In 2023, the number of first-year international students enrolled in US colleges and universities is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. Some universities have seen a marked increase in international applications, and these applications are coming from previously untapped regions of the world. Tufts University reports that it has seen the largest increase in applications from Africa, closely followed by Europe. While universities are working to diversify their incoming classes and accept students from different regions of the world, it also means that international admissions has become even more competitive than before. As colleges expand their outreach, they attract more student applicants – and this always far outstrips the number of seats they add (if they add any at all) to incoming freshman classes.
Having a larger percentage of the student body hail from abroad has many benefits, both to the school in question and its student body. Students with diverse backgrounds bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and exciting cultural exchanges. They also offer these qualities to the US workforce if they decide to remain in the USA, or they bring US culture, knowledge, and reputation to their next global destination. This adds prestige to the university that has helped them hone their skills and jumpstart their career. International students benefit from studying in the US because of the extraordinary quality and connectedness of its research institutions.
Top Ten Universities for International Enrollment
- New York University (24,496 students)
- Northeastern University (20,637)
- Columbia University (19,001)
- Arizona State University (17,981)
- University of Southern California (17,264)
- University of Illinois (14,680)
- Boston University (13,281)
- Purdue University (11,872)
- University of California, Berkeley (11,719)
- University of California, San Diego (10,431)
Predictably, these universities are concentrated on the coasts in major metropolitan areas serviced by international airport hubs – the easiest locations for students from abroad to access short(er) and more consistent flights home. However, these universities all find themselves amongst the top 5% of universities, ranked by US News and World Reports. You can’t go wrong with any of these options, and each university is worth exploring.
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