The 2022 Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) report has been released, revealing some interesting statistics about the number of international students studying in the United States.
SEVP is a program that manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, also known as SEVIS for short. This is a web-based system all universities, colleges, and schools use to input information about international students to the Department of Homeland Security.
SEVP is a bridge that connects organizations and individuals with information about nonimmigrant students visiting the United States for a specific purpose. These include:
F-1 students pursuing academic courses
M-1 students pursuing vocational courses
J-1 exchange visitors
SEVP certifies schools and programs for nonimmigrant students and ensures compliance with administrative regulations, while the Department of State manages the Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Both use SEVIS to maintain critical information that allows legal entry while protecting national security.
Each year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USCIS) releases the SEVIS By the Numbers Report. It provides a highlight of international student statistics.
Let's take a look!
SEVIS by the Numbers Report: Overview of International Students Studying in the USA in 2022
More international students enrolled in the United States in 2022 compared to 2021. There were 1,362,157 active F-1 and M1 students in 2022, which is 10.1% more than in 2021. This is the highest number of students since 2019.
How Many International Students Study In the United States 2022
1,362,157 Total F-1 and M-1 students
117,301 Total pre- and post-completion optional practical training (OPT)
International Student Numbers by Degrees
71,445 F-1 students pursued an associate degree (3% increase)
450,408 F-1 students pursued a bachelor's degree (1.6% increase)
507,195 F-1 students pursued a master's degree (15.7% increase)
197,183 F-1 students pursued a doctoral degree (3.2% increase)
20 Most Popular Majors of International Students in the USA
91,083 Computer science
89,266 Second language learning
81,797 Business administration and management, general
63,955 Computer and information sciences, general
37,809 Electrical and electronics engineering
30,561 Mechanical engineering
29,182 Management science
25,824 General studies
25,573 Econometrics and quantitative economics
24,421 Liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies
23,489 Management sciences and quantitative methods, other
23,184 Information Technology
21,963 Regular/general high school/secondary diploma program
18,635 Information science/studies
18,605 Biology/biological sciences, general
17,793 Civil engineering, general
17,275 High school/secondary diploma programs, other
16,370 Computer engineering, general
16,059 Mathematics, general
15,231 Chemistry, general
More than 50% of international students study one or more of the top 20 majors.
Countries and Regions of Origin of International Students
International Students by Regions
959,049 Asia
46% of SEVIS records came from China or India
China experienced a decline compared to 2021 (-24,796)
India sent more students (+64,300)
Uzbekistan experienced the largest percentage increase (70%), sending 1,736 students.
128,657 Europe
Germany sent the most students (16,097), a 37% increase
Norway also experienced a 37% increase, sending a total of 3,474
Switzerland sent 3,737 students, a 33.6% increase
128,168 Central and South America
Brazil had an increase of 4,352 students
Colombia had an increase of 5,907 students (20,744 total)
Argentina had an increase of 1,239 (4,996 total)
Venezuela had the largest decrease (-1,447)
77,246 Africa
Nigeria sent the most students to the USA (22,935)
Kenya sent the most students from East Africa (5,792)
Libya experienced the steepest decline
41,878 North America
Canada sent 3,939 more students (10.5% increase) for a total of 41,392
Bermuda experienced a decline of -5.1% for a total of 484
8,377 Australia and Pacific Islands
96% of records come from Australia and New Zealand
Fiji experienced the largest percentage increase (16%), sending 72 students.
10 Top Home Countries of International Students
324,196 China
297,151 India
62,151 Republic of Korea (South Korea)
41,392 Canada
37,904 Brazil
29,742 Vietnam
26,519 Japan
26,225 Taiwan
24,485 Saudi Arabia
22,935 Nigeria
Where International Students Studied in the USA
Top 20 Universities Where F-1 International Students Studied in 2022
The top 20 universities hosted 20% of F-1 international students in 2022. These students must be pursuing an academic-based degree.
New York University
Northeastern University
Columbia University in the City of New York
University of Southern California
Arizona State University
University of Illinois
Boston University
Purdue University
University of California at Berkeley
University of California San Diego
University of Michigan
University of Washington
The Pennsylvania State University
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Texas at Dallas
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Cornell University
University of California, Irvine
Top 20 Schools to Enroll M-1 Students
International students on M-1 visas study a particular vocational skill in the USA, and do not have a core academic curriculum. They are allowed to say in the U.S. for only one year, unless they apply for an extension.
Once admitted to a program and granted an M-1 visa, a student can't change their major. However, they can transfer to another school after six months after arriving in the country.
CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix Inc
Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry
Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry-Civic Center
Treasure Coast Flight Training
Airborne Systems, Inc.
Aircraft Development Flight Airways Corp d/b/a(5) ADF Airways
Delta Aeronautics, Inc. d/b/a Delta-Qualiflight Aviation
Ari Ben Aviator, Inc. dba Aviator College
Pilot Training Program
American Flight Training, LLC
Skymates, Inc.
Paris Air, Inc.
Airbus Americas Customer Services Inc.
Broadway Dance Center
University of North Dakota
U.S. Aviation Group LLC d/b/a U.S. Aviation Academy
International Aero Academy, Ltd
CAE Simuflite Inc.
Skyborne Airline Academy Inc.
Epic Aviation, Inc.
Top 20 Schools to Enroll Both F-1 and M-1 International Students
As you'll see below, many of these schools are community colleges. In our previous article, you can read more about the differences between universities, colleges, technical schools, and community colleges.
Cornell University
Houston Community College System
Santa Monica College
UCLA-Extension
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Florida Institute of Technology
Dallas College
The University of Iowa
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Lamar University
Miami Dade College
Seattle Colleges
Arkansas State University
Green River College
Long Island University
Bellevue College
Florida National University
University of North Dakota
Lone Star College System District
Northern Virginia Community College
Top 10 States with the Most SEVP-Certified Schools
California
New York
Florida
Texas
Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
Illinois
Georgia
Virginia
North Carolina
International Students by States and Regions in 2022
California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Florida hosted 48.5% of all international students in the country.
The Northeast (9 states) saw the largest percentage increase (11%)
New Hampshire had the largest percentage increase (22.9%)
The South (including D.C.) hosted 383,096 international students.
Texas had the largest percent increase (16.5%)
West Virginia was the only state to decrease (-136 student records)
The Midwest experienced an 11.5% increase
Illinois hosted the most students and had the largest increase
Ohio had the second largest increase
Iowa and Nebraska both had declines in students
The West had the smallest increase (8%)
California hosts the students (225,173)
Hawaii had the largest percentage increase (29.6%)
Nevada was the only state to decline (-1.1%)
Non-continental U.S. Territories hosted 1,422 international students
Puerto Rico hosted 58.6% of these students
Guam experienced a 7.6% increase of students
Northern Mariana Islands experienced a decrease of only 3 students
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