Indian Students: $50 Billion Boost to US Economy

India has become the no. 1 sender of international students to the United States for the first time since 2009. It means that Indians have become a major player in the US colleges, workplaces, politics, and economy.

As per the US Department of State’s Open Doors 2024, the American economy got a massive $50 billion boost from international students in 2023. Among them, Indian students made up the largest share with 331, 602, up 23% from the previous year.

On the other hand, rising tensions between the US and China had an impact on the influx of students. Chinese nationals in US universities dropped from 27.4% to 24.6% according to the report.

While STEM fields remain the most popular among Indian students, there is a shift towards other courses. Fine and applied arts saw a growth of 5% whereas technical courses only saw a 2% increase from last year.

American students coming to India for higher education also saw a mammoth increase of 300% this year. These numbers show a thriving relationship between the US and India as foreign students act as a bridge between the two countries.