India Overtakes China as Top Source of U.S. International Students

India sent 44,715 new students to the U.S. in 2024, a year-on-year surge of 11.8 percent, bringing its total to 206,698—surpassing China's stable enrollment of 362,368 for the first time in growth trajectory. The shift reflects structural pressures: India's expanding working-age population, constrained domestic higher-education capacity, and persistent employer premiums for foreign credentials. However, the forward-looking question remains whether this growth persists amid tightening U.S. immigration policy.