According to the Open Doors® 2022 Report on International Educational Exchange, which was released today by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, 948,519 foreign students from more than 200 countries studied at American higher education institutions during the 2021–2022 academic year, a 4% increase from the year before. The report indicates the United States’ continuous commitment to international educational exchange by showing a robust year-over-year rebound in new international student enrollments (an increase of 80%) in the country after the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects.
The Open Doors statistics demonstrates the fervent desire of foreign students to visit the United States, the most popular destination for international students globally, and complete their studies there. 90% of enrolled foreign students are now attending classes in person on American universities. International students made $32 billion in economic contributions to the United States in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
A return to pre-pandemic levels was shown in the growth of 80% year over year in the number of foreign students enrolling for the first time in American colleges and universities. Every state and territory in the United States continued to enrol new international students, and 44 out of the 50 states saw a growth of more than 50% in the number of new international students. Allan E. Goodman, CEO of IIE, stated that “the amazing rebound we have witnessed in international student mobility underscores the United States’ and its higher education institutions’ unwavering commitment to welcoming students from all over the world.” “International educational exchanges continue despite the difficulty and unpredictability that come with pandemics, according to the Open Doors 2022 study. The best approach for educational institutions and nations to connect people and ideas around the world continues to be investment in international interaction.” More than 184,000 students followed Optional Practical Training (OPT), a programme that enables people to get practical work experience after academic study, in addition to the overseas students who were enrolled.