of all higher education enrolments in the state, the second-highest proportion of any US state after Massachusetts. That share is also two percentage points higher than in 2018/19.

Chinese students continue to make up a significant portion of New York’s international student base. In 2023/24, 50,000 Chinese students studied in the state, representing nearly 37% of all international enrolments—more than in any other top 20 US state. The total number of Chinese students in the state grew 3% compared to 2022/23, marking the second consecutive year of growth for this cohort. At a time when many states are seeing continued declines in Chinese enrolment, New York’s upward trend stands out as an encouraging exception.

The state’s metropolitan area of New York hosted 111K international students in 2023/24. This is far and away the most popular metropolitan area for international students, with no other metro areas surpassing a total of 70,000.

Florida Builds Strong Connections with Latin America

Heading next to the southern US, Florida continues to be a key player in US international education. With a particularly strong connection to Latin America, Florida has experienced an encouraging—albeit slower—recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in Florida has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

In 2023/24, the state hosted just over 45,000 international students. While this represented a 5% increase over the previous year, total enrolment remained slightly below pre-pandemic levels, down 3% compared to 2018/19.

Where Florida stands out is in its recruitment from Latin America (LATAM). Students from Venezuela, Brazil, and Colombia made up 13% of the state’s international student population in 2023/24, totalling more than 5,800 students. That level of representation is among the highest in the country and reflects that state’s high potential for sustainable growth in the coming years, as demand for study abroad remains high among LATAM studentsning.

Latin America is an increasingly important region for international recruitment, with many destination markets stepping up efforts to engage this market.⁴ With its geographic proximity, cultural ties, and existing student networks, Florida is well placed to build on this momentum and strengthen its role as a hub for LATAM students.

International students contributed about $1.5 billion to Florida’s economy in 2023/24.

Texas Posts Double-Digit Growth with Surging Indian Enrolment

Where Florida has seen promising but limited post-pandemic recovery, Texas saw one of the strongest year-over-year increases in international enrolment among major US states in 2023/24:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in Texas has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

The Lone Star state hosted nearly 90,000 international students in 2023/24, up 11% from the previous year. Despite this growth, international students made up only 6% of all higher education enrolments in Texas.

Much of this growth was driven by students from India. Texas hosted approximately 39,000 Indian students in 2023/24, a 26% increase over the previous year and nearly double the total from 2018/19. Over this time period, Indian students grew to represent 44% of all international enrolments in the state, up from 24% five years earlier. These shifts suggest that, while Texas is gaining ground as a top destination, it has an opportunity to build on this growth by staying responsive to global student trends.

International students contributed about $2.5 billion to Texas’s economy in 2023/24, an increase of 11% over 2018/19.

California Remains the Top Destination by Volume

Finally, we come to California, the most popular state destination for international students. In fact, California hosted over 10% of all international students in the US in 2023/24:

The graphic below shows you how the total number of international students in California has changed since 2018/19, and the three largest student populations in the state as of 2023/24.

In 2023/24, California hosted more than 140,000 international students, a 2% increase over the previous year. Additionally, international students made up 6% of all higher education enrolments in California during that time, matching the share seen in Texas. While that share is lower than in states like Massachusetts or New York, that’s partly because California’s overall student population is significantly larger.⁵

The Golden State also remained a top destination for Chinese students. More than 51,000 Chinese students pursued their education in California in 2023/24, the largest total of any US state. This figure was down just 1% from the previous year, indicating a high level of stability at a time when many other states are seeing sharper declines in this critical student population.

International students contributed about $6.4 billion to California’s economy in 2023/24.

Staying Ahead as Global Student Mobility Changes

While US international enrolment has shown signs of recovery, the broader American higher education landscape is facing a structural shift. Namely, all six states highlighted in this article are experiencing declines in domestic student enrolment due to an aging population. Missouri saw the steepest domestic enrolment drop at 17% between 2018/19 and 2023/24, while Texas experienced the smallest decline at 5%. Notably, these declines are expected to accelerate over the latter half of this decade, with .

In this context, welcoming and supporting international students will become increasingly vital. These students contribute significantly to local economies, enhance campus diversity, and help strengthen the research output and global profile of institutions. States that prioritize international education will be better equipped to adapt to changing demographics and compete in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy.

To do so effectively, states and institutions need to ground their strategies in up-to-date insights about the global education market. For example, both Missouri and Texas have seen rapid growth in Indian student enrolment in recent years. But in 2024, demand from India declined across all major English-speaking destinations, in part due to increased domestic education investment in India. Understanding such shifts early is critical for building sustainable recruitment strategies.

Working with a global, technology-driven partner like ÐÇ¿ÕÓ°ÊÓhelps ensure institutions and states can stay ahead of these trends. ÐÇ¿ÕÓ°ÊÓprovides access to real-time data, AI-powered recruitment tools, and a global network of vetted recruitment partners to help institutions reach the right students, in the right markets, at the right time. We also offer strategic insights and market intelligence to help you respond quickly to shifting demand and policy changes.

For personalized insights and strategies to maximize your institution’s potential, reach out to your Partner Relations Manager or contact ApplyBoard’s Partner Relations team at schoolpartnerships@applyboard.com.

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FOOTNOTES:

1. For comparison, Australia’s 2023/24 fiscal year saw the number of granted student visas drop by 26%. Similarly, every Canadian province issued at least 8% fewer student visas in 2024 than the previous year, with some of the larger provinces declining by nearly 50%.

2. Academic years span from July of one year to June of the next year (for example, July 2023 to June 2024 was the 2023/24 academic year).

3. All data courtesy of .

4. Australia, for example, launched a dedicated online platform to support Latin American recruitment shortly after the pandemic.

5. California hosted a total of 2.5 million students in 2023/24, compared to 1.6 million in Texas and 1.1 million in New York.