Newly released ApplyBoard analysis of the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Open Doors report shows that the United States recorded its highest total number of international students ever in the 2024/25 academic year, however the way that total was achieved suggests shifting dynamics in how and why students choose to study abroad.
According to the ApplyBoard analysis, U.S. institutions hosted nearly 1.2 million international students and participants in Optional Practical Training (OPT) in 2024/25, marking a year-on-year increase of about 5 per cent overall. The milestone builds on trends seen the year before, when international student figures also hit record levels.
Beneath the headline numbers is complex. While total international student counts rose, new international student enrolments actually declined by about 7 per cent, with roughly 277,000 newcomers enrolling for the first time across U.S. campuses in 2024/25. This divergence underscores how growth in the sector is increasingly being driven not by new starts but by students who remain in the United States after completing their studies.
A key driver of the overall increase was a sharp rise in participation in Optional Practical Training (OPT) placements. The analysis notes that more than 294,000 international students participated in OPT in 2024/25, a roughly 21 per cent increase on the prior year. For many students, OPT, which allows graduates to work in the United States in jobs related to their field of study, represents a critical extension of the study experience and an important differentiator between destinations.
ApplyBoard’s analysis highlights that post-study work opportunities are now almost as important a factor for students as cost when choosing a study destination. In the company’s recruitment partner surveys, 88 per cent of respondents identified post-study work prospects as a key priority, compared with 91 per cent citing cost of study.
“The rise in pre- and post-graduation temporary employment demonstrates strong student interest in gaining practical work experience,” the report notes, emphasising that future competitiveness will hinge on institutions’ ability to align academic offerings with clear work-integrated paths.
The drop in new students was not uniform across all study levels. While new undergraduate enrolments grew by around 5 per cent, new graduate enrolments fell by about 15 per cent, ending a three-year run of growth in graduate international recruitment. Meanwhile, non-degree enrolments also saw a decline.
The ApplyBoard analysis also dives into student populations and fields of study. It notes strong concentrations of STEM interest among major source groups: over 70 per cent of students from India, Bangladesh, Iran and Nepal pursued STEM opportunities — a category that includes both study and OPT placements — in 2024/25. In particular, 43 per cent of Indian students in the U.S. were enrolled in math and computer science fields, well ahead of other groups, while Nepalese students showed high interest in physical and life sciences.
These field-level trends suggest that career-aligned pathways remain central to international student decision-making, with STEM and related disciplines continuing to attract the largest shares of global talent.
For U.S. institutions, there are mixed signals in the 2024/25 data. Fewer new starts but more students staying on to work underscore the evolving nature of international education competition. The ApplyBoard analysis argues that enrolment totals alone may mask underlying shifts in where and how students prioritise study destinations and post-study outcomes, and that positioning programs around work-integrated learning and measurable career outcomes may be a key differentiator in 2026 and beyond.
The broader implication for the global sector, including for Australian providers, is that destinations and institutions that can clearly articulate pathways from study to meaningful experience in the labour market may be better positioned to attract future cohorts, especially in a competitive international landscape.
As the sector prepares for 2026 recruitment cycles, these U.S. enrolment patterns provide a reminder that overall figures can sometimes obscure deeper trends in student behaviour and priorities, and that adaptability to those trends could shape institutional success in the years ahead.
The ApplyBoard analysis of the data can be seen here.
